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Weight- and space-saving was the goal of Henri Mignet when designing the HM.16, itself a derivative of the earlier HM.14. At only 10 feet, 10 inches long, its short fuselage and its nose-high position give the impression that its wings are positioned at too great an angle of incidence (the angle of the wing relative […]
Mignet HM.160 Bebe Pou (Baby Flea) Read More »
French radio engineer Henri Mignet set out in the early 1930s to design a plane that was not only easy and safe to fly, but one that could be built at home with basic skills. In November of 1934, Mignet published Le Sport de l’Air which included all the dimensions, plans, and tools needed for
In 1961, Chevrolet introduced the Corvair 95 Greenbriar van and Rampside pickup. Using a shorter 95-inch wheelbase, the van and pickup expanded the Corvair model range now comprised of a sedan, wagon, coupe, convertible, van and pickup. All were equipped with air-cooled, flat six-cylinder engines and either a manual transmission or two-speed Powerglide automatic, and,
Chevrolet Corphibian – 1961 Read More »
In 1928, Henri Mignet wrote a series of articles in the French aviation magazine Les Ailes (“Wings” in English) about the development of his new plane, the HM.8 Avionette. He described how, with little money and limited know-how, the average person could build an airplane themselves. By 1929, the first homebuilt HM.8s had made their
Mignet HM.8 Avionette Replica – 1931 Read More »
In 1952, disabled Russian veterans of World War II (or the “Great Patriotic War” as it was called in the USSR) received their long overdue motorized transportation in the form of an open three-wheeler, the SL1. Built by a motorbike company in Serpukhov, the light vehicle (eventually powered by a 346cc engine) proved that 3
SZD SD3 “Invalidka” Car – 1980 Read More »
In post-WWII Europe, Communist Czechoslovakian cars were a rare commodity. Most people rode motorcycles and bicycles since most of the population simply could not afford a car. In 1948-49 The Automobile Club of the Czechoslovak Republic sponsored a competition to design a lidove vozitko, or people’s car. The only three requirements were that the vehicle
Lidove Vozitko – 1950 Read More »
Anton F. Erickson built this streamlined car in his garage in Dayton, Ohio at the end of World War II. Mr. Erickson had a patented method for repairing metal panels, which is evident when looking at this car – the body is made of many small pieces of aluminum instead of several big sheets. Anthony
Erickson Streamliner – 1945 Read More »
Built by Jean Legeay of Gennes, France, the L’Éclair is a home-built propeller-driven car. Built in M Legeay’s garage, he made every part, except the Indian V-twin engine, the wheels, and the gauges. He even carved the propeller himself! The name L’Éclair shares its meaning with the pastry; éclair in French means “flash of light”. It
Inspired by watching events such as the Port Townsend (WA) Kinetic Sculpture Race, it occurred to local tinkerer and inventor John Montgomery how simple it would be to run a live axle through the middle of a canoe and use an inverted bicycle frame to drive it. The Autocanoe was born. The one seen here