SPAD S.VIII

Pics are of Spad VIIs not VIIIs (couldn't find any pics of VIIIs)

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SPAD_S.VIII

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.

The S.XIII was of similar layout to the S.VII, i.e. a single engined biplane [nb
1] of mainly wooden construction with fabric covering,[8] but was generally
larger and heavier. Armament was two Vickers machine guns with 400 rounds per
gun replacing the single gun of the earlier aircraft.[9] Powerplant was a geared
Hispano-Suiza engine, at first a 8Ba giving 200 hp (150 kW),[9] but in later
aircraft a high-compression 8Bc or 8Be delivering 220 hp (160 kW).[10] The sum
of these improvements was a notable improvement in flight and combat
performance. It was faster than its main contemporaries, the British Sopwith
Camel and the German Fokker D.VII, and its relatively higher power-to-weight
ratio gave it a good rate of climb. The SPAD was renowned for its speed and
strength in a dive, although the maneuverability of the type was relatively poor
and the aircraft was difficult to control at low speeds: needing to be landed
with power on, unlike contemporary fighters like the Royal Aircraft Factory SE.5
which could be landed with power off.

While giving the Spad XIII outstanding performance, the geared engines proved to
be unreliable, suffering from poor lubrication and vibration. This significantly
and severely affected serviceability, with it being stated in November 1917,
that the Spad S.XIII was "incapable of giving dependable service". Even in April
1918, an official report stated that two-thirds of the 200 hp SPADs were out of
use at any one time due to engine problems.[11] At least one US observer
believed at the time that the French were giving the US SPAD XIII squadrons
lower quality engines from their least favored manufacturers while keeping the
best for themselves.[citation needed] The problems with the engine were
considered a worthy price to pay for the improved performance, however,[12] and
as time went by, improved build quality and changes to the engine design led to
increased serviceability.

In the last few months of the war, fearing a shortage of Vickers guns, US Spad
XIII squadrons began replacing their Vickers .303 machine guns with
..30/06-calibre Marlin M1917 and M1918 aircraft machine guns.[14][15] By the end
of the war about one half of the aircraft in US service had been converted.

The SPAD S.XIII first flew on 4 April 1917,[9] with deliveries to the French Air
Service starting in the next month.[16] The new fighter played an important part
in the French plans for its fighter force, being expected to replace the SPAD
S.VII, as well as the few remaining Nieuport fighters in front line service.
Deliveries were much slower than expected, however, with 764 delivered by the
end of March 1918 compared with a planned 2,230.[17] The S.XIII eventually
equipped virtually every French fighter squadron, 74 Escadrilles using the SPAD
during the First World War.[18] At the end of the war plans were underway to
replace the S.XIII with fighters using the 300 hp (220 kW) Hispano-Suiza 8F,
such as the Nieuport-Delage NiD 29, the SPAD S.XX and the Sopwith Dolphin
II,[19] however the SPAD S.XIII remained in service with France as a fighter
until 1923.[14] Other Allied forces were quick to adopt the new fighter as well,
with SPAD XIIIs equipping 15 of the 16 operational U.S. pursuit squadrons at the
Armistice. Nearly half of the 893 purchased for the United States Army Air
Service were still in service in 1920. After the war, it was also exported to
Japan, Poland and Czechoslovakia. In the United States, some SPAD XIIIs were
re-engined with 180 hp Wright-Hispano engines to improve reliability and to
prepare pilots for the new Thomas-Morse MB-3 fighter (which used SPAD type wings
in its construction) in 1922.

The S.XIII was flown by famous French fighter pilots such as Georges Guynemer
and Rene Fonck, and also by Italian ace Francesco Baracca. Aces of the United
States Army Air Service who flew the Spad XIII include Eddie Rickenbacker
(America's leading World War I ace with 26 confirmed victories) and Frank Luke
(18 victories).

In December 1917, No 23 Squadron of the Royal Flying Corps equipped with the
SPAD S.XIII, retaining them until April 1918 when it re-equipped with the
Sopwith Dolphin, while No. 19 Squadron (officially equipped with the earlier
S.VII) also operated at least one SPAD S.XIII.


General characteristics
Crew: 1
Length: 6.25 m (20 ft 6 in)
Wingspan: 8.25 m (27 ft 1 in)
Height: 2.60 m (8 ft 6.5 in)
Wing area: 21.1 m² (227 ft²)
Empty weight: 566 kg (1,245 lb)
Loaded weight: 856 kg (1,888 lb)
Max. takeoff weight: 845 kg (1,863 lb)
Powerplant: 1 × Hispano-Suiza 8Be 8-cylinder vee-type, 220 hp (164 kW)

Performance
Maximum speed: 218 km/h (117 knots, 135 mph) at 2,000 m (6,560 ft)
Range: 276 km (171 mi) ()
Service ceiling: 6,650 m (21,815 ft)
Rate of climb: 2 m/s (384 ft/min)
Wing loading: 40.56 kg/m² ()

Armament
Guns: 2 x .303-cal. (7.7 mm) Vickers machine guns or 2 x Marlin M1917 or M1918
machine guns





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