Everything about Spad S Xiii totally explained
The
SPAD S.XIII was a
French biplane fighter aircraft of
World War I, developed by
Société Pour L'Aviation et ses Dérivés (SPAD) from the earlier highly successful
SPAD S.VII. It was one of the most capable fighters of the war, and one of the most-produced, with 8,472 built and orders for around 10,000 more cancelled at the
Armistice.
Design and development
The S.VII had entered service in September of
1916, but by early
1917 it had been surpassed by the latest German scouts, leading French
flying ace,
Georges Guynemer to lobby for an improved version. SPAD designer Louis Béchereau initially produced the
S.XII, which had limited success, and finally the S.XIII.
The S.XIII differed from its predecessor by incorporating a number of aerodynamic and other refinements, including larger wings and rudder, a more powerful
Hispano-Suiza engine, and a second
0.303 Vickers machine gun for added firepower. All these improvements led to greater increases in flight and combat performance. It was faster than its main contemporaries, the British
Sopwith Camel and the German
Fokker D.VII, and was renowned for its ruggedness and diving ability. However, its manoeuvrability was inferior, especially at low speeds. Poor gliding characteristics and a very sharp
stall made it a difficult aircraft for novice pilots to land safely.
Operational history
It first flew on
April 4,
1917, and the following month was already being delivered to the
French Air Service. Other Allied forces were quick to adopt the new fighter as well, and nearly half of the 893 purchased for the
United States Army Air Service were still in service in
1920. It was also exported to
Japan,
Poland, and
Czechoslovakia after the war.
The S.XIII was flown by famous French fighter pilots such as
Georges Guynemer and
Rene Fonck. Italy's
Francesco Baracca and the
United States Army Air Service's
Eddie Rickenbacker, also became leading aces with 34 and 26 confirmed victories, respectively.
Operators
Further Information
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