The Blériot-SPAD S.20 (originally known as the SPAD S.XX) was a French fighter aircraft developed near the end of World War I. Too late to serve in the war, almost 100 of these aircraft equipped the French Air Force in the years immediately following. These agile aircraft were also used successfully for air racing and record-setting.
The S.XX was a refinement of the S.XVIII and was a two-seat fighter biplane which carried a pilot and tail gunner. The design was conventional but featured an upper wing with a pronounced sweep-back. This was joined to the lower wing by large I-struts. Like its predecessor, the S.XX became known colloquially as the "Herbemont", after its designer. Originally the French government issued an open-ended contract for these aircraft at the rate of 300 per month. However, this was cancelled at the Armistice, before any aircraft had been delivered. The order was later revived to obtain a modern fighter for France's post-war air force, and 95 were purchased. Additionally, the JapaneseMitsubishi company bought three examples, and the government of Bolivia bought one.
In 1918, a S.XX set the world airspeed record for a two-seat aircraft, with a speed of 230 km/h (143 mph), and in July 1919Joseph Sadi-Lecointe set an altitude record of 8,900 m (29,200 ft) in one. This was the beginning of a prodigious streak of records set by a series of refined S.20s with increasingly shorter wingspans. Before the year was over, Sadi-Lecointe set two new speed records for the S.20's class: 249 km/h (155 mph) in September, and 252 km/h (157 mph) in October, as well as winning the Prix Henri Deutsch de la Meurthe competition five days earlier.
1920 saw S.20s used to break records not only in their own class, but the world absolute airspeed record three times over. On February 28, Jean Casale reached 283 km/h (176 mph), but this was soon broken twice by Bernard de Romanet, first on October 9 with a speed of 292 km/h (182 mph), and then on November 4 at 309 km/h (193 mph).[1] The same year, the two S.20bis-5s competed in the Gordon Bennett Cup. One, piloted by Casale, was disqualified, but the other, piloted by de Romanet, was placed second.
Variantsedit
de Romanet standing in front of one of the S.20bis racers
S.XX - original military production version (95 built in series)
S.XX bis - improved military version (2 built) with larger wings and tail. One sold to Mitsubishi
S.20 bis-1 - racer
S.20 bis-2 - racer with shortened wingspan
S.20 bis-3 - racer with further shortened wingspan
S.20 bis-4 - racer with even further shortened wingspan
S.20 bis-5 - racer for Gordon Bennett cup (2 built). Radically modified wing design - upper wing changed to gull configuration.
S.20 bis-6 - racer with shortened cabane struts and custom-built Hispano-Suiza engine
^"De Romanet Breaks Records". Flight. Vol. XII, no. 620. 11 November 1920. p. 1166. Retrieved 30 August 2023.
Bibliographyedit
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Blériot-SPAD S.20.
Bruner, Georges (1977). "Fighters a la Francaise, Part One". Air Enthusiast (3): 85–95. ISSN 0143-5450.
Sapienza, Antonio Luis (April 1999). "Le role de aviation lors de la révolution de 1922 au Paraguay" [The Role of Aircraft during the 1922 Paraguayn Revolution]. Avions: Toute l'aéronautique et son histoire (in French) (73): 24–26. ISSN 1243-8650.
Taylor, Michael J. H. (1989). Jane's Encyclopedia of Aviation. London: Studio Editions. p. 163.
Hirschauer, Louis; Dollfus, Charles, eds. (1920). L'Année Aéronautique: 1919-1920. Paris: Dunod. p. 9.
Hirschauer, Louis; Dollfus, Charles, eds. (1921). L'Année Aéronautique: 1920-1921. Paris: Dunod. p. 15.
