Blériot-SPAD S.34
Blériot Aéronautique · France · first flew 1920 · light aircraft
The Blériot-SPAD S.34 was a French twin-seat, single-engine biplane flight training aircraft designed in 1920. Its side-by-side seating arrangement was unique for its time.
Recognition (WEFT)
| W — Wings | Mid-mounted, straight |
|---|---|
| E — Engines | 1 × piston, nose-mounted |
| F — Fuselage | 6.5 m fuselage |
| T — Tail | Conventional |
WEFT is AircraftIQ's four-point recognition method — how it works.
Spot it by:
- Single-engine biplane
- Instructor and pupil seated side by side, unusual for its time
- Le Rhône 9C nine-cylinder rotary engine
It is a two-seat biplane with the instructor and pupil side by side. The upper wing spans 8.12 m and the lower 7.40 m, and the nose carries a rotary engine.
Specifications
- The Blériot-SPAD S.34 has a length of 6.5 m (21 ft).
- It has a wingspan of 8.12 m (27 ft).
- Its maximum speed is 136 km/h (85 mph).
- Typical crew: 2.
Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.
History
It first flew on 16 July 1920 and entered service the same year. It was powered by an 80 hp Le Rhône 9C rotary engine.
Variants
Three prototypes (S.34-1 to S.34-3) preceded the two-seat primary trainer S.34. The S.34 bis was an improved variant with a 130 hp Clerget 9B rotary, three built for the Aeronavale.
Where you'll see it
In total 150 aircraft were built, 125 of them for the French Air Force, which used them until 1936. The Finnish Air Force bought two in 1921, but inadequate maintenance meant they did not last long and they were withdrawn by 1925.
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