Dewoitine D.520
SNCAM (Dewoitine) · France · first flew 1938 · fighter
The Dewoitine D.520 was the best French fighter available during the Battle of France in 1940, capable of meeting the Bf 109E on relatively equal terms. Its elegant tapered wing and Hispano-Suiza engine with hub-mounted cannon made it a formidable design held back only by production shortfalls.
Recognition (WEFT)
| W — Wings | Low-mounted, tapered |
|---|---|
| E — Engines | 1 × piston, nose-mounted |
| F — Fuselage | 8.75 m fuselage |
| T — Tail | Conventional |
WEFT is AircraftIQ's four-point recognition method — how it works.
Spot it by:
- France's best fighter of 1940 with elliptical-tapered wing
- Hispano-Suiza 12Y inline engine with spinner
- Single cannon firing through propeller hub
Elegant low-wing monoplane with a tapered elliptical wing, prominent Hispano-Suiza engine with a large spinner and a slim fuselage; the hub cannon and sleek lines distinguish it from the heavier Bloch 151.
Specifications
- The Dewoitine D.520 has a length of 8.75 m (29 ft).
- It has a wingspan of 10.18 m (33 ft).
- Its maximum speed is 535 km/h (332 mph).
- Typical crew: 1.
Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.
History
First flown in 1938, the D.520 entered service only weeks before the German offensive in May 1940. Despite being available in small numbers, French pilots flying the type scored many victories. After the armistice, Vichy France continued to use D.520s, and they saw combat against Allied forces in Syria and North Africa. After liberation, some examples flew with the Free French. Germany, Italy, Romania and Bulgaria also used captured examples.
Variants
Only the D.520 production version was built in quantity; the proposed D.521 with a Merlin engine was not completed.
Where you'll see it
Operated by the Armée de l'Air, Vichy French forces, the Free French, Germany, Italy, Romania and Bulgaria; Vichy D.520s engaged Allied aircraft in Syria and the Western Desert.
Related aircraft
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