APEV
| Company type | Private |
|---|---|
| Industry | Aerospace |
| Founded | 1997 |
| Founder | Daniel Dalby |
| Headquarters | Peynier , France |
| Products | Homebuilt aircraft |
APEV (Association pour la Promotion des Echelles Volantes, translated as Association for the Promotion of Flying Ladders) is a French aircraft manufacturer established by Daniel Dalby in 1997 and headquartered in Peynier. The firm focuses on the design and manufacture of lightweight, cost-effective homebuilt aircraft.
The initial aircraft, known as the Pouchel, drew inspiration from the 1930s Henri Mignet-created Mignet Pou-du-Ciel (Flying Flea). Its distinctive feature was the innovative use of three standard aluminium ladders, which helped minimize assembly time, expenses, and overall weight. The Pouchel took to the skies for the first time on 14 March 1999 and rapidly achieved sales of 120 plan sets. Following the withdrawal of ladder manufacturers due to liability issues, Dalby reengineered the craft using aeronautical-grade rectangular aluminium tubing. This redesign resulted in a lighter and more economical version called the Pouchel II. The model further developed into the Pouchel Light and an electrically powered variant, the Pouchelec. Later additions to the lineup include the two-seat Bipouchel and the Pouchel Classic.
Aircraft
| Model name | Maiden flight | Quantity produced | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| APEV Bipouchel | two-seat ultralight aircraft | ||
| APEV Cubchel | single-seat ultralight derived from the Afford-A-Plane | ||
| APEV Demoichelle | single-seat ultralight inspired by the 1908 Santos-Dumont Demoiselle | ||
| APEV Pouchel | 1999 | single-seat ultralight built using three ladders | |
| APEV Pouchel II | single-seat ultralight aircraft | ||
| APEV Pouchel Light | single-seat ultralight variant | ||
| APEV Pouchelec | single-seat electric-powered aircraft | ||
| APEV Pouchel Classic | single-seat ultralight aircraft | ||
| APEV Scoutchel | single-seat ultralight aircraft |