SPAD S.XV
SPAD · France · first flew 1917 · fighter
The SPAD S.XV was a French First World War single-seat fighter in the SPAD development lineage, featuring a sesquiplane configuration with a narrower lower wing intended to improve downward visibility and reduce drag.
Recognition (WEFT)
| W — Wings | Mid-mounted, tapered |
|---|---|
| E — Engines | 1 × piston, nose-mounted |
| F — Fuselage | 5.35 m fuselage |
| T — Tail | Conventional |
WEFT is AircraftIQ's four-point recognition method — how it works.
Spot it by:
- French WWI sesquiplane fighter with reduced lower wing chord
- Hispano-Suiza engine in a rounded horseshoe-pattern radiator
- SPAD-family rounded wing tips and straight-cut lower wing
A SPAD-family biplane with characteristically rounded wing tips and a Hispano-Suiza engine, distinguished from the S.XIII by its narrower lower wing giving a sesquiplane appearance.
Specifications
- The SPAD S.XV has a length of 5.35 m (18 ft).
- It has a wingspan of 7.1 m (23 ft).
- Its maximum speed is 199 km/h (124 mph).
- Typical crew: 1.
Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.
History
SPAD produced numerous fighter variants throughout the war; the S.XV explored refinements to the successful S.VII and S.XIII formula. The sesquiplane arrangement was among the approaches tested to combine speed with improved visibility for the pilot.
Variants
The S.XV was one of several experimental SPAD variants; it did not enter wide production alongside the dominant S.XIII.
Where you'll see it
Limited evaluation; the S.XIII remained the primary French fighter and the S.XV did not displace it.
Related aircraft
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