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SPAD S.XXIV

1918 WORLD WAR 1 X-PLANE

History of SPAD P. XXIV

The SPAD biplane series observed during the First World War (1914-1918) was one of the finest fighters of its time. French aviation pioneer Louis Bechereau played a major role in the development of the series, and the last biplane with distinctive design lines was the SPAD S. XXIV (he left the company in the spring of 1917). The S. XXIV will be the ship-based version of the wheeled seaplane fighter S. XIV, which was introduced in 1918 in 40 units.

These men served in the French Navy for their role in the war. The S. XXIV did not have the same success, however, as the series came to an abrupt end after its first flight on November 5, 1918, coinciding with the end of the war on November 11.

The main innovation of the S. XXIV was its new "Tail-Dragger" landing gear, which replaced the S. XIV's seaplane landing gear arrangement. The single pilot sat in the open-air cockpit and, like other SPADS of the time, used a 220 hp Hispano-Suiza 8Bc series engine to drive the twin-bladed propeller in the nose. The wing main plane, an upper and lower section, is connected by parallel struts and cables, creating a double-cabin arrangement for the wing.

The tail is conventional, with a single tail and a low installation level aircraft. The hull retains the typical SPAD plate side approach and tapers towards the stern. Dimensions include a wingspan of 32.1 feet, a length of 21.3 feet, and a height of 8.4 feet. Curb weight is 1,433 pounds.

The slow development of S. XXIV hinders its ability to go live faster. The fact that the war is now officially over and a new generation of combat biplanes is no longer needed officially solves the problem.

While there are no official performance figures for the S. XXIV, it is reasonable to assume that they will follow an increase in the number of S. XIVs equipped with seaplanes.

Furthermore, it can be assumed that the S. XXIV will have similar weapons in service: 1 x 7.7mm Vickers machine gun, fired through a synchromesh gear through rotating propeller blades, and 1 x 37mm Puteaux Cannon through a propeller shaft.