SPAD S.XVII
SPAD · France · first flew 1918 · fighter
The SPAD S.XVII was a late-WWI French single-seat fighter, an advanced development of the SPAD XIII using a more powerful geared Hispano-Suiza engine.
Recognition (WEFT)
| W — Wings | Mid-mounted, straight |
|---|---|
| E — Engines | 1 × piston, nose-mounted |
| F — Fuselage | Compact, robust SPAD family fuselage with strutted equal-span wings |
| T — Tail | Conventional |
WEFT is AircraftIQ's four-point recognition method — how it works.
Spot it by:
- Late WWI French single-seat biplane fighter
- Geared Hispano-Suiza engine with large spinner and radiator
- Compact, robust SPAD family fuselage with strutted equal-span wings
Classic SPAD biplane silhouette: short, robust fuselage, equal-span two-bay wings, prominent frontal radiator, and tractor engine. Distinguished from the S.XIII by the geared engine installation with a larger spinner.
Specifications
- The SPAD S.XVII has a length of 6.5 m (21 ft).
- It has a wingspan of 8.2 m (27 ft).
- Its maximum speed is 235 km/h (146 mph).
- Typical crew: 1.
Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.
History
The S.XVII was developed in 1918 as a high-performance successor to the SPAD XIII, fitted with a geared Hispano-Suiza 8Fb engine of increased output. It was built in small numbers and tested but the Armistice ended further development and mass production. It represented the pinnacle of the SPAD biplane fighter line.
Variants
The S.XVII remained essentially a prototype and pre-production type; no distinct sub-variants entered service.
Where you'll see it
Evaluated by the French Aéronautique Militaire but did not see combat; the Armistice of November 1918 terminated its development.
Related aircraft
AircraftIQ — the aircraft field guide: 4,893 recognition guides, live overhead identification, works offline.