APEV
TypeVoluntary association
IndustryAerospace
Founded1997
FounderDaniel Dalby
ProductsKit aircraft and aircraft plans
Number of employees
nine
Websitewww.pouchel.com
A Pouchel II
A petrol powered Pouchel (foreground) and a Pouchelec (background)

APEV (Association pour la Promotion des Echelles Volantes, English: Association for the Promotion of Flying Ladders) is a French aircraft manufacturer, founded by Daniel Dalby in 1997 and based in Peynier. The organization specializes in the design and manufacture of very light and inexpensive homebuilt aircraft.[1][2][3][4][5][6]

The original design, the Pouchel, was based upon the 1930s Henri Mignet-designed Mignet Pou-du-Ciel (Flying Flea), but constructed using three commercial household aluminium ladders to save construction time, cost and weight. The aircraft first flew on 14 March 1999 and 120 sets of plans were quickly sold. When the ladder manufacturer no longer wanted to sell ladders for aircraft construction, due to liability concerns, Dalby redesigned the aircraft to use aeronautical rectangular aluminium tubing instead, which resulted in a lighter and cheaper aircraft, the Pouchel II. This was further refined into the Pouchel Light and an electric powered version, the Pouchelec. Further designs followed these, including the two seat Bipouchel and the Pouchel Classic.[1][2][3][4][6]

Aircraft

Summary of aircraft built by APEV
Model name First flight Number built Type
APEV Bipouchel two seat ultralight aircraft
APEV Cubchel single seat ultralight aircraft based on the Afford-A-Plane
APEV Demoichelle single seat ultralight aircraft based on the 1908 Santos-Dumont Demoiselle
APEV Pouchel 1999 single seat ultralight aircraft constructed from three ladders
APEV Pouchel II single seat ultralight aircraft
APEV Pouchel Light single seat ultralight aircraft
APEV Pouchelec single seat electric aircraft
APEV Pouchel Classic single seat ultralight aircraft
APEV Scoutchel single seat ultralight aircraft

References

  1. 1 2 Bertrand, Noel; Rene Coulon; et al: World Directory of Leisure Aviation 2003-04, page 122. Pagefast Ltd, Lancaster UK, 2003. ISSN 1368-485X
  2. 1 2 Bayerl, Robby; Martin Berkemeier; et al: World Directory of Leisure Aviation 2011-12, page 14. WDLA UK, Lancaster UK, 2011. ISSN 1368-485X
  3. 1 2 Tacke, Willi; Marino Boric; et al: World Directory of Light Aviation 2015-16, pages 97 & 98. Flying Pages Europe SARL, 2015. ISSN 1368-485X
  4. 1 2 APEV. "The Aircraft". Retrieved 19 September 2012.
  5. ↑ APEV. "The Team". Retrieved 19 September 2012.
  6. 1 2 APEV. "History". Retrieved 19 September 2012.
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