Dewoitine D.500
Dewoitine · France · first flew 1932 · fighter
The Dewoitine D.500 was France's first modern monoplane fighter, introducing the low-wing configuration that would dominate fighter design through World War II. It was a significant leap forward from the biplanes it replaced in the Armée de l'Air.
Recognition (WEFT)
| W — Wings | Low-mounted, tapered |
|---|---|
| E — Engines | 1 × piston, nose-mounted |
| F — Fuselage | 7.74 m fuselage |
| T — Tail | Conventional |
WEFT is AircraftIQ's four-point recognition method — how it works.
Spot it by:
- 1930s French low-wing monoplane fighter
- Fixed spatted undercarriage, open cockpit
- Hispano-Suiza 12Y inline engine in a clean cowling
A low-wing monoplane with fixed spatted undercarriage, an open cockpit, and a long inline engine in a smooth cowling; the single-bay wing with gentle taper and rounded tips gives it a clean interwar fighter appearance.
Specifications
- The Dewoitine D.500 has a length of 7.74 m (25 ft).
- It has a wingspan of 12.09 m (40 ft).
- Its maximum speed is 359 km/h (223 mph).
- Typical crew: 1.
Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.
History
First flown in June 1932, the D.500 entered Armée de l'Air service in 1935 and was also exported to Venezuela and Lithuania. It was powered by the Hispano-Suiza 12Xcrs inline engine and featured a clean all-metal structure. Although replaced by the D.501 and D.510 in first-line service, it marked a turning point in French fighter development.
Variants
The D.500 was the initial version; the D.501 carried a cannon firing through the propeller hub; the D.510 introduced a more powerful engine and raised speed to over 400 km/h; the D.511 was an experimental supercharged variant.
Where you'll see it
Served with the Armée de l'Air from 1935 and was exported to Venezuela and Lithuania; by 1940 it had been relegated to training and secondary roles.
Related aircraft
- Dewoitine D.510
- Dewoitine D.371
- Dewoitine D.501
- Dewoitine D.376
- ANF Les Mureaux 170
- Avia B-34
- Boeing P-26 Peashooter
- Boeing P-26A Peashooter
AircraftIQ — the aircraft field guide: 5,024 recognition guides, live overhead identification, works offline.