SPAD S.A.2
SPAD · France · first flew 1915 · fighter
The SPAD S.A.2 was an early French World War One fighting scout using an unusual arrangement that placed the observer/gunner in a small nacelle at the nose ahead of the tractor engine, allowing forward-firing armament without a synchroniser. The layout was structurally awkward and pilots were reluctant to fly it.
Recognition (WEFT)
| W — Wings | Mid-mounted, straight |
|---|---|
| E — Engines | 1 × piston, nose-mounted |
| F — Fuselage | 7.3 m fuselage |
| T — Tail | Conventional |
WEFT is AircraftIQ's four-point recognition method — how it works.
Spot it by:
- WWI French pusher biplane with gunner in nacelle ahead of propeller
- Unusual tractor/pusher hybrid with gunner seated forward of the engine
- Early attempt to solve the gun-synchronisation problem
Biplane with a small gunner's nacelle extending ahead of the upper wing and engine, combined with a conventional tractor propeller; the protruding forward basket is the unmistakeable identification feature.
Specifications
- The SPAD S.A.2 has a length of 7.3 m (24 ft).
- It has a wingspan of 9.55 m (31 ft).
- Its maximum speed is 140 km/h (87 mph).
- Typical crew: 2.
Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.
History
First flown in 1915, the S.A.2 was used in limited numbers by French and British squadrons seeking an interim solution to the 'Fokker Scourge'. Despite its novel concept, the design was unpopular with crews due to its dangerous forward nacelle and was soon superseded by properly synchronised fighters.
Variants
The S.A.1 was a similar but earlier and less refined design; both were quickly made obsolete by synchroniser technology.
Where you'll see it
Operated briefly by the French Aviation Militaire and the Royal Flying Corps in 1915–16 before replacement by synchronised tractor fighters.
Related aircraft
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