Stephen Appleby
Encyclopedia
Stephen Villiers Appleby (9 February 1912-1984) was an English pilot, and leading proponent of the Mignet Pou-du-Ciel "Flying Flea" aircraft.
, near Nice. After taking an interest in motorcycles and engines, he was attracted by advertisements and a book "Le Sport de L'Air" produced by Henri Mignet
about his HM.8 Avionette monoplane. In early 1930, Appleby travelled to Paris, and sought out Mignet for advice, that was the start of a long friendship. He built a HM.8 with a Harley-Davidson
engine in six months. On 3 December 1931, it was successfully flown and tested by two highly experienced pilots at Nice aerodrome. Via personal contacts, he then negotiated to receive reduced-rate flying training from Valentine Baker
of the Airwork Flying School at Heston Aerodrome
, in return for publicising his exploits in the magazine "Les Ailes". By June 1932, he had learned to fly, and also purchased a 34 hp ABC Scorpion
engine for his HM.8. He returned to Beaulieu, fitted the new engine, and flew it without authorisation from Nice aerodrome. There was no prospect of legitimately flying from an aerodrome, so he fitted some existing floats, but they proved too heavy to permit a takeoff. He removed the wing, and taxied the combination on water from Nice to Beaulieu. He then purchased a Caudron C.109
, with the intention of offering flying training, but an engine failure and crash ensued. In 1933, he was offered employment with Airwork Ltd at Heston in the flight traffic office.
Flying Flea, in a shed at Heston aerodrome loaned to him by his employer, Airwork Ltd. Appleby made a main wing of 5 metres (16.4 ft) span, on the advice of Mignet, who was unaware that a heavier than normal engine (water-cooled Ford 10 unit) was to be fitted. Final assembly was in an Airwork hangar. At the same time, Appleby assisted in the construction of a more standard HM.14 (G-ADME) for John Chamier.
On 14 July 1935, at Heston aerodrome, Appleby piloted the first flight of his Flying Flea (G-ADMH), the first to fly in UK. On 24 July 1935, the Air Ministry
awarded it the first ever Authorisation to Fly document, being equivalent to a UK Certificate of Airworthiness with additional conditions and limitations. On 25 July 1935, he demonstrated the Flying Flea to the press, but force-landed it in a nearby ploughed field, where it came to rest inverted. Appleby attributed the accident to insufficient wing area and a high ambient air temperature. Sir John Carden, already acquainted with Appleby, offered to convert a Ford water-cooled engine for him that offered power of about 30 hp. The Daily Express
newspaper had covered the construction of Appleby's Flying Flea, and it gave £100 for the aircraft to be repaired with modifications designed by L.E. Baynes, at the factory of Abbott-Baynes Sailplanes at Wrecclesham
, near Farnham, Surrey. The modifications included a new 6 metres (20 ft) span front wing with a repositioned wing pivot, a partial engine cowling, and a low-mounted radiator for the newly converted Carden-Ford engine. On 12 September 1935, the rebuilt aircraft flew again at Heston. Soon after that, the aircraft was converted to replace the wing control cables with twin "push-rods".
On 5 December 1935, Appleby piloted his own Flying Flea (G-ADMH) from Lympne Airport
to Saint-Inglevert Airfield
, to become the only cross-channel flight of a Flying Flea from England to France, at least until the 1980s. On 10 December 1935, Appleby's employer and friend Sir John Carden died in an airliner crash. Appleby took over the management of Carden Aero Engines
, and was listed as managing director when the company was formally registered in March 1936. Also in March 1936, Appleby became consultant to the newly formed Puttnam Aircraft Co Ltd, that advertised "The P.A.C. Pou ... fitted with the Carden Aero engine ... every machine made by P.A.C. is test flown and passed by Stephen V. Appleby". Appleby spent the spring and summer of 1936 promoting and displaying Flying Fleas at aerodromes throughout the UK, in conjunction with appearances in local car showrooms. In 1936, after producing about five aircraft, Puttnam Aircraft ceased trading due to the terminal illness of Appleby's friend Martin Payne.
In April 1936, Baynes made improvements to the Flying Flea design, beyond those on Appleby's Flea, and named the result as the Baynes Cantilever Pou. The prototype of that (G-AEGD), plus a later example (G-AEJD), were extensively test-flown and demonstrated by Appleby.
On 3 August 1936, Appleby flew his personal Flying Flea (G-ADMH) in the First International Flying Flea Challenge Trophy Race at Ramsgate Airport
, gaining second place behind a lower-powered French Flea in the handicapped event. Henri Mignet flew across the channel to attend the event, in a HM.18 Flea that Appleby then purchased and registered (G-AENV).
