Fred W. Brown, of South View Road, Helton, Peterborough, worked for the engineering firm Peter Brotherhood Ltd. Fred was about 30 when, with assistance from Noel Johnson, Frank Sergeant and W Ward, built an ABC powered Flea G-AZNI (registered on 5th September 1936) with the constructors number FWB.1. That same year, Brown prepared the converted Austin 7 engine for Jack B. Patson's Flea G-EANJ.

Brown had seen plans for the Corben Baby Ace in an American magazine in 1936 and decided to build an example of this high wing, single-seat cabin monoplane. He enlisted the help of Noel Johnson, then 17 and working at Brotherhood's as an apprentice draughtsman. Construction started in early 1939, by which time Fred had joined the Peterborough Aircraft Company (PAC) of Horsey Toll, near Peterborough. He altered several aspects of the Corben design and on the advice of the PAC designers changed the aerofoil to Clark 'Y'. The aircraft first flew in August 1939, but with the outbreak of war the aircraft was stored and later burnt.

1. Air Britain Archive 1995/4 (Air-Britain Publications)