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Pictured: The week-long event was incident-packed with numerous crashes but, miraculously for the early age of aviation, there were no casualties.

Remarkable photos of the first ever international flying exhibition have emerged for sale 112 years later and are tipped to fetch £16,000. (19,000euros)

Over 200,000 spectators attended the Reims Air Meet in north eastern France in 1909 which took place around a six mile rectangular racetrack converted from wheat fields.

Thirty-eight aeroplanes were entered into the show, competing in a variety of contests including the longest flight, highest altitude and top speed.