In October 1936, the Air Ministry stopped renewing the Authorisation to Fly documents of
all Flying Fleas that had not received approved modifications. That followed French and British investigations into several fatal crashes, and some full-scale wind tunnel tests. Appleby then quit flying, emigrated back to France, and was later employed by De Havilland Aircraft Company.
Appleby died in London in 1984.
Early years
Stephen Appleby was born in London on 9 February 1912, the son of Swedish-French parents, attended numerous schools in France, Italy, Norway, Sweden and UK, and left school aged 15. He was employed by a property owner near his mother's home at Beaulieu-sur-MerBeaulieu-sur-Mer
Beaulieu-sur-Mer , Italian: Belluogo, is a seaside village on the French Riviera between Nice and Monaco. It is a commune in the Alpes-Maritimes department and borders the communes of Saint-Jean-Cap-Ferrat, Èze, and Villefranche-sur-Mer.-History:...
, near Nice. After taking an interest in motorcycles and engines, he was attracted by advertisements and a book "Le Sport de L'Air" produced by Henri Mignet
Henri Mignet
Henri Mignet, Henri Mignet, Henri Mignet, (October 19, 1893 in Charente-Maritime – August 31, 1965 in Pessac in Gironde, was a French radio engineer who became well-known as an aircraft designer and builder...
about his HM.8 Avionette monoplane. In early 1930, Appleby travelled to Paris, and sought out Mignet for advice, that was the start of a long friendship. He built a HM.8 with a Harley-Davidson
Harley-Davidson
Harley-Davidson , often abbreviated H-D or Harley, is an American motorcycle manufacturer. Founded in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, during the first decade of the 20th century, it was one of two major American motorcycle manufacturers to survive the Great Depression...
engine in six months. On 3 December 1931, it was successfully flown and tested by two highly experienced pilots at Nice aerodrome. Via personal contacts, he then negotiated to receive reduced-rate flying training from Valentine Baker
Valentine Baker (pilot)
Captain Valentine Henry Baker MC AFC served in all three of the British Armed Forces during the First World War. After the war he became a civilian flight instructor, and co-founder of the Martin-Baker Aircraft Company...
of the Airwork Flying School at Heston Aerodrome
Heston Aerodrome
Heston Aerodrome was a 1930s airfield located to the west of London, UK, operational between 1929 and 1947. It was situated on the border of the Heston and Cranford areas of Hounslow, Middlesex...
, in return for publicising his exploits in the magazine "Les Ailes". By June 1932, he had learned to fly, and also purchased a 34 hp ABC Scorpion
ABC Scorpion
|-See also:-Bibliography:* Gunston, Bill. World Encyclopedia of Aero Engines. Cambridge, England. Patrick Stephens Limited, 1989. ISBN 1-85260-163-9* Guttery, T.E. The Shuttleworth Collection. London: Wm. Carling, 1969....
engine for his HM.8. He returned to Beaulieu, fitted the new engine, and flew it without authorisation from Nice aerodrome. There was no prospect of legitimately flying from an aerodrome, so he fitted some existing floats, but they proved too heavy to permit a takeoff. He removed the wing, and taxied the combination on water from Nice to Beaulieu. He then purchased a Caudron C.109
Caudron C.109
The Caudron C.109 was a light utility aircraft built in France in the late 1920s.-Design and development:The C.109 was a parasol-winged braced monoplane of conventional configuration with fixed tailskid undercarriage. The pilot and single passenger sat in tandem open cockpits...
, with the intention of offering flying training, but an engine failure and crash ensued. In 1933, he was offered employment with Airwork Ltd at Heston in the flight traffic office.
Flying Fleas in England
In early 1935, Appleby started construction of a Mignet HM.14Mignet HM.14
The Mignet HM.14 Flying Flea is a single-seat light aircraft first flown in 1933, designed for amateur construction. It was the first of a family of aircraft collectively known as Flying Fleas....
Flying Flea, in a shed at Heston aerodrome loaned to him by his employer, Airwork Ltd. Appleby made a main wing of 5 metres (16.4 ft) span, on the advice of Mignet, who was unaware that a heavier than normal engine (water-cooled Ford 10 unit) was to be fitted. Final assembly was in an Airwork hangar. At the same time, Appleby assisted in the construction of a more standard HM.14 (G-ADME) for John Chamier.
