Blériot-SPAD S.XX
| Blériot-SPAD S.XX | |
|---|---|
| Type: | Fighter plane |
| Design country: | |
| Manufacturer: | |
| First flight: |
August 7, 1918 |
| Number of pieces: |
100 |
The Blériot-SPAD S.XX was a two-seat biplane - aircraft of the French manufacturer Société Pour L'Aviation et ses Dérivés .
history
This aircraft, the prototype of which took off for the first time on August 7, 1918 , was officially designated as a single-seat fighter , although it was equipped with two seats .
This was due to the unusual classification of this machine as a "protected single-seater" (monoplace protégé); The task of the second crew member was therefore to protect the pilot with the pivoting Lewis MG .
The first flight convinced the military and initially brought SPAD a production order for 300 machines per month. However, due to the end of the First World War , only 100 S.XX were built. 95 of these were given to the French Air Force, 3 to the Japanese Mitsubishi concern, and one was sold to Bolivia .
The potential of this aircraft was recognized, and in the years 1918 to 1922 the S.XX flown numerous records, including a world speed record in 1918 with a passenger at a speed of 230 km / h and a world record of 8900 m in July 1919 .
construction
The S.XX was a single-handled biplane with a wooden shell construction. The lower wings were made shorter than the upper ones, the upper wings were heavily swept, the lower, however, were at right angles to the fuselage; Ailerons on the lower wings. The machine had a two-wheeled chassis and a tail spur.
Versions
Due to the quality of the series machine, various conversions and improvements were made, especially for various racing aircraft.
- SPAD S.XXbis - an improved S.XX with enlarged wing and tail unit
- SPAD S.20bis-1, bis-2 and bis-3 - Conversion of the series model by the designer André Herbemont, who had also developed the series machine, to a single-seat machine and a reduction in the wingspan in order to reduce the air resistance; consistent design of the machines for air races
- SPAD S.20bis-4 - further reduction of the span to 6.80 m; on February 28, 1920, this machine set a world speed record of 283.864 km / h
- SPAD S.20bis-5 - renewed reduction of the wing area and relocation of the upper wing downwards by removing the canopy struts of the standard pattern; Participation of two S.20 to-5 in an air race in Etamples on September 20, 1920 (a second place)
- SPAD S.20bis-6 - version of the Hispano-Suiza engine improved to 235 kW (320 PS), upper wing again with - but shortened to the production version - canopy struts; With this machine, a new world speed record of 309.012 km / h was achieved on November 3, 1920
In addition, the following SPAD models can be viewed as immediate further developments of the S.XX:
Technical specifications
| Parameter | Data |
|---|---|
| crew | 2 |
| length | 7.30 m |
| span | 9.72 m |
| height | 2.80 m |
| Wing area | 30.00 m² |
| Empty mass | 867 kg |
| Max. Takeoff mass | 1306 kg |
| Top speed | 217 km / h at 4000 m |
| Service ceiling | 8000 m |
| Range | 400 km |
| Engines | 1 × Hispano-Suiza in-line engine with 221 kW (300 PS) |
| Armament | 2 Vickers machine guns , cal. 7.7 mm, firing forward, synchronized and 1 or 2 Lewis MG , cal. 7.7 mm, on ring mount in the rear cockpit |