Louis Alfred Ponnier, director of Hanriot factory at Reims, founded Avions Ponnier 1912, producing racing monoplane (2nd place in Coupe Internationale at Reims 1913 flown by Vedrines). Produced M.1 biplane fighter 1915 (believed by Hanriot designer E.E. Dupont) characterized by giant spinner and span hardly greater than length. Larger 2-seat M.2 (January 1916) remained prototype, but Ponnier formed SAFCA (Société Anonyme Française de Constructions Aéronautiques) which built possibly 50 M.1s, at least half for Aviation Militaire Belge.