SPAD S.VII
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The SPAD S.VII was the first of a series of highly successful biplane fighter aircraft produced by Société Pour L'Aviation et ses Dérivés during the First World War. Like its successors, the S.VII was renowned as a sturdy and rugged aircraft with good climbing and diving characteristics. It was also a stable gun platform and was flown by a number of the famous aces such as Georges Guynemer and Francesco Baracca.
SPAD began development of a single-seat tractor biplane in early 1915, known as the S.V. It was powered by the newly developed 8Aa 8-cylinder Vee engine from Hispano-Suiza which supplied 150 hp (112 kW) and enabled the aircraft to reach 119 mph (192 km/h). The French air force were sufficiently impressed with the performance of the prototype when it first flew in April 1916 that they placed an order for 268 aircraft. The production model was designated the S.VII. Later aircraft were fitted with the 180 hp (134 kW) 8Ac engine. The engines' only flaws were that they were prone to overheating.
The S.VII entered service in August 1916 with Escadrille No. 26 and the first victory achieved by the type came on 23 August by French pilot Armand Pinsard. The Royal Flying Corps initially refused to adopt the S.VII because of a series of fatal crashes due to airframe failures but it was later accepted and S.VIIs were even built under licence at Brooklands. Later in 1917, the S.VII was also employed by the American Expeditionary Force's air service though mainly as a trainer.
In 1917 Guynemer called for an improved version from SPAD which led to the development of the S.XII and ultimately the S.XIII which was one of the most successful fighters of the war.
Specifications (S.VII)
Operators
- Argentina (two aircraft), Belgium, Brazil, Chile (one aircraft only), Czechoslovakia, Estonia (two aircraft), Finland (one aircraft only), France, Greece, Italy, Japan, Netherlands (one aircraft only), Peru (two aircraft), Poland, Portugal, Romania, Russia, Thailand (Siam), Ukraine (two aircraft), United Kingdom (RAF, RFC), United States, Yugoslavia (Serbia),
Related content
| Aviation in World War I |
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| Aces | Aircraft of the Entente Powers | Aircraft of the Central Powers | Zeppelins | |
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