Aubrun-Payen AP 10 Flying Wing, scratchbuild 1/72

[fjaweijfopi4j48]

A model from 12 years ago:

 

Specially conceived to fly to the Boulangerie, get the highest possible number of baguettes and croissants and get back on time for breakfast with minimum fuss.
A collaborative venture between Nicolas Roland Payen and Aubrun originated this cute little French plane that was propelled by a 25 hp AVA engine.

It flew in 1935 and 1936 receiving later a 40 hp engine which modified a tad the nose profile.
At 4.95 meters of wingspan this tiny plane was a consistent flyer of which a derivative, two-place version was conceived but ultimately not produced.

Quite a sight it must have been with those curvaceous, moth-like elegant lines and the purr of the small power plant.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

At a little bit less than 7 centimeters (2.75 inches) span, it's tiny.

 

[jean]

Hi Moa,

 

the word Payen got my attention and I had to look at this post of yours. I am not disappointed, and I had no idea this plane had ever existed! I used to cycle to my favorite boulangerie in order to arrive at the back door around 4.30 in the morning for a sack full of hot croissants and a bunch of baguettes! Absolutely great memories!

And how much better it would have been with such a plane!

Payen has always been one of my most admired aeronautical precursor. In a fair world, he would have been institutionalized at an early age and spent the rest of his dream-full life in a padded cell... Thank god this wretched world is all but fair!

Congrats for showing us what the human imagination can devise.

 

Cheers

JR

[JWM]

Next odd... Very nice model! Many thanks for showing us all those oddities

J-W

[pheonix]

It strikes me that many of these aircraft that you are showing us were variations on a flying wing. What is also striking is how small amny of them sere. Another lovely offering from the Moa workshop.

 

P

[fjaweijfopi4j48]

22 minutes ago, pheonix said:

It strikes me that many of these aircraft that you are showing us were variations on a flying wing. What is also striking is how small amny of them sere. Another lovely offering from the Moa workshop.

 

P

I don't think craftsmanship (regarding home-built planes) is lost, but I believe it is definitely dwindling. Most of my neighbors and friends think that bolts and nuts are strange, mystifying objects.

The compactness of flying wings or lifting bodies may have seemed attractive to some of those designers.