Pons

   Between 1910 and 1912 Pierre Pons probably formed the SAFA (Societe Anonyme Franjais d'Aviation). This firm may have built or rebuilt and sold Caudrons and the curious machine described below.
   The all-metal pusher canard biplane built by Pons in 1911 for Captain Morel was already being referred to by the end of the year and early into 1912 as the Morel; it made its few short flights at Issy in April 1912. Pons and Morel may have been partners, or Morel the sponsor and Pons the designer; more likely, Pons was the constructor and Morel the designer.
   The rudder and elevators were mounted on top of the long pointed nose, and the pilot sat high on the fuselage amidships. The most distinctive feature of the Pons was the arrangement of its wings, very close together; the top one was fixed on the upper longerons at the rear end of the fuselage, and the lower one pivoted on its main spar, each side differentially, for aileron control. It was braced to the fixed upper wing with 2 V-shaped panels on each side, pivoted on the main spar of the lower wing; the outer V on each side was covered to serve as a fin. The top wing was of airfoil section, the lower was flat.
   The structure was of steel tubing covered by sheet aluminum, and sat on a tricycle undercarriage, 2 close-set wheels forming the forward point of the triangle. Only 9 bolts were needed to disassemble the entire machine.

   (Span: 9 m; length: 6.5 m; wing area (top): 11 sqm; total: 22 sqm (Pons claimed the wing area when the lower wing was pivoted fully was only 15.2 sqm); weight: 400 kg; 60 hp Anzani)