Airspeed A.S.5 Courier G-ADAX in the livery of Portsmouth, Southsea & Isle of Wight Aviation Ltd.

The author’s Flea emerges from an upstairs bedroom at his Isle of Wight home.

Rene Coupez’s H.M.14, No 15, being towed to the Orly Flea meeting in October 1935. Built by Coupez jointly with Victor Lane, this Flea was powered by a 25 h.p. Poinsard engine.

The master himself; Henri Mignet about to fly an H.M.14 Pou-du-Ciel at Orly in October 1935. This “Flea” was fitted with a three-cylinder Aubier et Dunne engine, developing 28 h.p. at 3,400 r.p.m.

A line-up of Poux at Orly during the October 1935 meeting, when around 15,000 spectators turned up to watch the entertainment. At one stage there were nine Poux airborne at the same time.

The October 1935 front cover of the magazine Practical Mechanics, containing the first instalment of a three-part article on how to build a Flea.

Two mouthwatering illustrations from Mignet’s book The Flying Flea, published in English by the Air League in 1935.