Blériot-SPAD S.81
Blériot-SPAD · France · first flew 1923 · fighter
The Blériot-SPAD S.81 was a French single-seat fighter biplane developed in 1923 to a French Air Force requirement.
Recognition (WEFT)
| W — Wings | Mid-mounted, straight |
|---|---|
| E — Engines | 1 × piston, nose-mounted |
| F — Fuselage | 6.4 m fuselage |
| T — Tail | Conventional |
WEFT is AircraftIQ's four-point recognition method — how it works.
Spot it by:
- Single-bay biplane with I-shaped interplane struts
- Upper wing straight, without the swept upper wing of earlier Herbemont designs
- Two fixed forward-firing Vickers machine guns
It was a conventional single-bay biplane with a wooden monocoque fuselage and fabric-skinned metal wings.
Specifications
- The Blériot-SPAD S.81 has a length of 6.4 m (21 ft).
- It has a wingspan of 9.62 m (32 ft).
- Its maximum speed is 250 km/h (155 mph).
- Typical crew: 1.
Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.
History
The prototype first flew on 13 March 1923 and was flown competitively against the Dewoitine D.1. It was chosen because the Dewoitine's design was more radical, and this led to an order for 80 aircraft.
Variants
Production aircraft differed from the prototypes in having a lengthened fuselage.
Where you'll see it
The French Air Force was the main user, and about 85 were built.
Related aircraft
- Blériot-SPAD S.56
- Blériot-SPAD S.61
- Blériot-SPAD S.71
- Blériot-SPAD S.30
- Aero A.18
- Aero A.20
- Avia BH-6
- Avia BH-7
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