Exhibition. “The epic aviation story of Henri Mignet, inventor of the Pou-du-Ciel”

Here’s a chance to explore the life and greatest achievement of aircraft designer Henri Mignet – the Pou-du-Ciel, an ultra-light aircraft from the 1930s that continues to inspire others today.

Alongside the great innovators of French aviation, such as Marcel Dassault, Louis Blériot and Louis Breguet (to name but a few!), there are other names that have remained in the collective memory to varying degrees. And while they may be less familiar to the general public, they nonetheless made their mark on their era – as did Henri Mignet.

Nicknamed “the Patron Saint”, the man himself and his innovations made a big impact in the 1930s, resulting in a large number of lightweight and ultra-lightweight models. The most well-known of them all? The unforgettable – and ageless – “Pou-du-Ciel” (the Flying Flea or HM-14), an “easy” aircraft to build (then called an “avionnette” or light aircraft), now a generic term for amateur-built aircraft under a ULA license.

To pay tribute to this extraordinary designer, who was “trained on the job” and keen to share his knowledge (he had published details of how to build two of his aircraft in a magazine), Bois-Colombes is dedicating an exhibition to him until December 2, 2023. The event, held in the town hall of the Hauts-de-Seine town (where he lived), presents the personal life and aeronautical work of Henri Mignet, who was also involved in developing transceivers, cameras and other devices.

Visitors will be able to admire an HM-14 (of course!), as well as photographs, books, all sorts of models and his personal effects. Please note that you can sign up for guided tours (lasting around an hour), which are free but limited to 15 people. In short, this is a wonderful must-see exhibition on the outskirts of Paris!

Exhibition. “The epic aviation story of Henri Mignet, inventor of the Pou-du-Ciel”. Bois-Colombes Town Hall. 15, rue Charles-Duflos, 92277 Bois-Colombes, France

Monday to Friday (8:30 am – 12 pm and 1:30 pm – 5:30 pm) and Saturday (8:30 am – 12 pm). Every Wednesday in November (at 3 pm) and Saturday, December 2 (at 10:30 am), the last day of the event.