Above photos show starboard (R.H.) view, front wing struts, laminated mahogany / glass
main gear, fiberglass moulded engine cowling, nose gear, enclosed canopy, custom prop.
Note the pivotable air speed pitot tube on R.H. Side of the wing center section, and the
Piper Cub vertical style fuel tank stick meter just forward of the windshield. The forward  
wing outer panels have been removed from the hinges, but the aft wing outer panels are
shown in their folded position. This aircraft fits sideways in Al's small two car garage.

Above photos show a very clean and basic instrument panel. The throttle is the left hand
side red cluster knob and the front wing / rudder control stick is the green handle.

Above photos show the engine cowling with access by duel L.H. and R.H. hinged doors on
the centerline of the aircraft. The converted VW 1800cc engine shown is absolutely new
(despite the years of protected storage) complete with ignition, gear box drive, carbs and
rear magneto. I doubt that it even has 4 - hours of running time. Fully baffled and with a thin
galvanized steel sheet firewall on the bulkhead behind the engine. The tubular engine mount
can also be seen. Absolutely clean.
.

Above photos show the Mahogany / glass laminated main landing leaf with what was
viewed as 8 inch wheels with hydraulic disk brakes. Tubular steel bracing also attaches
internal into the fuselage through cover plates. The nose gear is self-swiveling with tension
spring shocks, shown, and anti-shimmy springs. The wheel appears to be a 6 inch size. Al
custom designed these also. Al was a Senior Design Engineer for the Douglas Aircraft
Company while he was building this aircraft. All welding was done by certified aircraft
welders. After nearly 18 years, there is still air in the main gear tires, gone from the nose
wheel tire.

Left photo above shows the aft wing hinge arrangement with the outer wing panel folded.
There was no dust on the wing when the plastic sheeting was removed for taking this
photo. The aft wing center section also has full length trim tabs for up and down in-flight
operation. The right photo above shows another view of Al's custom handy work....his
custom made propeller.

A hard to get at view to take the photo of the
rudder is shown above left.
It appears to be a 40% fixed vertical fin and
60% rudder with a rudder counter-balance at
the top. An excellent combination for effective
rudder control. The aft wing is also shown
folded under the protective plastic sheeting.
Just part of a forward wing tip panel can be
seen on the floor to the extreme lower left.

The FAA "N" number 3174C was issued
October 01,1991 and cancelled on
May 18, 2007

Above right is another instrument panel
photo. From left clock-wise:
Airspeed indicator, "Lev-o-gage II" ball side
slip gage, Engine gages - RPM,
Temperature, Oil pressure, and Electrical
switches - Magneto On/off master, Mag.
check on/off, master switch.
The lower center vertical meter is the
forward wing angle of attack indicator from
-3 degrees to +12 degrees.
There is also a magnetic compass, just out
of the picture at the top, above the ball side
slip gage.
The photo to the left shows a straight on
shot from the engine cowling to the
windshield / canopy.

Note the single structural square tube for
moving the forward wing to change the angle
of attack (being held up by a stick).

Hinged access doors to the fuel tank and
instruments are also evident.

Uniquely designed brackets bolted to the
main spar (spar not seen) of the forward
wing are also evident to the trained eye.

AL J. TESTA'S 1991 MIGNET HM-293

Wings: All mahogany wood construction with truss ribs and what appears to be Stit's
Poly-fiber heat shrink fabric. Aircraft rib lacing throughout....the positive old fashioned
way.... no adhesive to come loose. Fabric is absolutely in new condition. The center
section of the aft wing contains an in flight adjustable up / down trailing edge full length
trim tabs, both sides of the fuselage. Internally finished with varnish

Custom forward wing structural tube design, triangulated to resist wing twist and fore and
aft lateral torsion and bending loads. Shown in the last photo above.

Vertical Tail: All mahogany wood construction with what appears to be Ceconite fabric.
Two piece construction consisting of a fixed 40% vertical forward fin and 60% rudder.
Rudder is cable controlled.

Fuselage: Mahogany stringers, longerons, inner coastal wood construction. Skins and
internal gussets are aircraft mahogany plywood. External fiberglass cloth covering. All
wood internal surfaces are finish coated with varnish. Small wheel tail skid installed.

Engine: Fully functional converted 4- cylinder 1800cc VW with gear box, electrical
harness, carburetor with carburetor heat, and magneto. No electric starter. Must hand
prop to start. Absolutely in like NEW condition and spotlessly clean. Estimated time on
engine is 4 - hours. Pre-runs and one taxi test is all the time this engine has on it.

Landing Gear: Trycicle gear arrangement. Main gear wheel size appears to be 8 inch
with hydraulic disk brakes. The nose gear appears to have a 6 inch wheel.

Propeller: Laminated Mahogany and Ash hardwood. Size and Pitch to match this engine
would be 52 x 28.

Cockpit: Comfortable in adverse weather. Mahogany cockpit top with fabric sun block
custom fitted cover, No side windows. The cockpit top smooths the airflow aft past the
vertical fin and rudder.
Location of the San Diego Air & Space Museum Annex in
El Cajon, California.
Copyright © 2000- 2014 by Richard W. Fraser  All Rights Reserved
AL Testa's beautifully built
HM-293 now has a new home
Click on the photos to enlarge
Click on the arrow to go back to the Home Page
Technical Data
1991 MIGNET HM-293 - TRI ● AL J. TESTA'S
1991 MIGNET HM-293 TRICYCLE GEAR POU du
CIEL FLYING FLEA....
Now on display at the San
Diego Air & Space Museum (El Cajon Annex)
.

This aircraft was taxi tested at the Long Beach Airport in
California in 1991, but has never flown. Al could not get
a hanger in the desert for flight testing and he refused to
leave the aircraft out in the open, exposed to the
weather.
Al passed away before he was able to enjoy the fruits of
his extensive labor. This is absolutely a beautifully, well
constructed aircraft.

All wood is Mahogany. Even the propeller was hand
made by Al from laminated Mahogany and Ash. After the
first taxi testing, this aircraft was returned to Al's home
garage where it has stayed for the last 18 years, in total
darkness, out of the weather, and covered with plastic
sheeting as shown in the accompanying photos. For all
practical purposes, this aircraft is nearly NEW.
Ray_Stits_Aircraft
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FRASER AERO TECHNOLOGY COMPANY  
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