The Farman "Moustique" lightplane series

[cluttonfred]

The Farman Moustique series of aircraft built in small numbers from 1919 to 1936 were very interesting early efforts to create what today we call ultralight or microlight aircraft. All were wire-braced shoulder-wing monoplanes of modest weight and power. The only one to have any real success was the F.451 built in modest numbers for the Aviation Populaire program. The one the interests me most, however, is the last one built and the only two-seater, the F.455 Moustique III or Super Moustique. The one and only example, F-AYOL, hangs today in the Musée de l’Air et de l’Espace at Le Bourget outside Paris.

Here are some more nice recent photos of F-AYOL.

I am trying to gather as much information as possible on this plane: a nice 3-view, clear detail photos and contemporary articles. The eventual goal is a modern, affordable, amateur-built, VW-powered microlight aircraft design inspired by the Moustique for fun flying, goggles and scarf and all. If anyone has anything they can share, please do post that material here.

Thanks!

Matthew

 

[hesham]

Hi,


http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Farman_Moustique

The last Moustique development was the two seat F 455 Super Moustique, initially called the Moustique III, which first flew in 1936. Its span was increased by 1.65 m (5 ft 5 in) and it had a more powerful 35 hp (26 kW) Mangin 2 A-01 engine. Only one was built; its performance in the climb was poor, but in any case the light aircraft section of the Farman works was shut down when the company was nationalised in March 1937.[1]

 

[cluttonfred]

Hmmm, is there a comment in there? Don't worry, I am planning on more than 35 hp!

 

[cluttonfred]

For others with an interest in the Farman Moustique series of light planes, here is something new, though I apologize for the quality as these are cell phone camera photos of photos.

In the files at the Musée de l'Air et de l'Espace at Le Bourget, I found these apparently contemporary photos of a single-seat F.450 or F.451 Moustique with a modified empennage using an all-moving rudder and stabilator with full-span anti-servo flaps. One photo seems to suggest that the stabilator halves could move differentially as "tailerons" but it may just be that only one side was hooked up when the photos were taken. Does anyone know more?

Cheers,

Matthew

 

[cluttonfred]

In a recent visit the Musée de l'Air et de l'Espace in Le Bourget, I was able to access the museums files on a few light planes. With apologies for the quality as I did not have a scanner, so this is a scan of a photocopy, and light blue and black on white printing did not copy well, here is the original Farman factory brochure for the F.455, later known as the Super Moustique. The artist's conception from the brochure separately is quite nice and shows some differences from the actual plane, notably two separate windscreens instead of the single windscreen of the sole prototype in Le Bourget. Perhaps a modification after the first test flights proved too "refreshing?" Here, too, are a few recent pics of the F.455 from visit. Cheers, Matthew

 

[cluttonfred]

For any others with an interest in obscure French light aircraft, here are two articles, a type sheet and the original factory brochure on the Farman F.451 Moustique (Mosquito) from my recent visit to the research library of the Musée de l'Air et de l'Espace in Le Bourget. This 1930s single-seat ultralight was the last (but for the two-seat F.455 prototype) in a series of conceptually similar Farman designs stretching back to 1919--all wire-braced, mid-wing single-seat monoplanes of generous span and modest power. The F.451 was the most successful of them all, built in respectable numbers for the day, a total of 46, as they were ordered for the government-sponsored Aviation Populaire flying movement.

Specifications (F.451)
Data from Les Avions Farman
General characteristics
Capacity: 1
Length: 6.40 m (21 ft 0 in)
Wingspan: 8.07 m (26 ft 6 in)
Height: 1.90 m (6 ft 3 in)
Wing area: 10.50 m2 (113.0 sq ft)
Empty weight: 151 kg (333 lb)
Gross weight: 285 kg (628 lb)
Powerplant: 1 × AVA 4 2-cylinder horizontally-opposed two-stroke, 19 kW (25 hp)
Propellers: 2-bladed wooden Merville Srs.639
Performance
Maximum speed: 130 km/h (81 mph; 70 kn)
Range: 350 km (217 mi; 189 nmi)

 

[Stargazer]

Splendid!

 

[cluttonfred]

Hmmm, a challenge for our members...does anyone have any photos of the cockpit (seat, control stick, instrument panel, etc.) of a Farman F.450 or F.451 Moustique?

 

[Stargazer]

Farman bombers and transports are fairly well known and covered through different books.
Farman light sport aircraft, however, are much less known and rarely tackled.

Although mostly forgotten nowadays, the Farman Moustique (French for mosquito) enjoyed a long career which began in 1919 and continued a little before World War II! It was a very basic shoulder-wing monoplane of wooden construction. Although built in very small numbers, I have counted no less than eleven distinct versions and designations of the Moustique design throughout its existence!

A first set of prototypes was built over a five-year period, between 1919 and 1924:

• 1919: Moustique, the original post-WW1 prototype with a 30-hp ABC Scorpion two-cylinder engine (1 built).
• 1920: HF 206 Moustique I, the same aircraft with same engine but reduced span.
• 1922: Moustique, a glider version of the above (1 built).
• 1923: Aviette, a less powerful development of the same design with a 17.5-hp Sergant Type A four-cylinder engine (2 built).
• 1923: Aviette, like above but with a 16-hp Salmson 3 Ad (AD 3) engine (1 built).
• 1923: Aviette, the same aircraft but with a Salmson D-7 engine instead.
• 1923: Aviette, one example built as a glider (need confirmation, no photos found).
• 1924: F 21 Moustique II, a derivative of HF 206 with a 35-hp Anzani 3 A2 engine (at least 2 built, F-ESAL, F-AHCL?)

(continued below)

 

[Stargazer]

A whole decade later, at a time when private aviation was finally taking off, Farman reconsidered the Moustique and put in into production. Although the design was completely reworked, it remained faithful to the original concept. Henry Farman's early vision of a light popular airplane for everyone was avenged!

• 1935: F 450 Moustique, a new, much later take on the design with a 35 hp Poinsard engine (5 built, including F-AONH, F-AROI, F-ARPA).
• 1936: F 451 Moustique, the only production version of the design, with a 25-hp two-stroke Ava 4 Aoo engine (46 built).
• 1936: F 455 Moustique III or Super-Moustique, a one-off side-by-side two-seater with a 35-hp Mengin 2A-01 engine (1 built, F-AOYL).

 

[ULM]

What magnificent information and photographs! I was just thinking that several versions of this aircraft could be considered legal ultralights. Furthermore, the wooden construction simplifies and reduces the cost of building