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SPAD S.XX

1920 GOLDEN AGE WORLD WAR 1

SPAD p. XX Story

During the First World War (1914-1918), the advantages of air combat over Europe changed hands many times, driven by evolving tactics, experienced pilots and the advanced technology of the time. Aircraft can now fly farther, higher, faster than ever before, and carry increasingly powerful weapons. Towards the end of the war, French engineer Andre Herbermont pioneered the S.P.A.D.S.

XX fighter in the legendary S.P.A.D. fighter series (Societe Pour LAviation et ses Derives) (p. 20).

The aircraft first flew on 7 August 1918 and was still under development when hostilities ceased in November. As a result, the S. XX was not officially launched until 1920, and production was limited to around 100 units due to the global military withdrawal.

The manufacture of the S.P.A.D.S.XX aircraft was taken over by Bleriot, and the main operator of the series became the French Air Force. The aircraft family also had limited post-war numbers and was used under the flags of Bolivia and Paraguay.

The S. XX is derived from the previous single-seat SPAD S. XVII, which in turn was derived from the single-seat S. XIII fighter. The S. XX's main difference was its two-seat configuration, with the pilot and gunner/observer sitting side by side in two separate open-air cockpits. The sturdy fuselage is of traditional form with rounded contours, the engine nacelle is located in the front and the single rudder fin is located in the rear (with a corresponding horizontal stabilizer). The wings are of equal span, with parallel and V-shaped struts connecting the upper and lower wing assemblies. The upper wing assembly is heavily swept, while the lower wing has a traditional straight line design.

The landing gear is attached to two landing wheels, and a simple skid supports the tail when the plane is stationary. The pilot gets 2 fixed forward shots. The 303 Vickers machine guns on the hood served as the main armament, while the rear gunner managed one. 303 Lewis Cannon on a trainable mount.

In size, the S. XX has a wingspan of 32 feet, a fuselage length of 24 feet, and a height of 9 feet. The listed curb weight is 1,900 pounds, and the total weight is 2,880 pounds. Propulsion is provided by a 300 hp Hispano-Suiza 8Fb inline piston engine driving a two-bladed wooden propeller.

Performance includes a top speed of 135 mph, a range of up to 250 miles, a service ceiling of 26,240 feet and a climb rate of 1,100 feet per minute.

While the French government initially envisaged a staggering total production during the main months of the war, the armistice of November 1918 severely limited their mission. The armistice has so far suspended all types of programs, including the S. XX, which had not yet entered mass production at the end of the war.

Most of the finished aircraft (95) were standard S.XX models, while only two "improved" S.XXbis were seen - those with larger wing area for better control. One of them was then sold to Japan's Mitsubishi.

This resulted in a series of "one-off" racing platforms, starting with S. 20-1 and ending with S. 20-6. Several of these aircraft achieved land speed records during their flight. Page XX / 20th aircraft entered service in the 1920s before being abandoned for more modern models in the 1930s.