W.Green, G.Swanborough The Complete Book of Fighters

PONNIER M.1 France

   In 1915, Avions Ponnier produced the M.l single-seat fighter, allegedly to the designs of Emile Eugene Dupont, who was subsequently to be responsible for the Hanriot HD-1. An unequal span single-bay nominally staggered biplane of wooden construction with fabric skinning and powered by an 80 hp Le Rhone 9C rotary engine, the M.1 had a single 7,7-mm Lewis gun on an overwing mounting. Featuring an inordinately large propeller spinner and extremely small tail surfaces, an early example of the M.1 (possibly the prototype) crashed on 29 January 1916 while being evaluated at Avord by Charles Nungesser. Nonetheless, production was undertaken by La Societe Anonyme Frangaise de Constructions Aeronautiques, which, early in 1916, succeeded Avions Ponnier, but was still controlled by Louis Alfred Ponnier. Most M.1s were procured by the Aviation Militaire Beige, which apparently received at least 18, and one or two went to French units. Some Belgian M.1s were flown without the spinner and they were later fitted with fixed fins of low aspect ratio, and enlarged tailplanes and elevators. According to the Belgian ace Willy Coppens, the M.1 was found to be unusable and soon disappeared. It never equipped a French unit and was declared obsolete in November 1916. A similar, but slightly larger, Ponnier two-seater was designed as the M.2 and offered to the RFC in January 1916. There is no evidence that it was built, however.

Max speed, 104 mph (167 km/h) at sea level.
Time to 3,280 ft (1000 m), 4.67 min.
Empty weight, 671 lb (304 kg).
Loaded weight, 1,023 lb (464 kg).
Span, 20 ft 3 1/3 in (6,18 m).
Length, 18 ft 10 1/5 in (5,75 m).
Height, 7 ft 6 1/2 in (2,30 m).
Wing area, 145.3 sqft (13,50 m2).