On 14 July 1935, at Heston aerodrome, Appleby piloted the first flight of his Flying Flea (G-ADMH), the first to fly in UK. On 24 July 1935, the Air Ministry
Air Ministry
The Air Ministry was a department of the British Government with the responsibility of managing the affairs of the Royal Air Force, that existed from 1918 to 1964...
awarded it the first ever Authorisation to Fly document, being equivalent to a UK Certificate of Airworthiness with additional conditions and limitations. On 25 July 1935, he demonstrated the Flying Flea to the press, but force-landed it in a nearby ploughed field, where it came to rest inverted. Appleby attributed the accident to insufficient wing area and a high ambient air temperature. Sir John Carden, already acquainted with Appleby, offered to convert a Ford water-cooled engine for him that offered power of about 30 hp. The Daily Express
Daily Express
The Daily Express switched from broadsheet to tabloid in 1977 and was bought by the construction company Trafalgar House in the same year. Its publishing company, Beaverbrook Newspapers, was renamed Express Newspapers...
newspaper had covered the construction of Appleby's Flying Flea, and it gave £100 for the aircraft to be repaired with modifications designed by L.E. Baynes, at the factory of Abbott-Baynes Sailplanes at Wrecclesham
Wrecclesham
Wrecclesham is a village on the outskirts of Farnham in Waverley a borough of the county of Surrey, England.Farnham Pottery is located here, as is the Wrecclesham recreation ground which caters for the local cricket, football, rugby and tennis clubs and it is where Jonny Wilkinson and Graham Thorpe...
, near Farnham, Surrey. The modifications included a new 6 metres (20 ft) span front wing with a repositioned wing pivot, a partial engine cowling, and a low-mounted radiator for the newly converted Carden-Ford engine. On 12 September 1935, the rebuilt aircraft flew again at Heston. Soon after that, the aircraft was converted to replace the wing control cables with twin "push-rods".
On 5 December 1935, Appleby piloted his own Flying Flea (G-ADMH) from Lympne Airport
Lympne Airport
Lympne Airport , , was a military and later civil airfield at Lympne, Kent, United Kingdom, which operated from 1916 to 1984. RFC Lympne was originally an acceptance point for aircraft being delivered to, and returning from, France during the First World War...
to Saint-Inglevert Airfield
Saint-Inglevert Airfield
Saint-Inglevert Airfield is a general aviation airfield at Saint-Inglevert, Pas-de-Calais, France. In the First World War an airfield was established near Saint-Inglevert by the Royal Flying Corps, later passing to the Royal Air Force on formation and thus becoming RAF Saint Inglevert...
, to become the only cross-channel flight of a Flying Flea from England to France, at least until the 1980s. On 10 December 1935, Appleby's employer and friend Sir John Carden died in an airliner crash. Appleby took over the management of Carden Aero Engines
Carden Aero Engines
-References:*Jackson, A.J.J. 1974. British Civil Aircraft, Vol.1. Putnam ISBN 0370100069*Lumsden, Alec. British Piston Engines and their Aircraft. Marlborough, Wiltshire: Airlife Publishing, 1994. ISBN 1-85310-294-6-External links:*...
, and was listed as managing director when the company was formally registered in March 1936. Also in March 1936, Appleby became consultant to the newly formed Puttnam Aircraft Co Ltd, that advertised "The P.A.C. Pou ... fitted with the Carden Aero engine ... every machine made by P.A.C. is test flown and passed by Stephen V. Appleby". Appleby spent the spring and summer of 1936 promoting and displaying Flying Fleas at aerodromes throughout the UK, in conjunction with appearances in local car showrooms. In 1936, after producing about five aircraft, Puttnam Aircraft ceased trading due to the terminal illness of Appleby's friend Martin Payne.
In April 1936, Baynes made improvements to the Flying Flea design, beyond those on Appleby's Flea, and named the result as the Baynes Cantilever Pou. The prototype of that (G-AEGD), plus a later example (G-AEJD), were extensively test-flown and demonstrated by Appleby.
On 3 August 1936, Appleby flew his personal Flying Flea (G-ADMH) in the First International Flying Flea Challenge Trophy Race at Ramsgate Airport
Ramsgate Airport
Ramsgate Airport was a civil airfield at Ramsgate, Kent, United Kingdom which opened in July 1935. It was briefly taken over by the Royal Air Force in the Second World War, becoming RAF Ramsgate. The airfield was then closed and obstructed to prevent its use...
, gaining second place behind a lower-powered French Flea in the handicapped event. Henri Mignet flew across the channel to attend the event, in a HM.18 Flea that Appleby then purchased and registered (G-AENV).
In October 1936, the Air Ministry stopped renewing the Authorisation to Fly documents of
all Flying Fleas that had not received approved modifications. That followed French and British investigations into several fatal crashes, and some full-scale wind tunnel tests. Appleby then quit flying, emigrated back to France, and was later employed by De Havilland Aircraft Company.
Appleby died in London in 1984.