Suvarna Garge (Editor)

Universal American Flea Ship

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Manufacturer
  
Universal Aircraft

Designer
  
Henri Mignet

Universal American Flea Ship httpsuploadwikimediaorgwikipediacommonsthu

The American Flea Ship (Flea Triplane) is a homebuilt triplane design of the early 1930s. It is one of the first examples of a female designed and built aircraft. One example is displayed at the Wings of a Dream Museum.

Contents

Development

The American Flea Ship is a homebuilt triplane variant of the French-designed Mignet Flea licensed by American Mignet Aircraft, and later Universal Aircraft company of Ft Worth, Texas. It is also known as the Flea Triplane. The aircraft was given away by Universal as a marketing effort when a Universal motor was purchased to power it. Later, the fuselage sold for $695. The kit version of the aircraft was designed by Lillian Holden. Ace Aircraft Manufacturing Company maintains the rights to the American Flea Ship and Heath Parasol.

Design

The Triplane aircraft does not have ailerons, and uses variable incidence wings for roll control.

Variants

The aircraft has been referenced under many names including;

  • American Flea Ship
  • Mignet HM-20
  • HM-20 Flying Flea
  • Flea Triplane
  • TC-1 Flea (1954)
  • Specifications American Flea Ship

    Data from Aerofiles

    General characteristics

  • Capacity: 1
  • Wingspan: 20 ft (6.1 m)
  • Empty weight: 460 lb (209 kg)
  • Powerplant: 1 × Universal , 40 hp (30 kW) Later models used a 65hp Continental
  • Performance

  • Maximum speed: 87 kn; 161 km/h (100 mph)
  • References

    Universal American Flea Ship Wikipedia