A CLASSIC Royal Enfield and its parachute cage were among a vanload of motorcycles stolen last Thursday.
The Flying Flea is part of Royal Enfield’s own historical collection and was on loan for a photoshoot at the time of the theft.
Little is known of the circumstances of the theft, with Royal Enfield yet to officially comment. However, historical re-enactment group Poor Bloody Infantry posted on Facebook to say that the Mercedes Sprinter van had been taken from outside a Solihull Travel lodge last Thursday night.
According to the post, the van contained the all-original Flying Flea and Parachute cradle among other bikes, all of which belonged to Royal Enfield.
The lightweight 125cc Flying Flea was designed in the late 1930s to be dropped by parachute to troops during the Second World War.
It is unknown whether the stolen model ever saw active service. Nowadays, it usually resides in the entrance to Royal Enfield’s heritage centre at Bruntingthorpe.