April 10, 2024
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The Bleriot SPAD S 20 originally known as the SPAD S XX was a French fighter aircraft developed near the end of World War I Too late to serve in the war almost 100 of these aircraft equipped the French Air Force in the years immediately following These agile aircraft were also used successfully for air racing and record setting S 20Role FighterManufacturer BleriotDesigner Andre HerbemontFirst flight August 7 1918Introduction October 1920Primary user Aeronautique MilitaireNumber built ca 100 Contents 1 Design and development 2 Variants 3 Operators 4 Specifications S XX 5 See also 6 References 7 BibliographyDesign and development editThe S XX was a refinement of the S XVIII and was a two seat fighter biplane which carried a pilot and tail gunner The design was conventional but featured an upper wing with a pronounced sweep back This was joined to the lower wing by large I struts Like its predecessor the S XX became known colloquially as the Herbemont after its designer Originally the French government issued an open ended contract for these aircraft at the rate of 300 per month However this was cancelled at the Armistice before any aircraft had been delivered The order was later revived to obtain a modern fighter for France s post war air force and 95 were purchased Additionally the Japanese Mitsubishi company bought three examples and the government of Bolivia bought one In 1918 a S XX set the world airspeed record for a two seat aircraft with a speed of 230 km h 143 mph and in July 1919 Joseph Sadi Lecointe set an altitude record of 8 900 m 29 200 ft in one This was the beginning of a prodigious streak of records set by a series of refined S 20s with increasingly shorter wingspans Before the year was over Sadi Lecointe set two new speed records for the S 20 s class 249 km h 155 mph in September and 252 km h 157 mph in October as well as winning the Prix Henri Deutsch de la Meurthe competition five days earlier 1920 saw S 20s used to break records not only in their own class but the world absolute airspeed record three times over On February 28 Jean Casale reached 283 km h 176 mph but this was soon broken twice by Bernard de Romanet first on October 9 with a speed of 292 km h 182 mph and then on November 4 at 309 km h 193 mph 1 The same year the two S 20bis 5s competed in the Gordon Bennett Cup One piloted by Casale was disqualified but the other piloted by de Romanet was placed second Variants edit nbsp de Romanet standing in front of one of the S 20bis racersS XX original military production version 95 built in series S XX bis improved military version 2 built with larger wings and tail One sold to Mitsubishi S 20 bis 1 racer S 20 bis 2 racer with shortened wingspan S 20 bis 3 racer with further shortened wingspan S 20 bis 4 racer with even further shortened wingspan S 20 bis 5 racer for Gordon Bennett cup 2 built Radically modified wing design upper wing changed to gull configuration S 20 bis 6 racer with shortened cabane struts and custom built Hispano Suiza engineOperators edit nbsp BoliviaBolivian Air Force biplaza artillado 1921 nbsp FranceAeronautique Militaire 2eme Regiment d Aviation nbsp ParaguayParaguayan Air Arm One S XX was used in the Revolution of 1922 Paraguayan Military Aviation School The 1922 Revolution survivor was used as a fighter trainer in the Military Aviation School Wfu in 1925 Specifications S XX editGeneral characteristics Crew two pilot and gunner Length 7 30 m 23 ft 11 in Wingspan 9 72 m 31 ft 11 in Height 2 80 m 9 ft 2 in Wing area 30 0 m2 323 sq ft Empty weight 867 kg 1 911 lb Gross weight 1 306 kg 2 879 lb Powerplant 1 Hispano Suiza 8Fb inline engine 224 kW 300 hp Performance Maximum speed 217 km h 135 mph 117 kn Range 400 km 250 mi 220 nmi Service ceiling 8 000 m 26 240 ft Rate of climb 5 6 m s 1 100 ft min Armament 2 fixed forward firing 303 Vickers machine guns 1 trainable rearward firing 303 Lewis gunSee also editRelated development Bleriot SPAD S 27References edit De Romanet Breaks Records Flight Vol XII no 620 11 November 1920 p 1166 Retrieved 30 August 2023 Bibliography edit nbsp Wikimedia Commons has media related to Bleriot SPAD S 20 Bruner Georges 1977 Fighters a la Francaise Part One Air Enthusiast 3 85 95 ISSN 0143 5450 Sapienza Antonio Luis April 1999 Le role de aviation lors de la revolution de 1922 au Paraguay The Role of Aircraft during the 1922 Paraguayn Revolution Avions Toute l aeronautique et son histoire in French 73 24 26 ISSN 1243 8650 Taylor Michael J H 1989 Jane s Encyclopedia of Aviation London Studio Editions p 163 EADS website Archived 2007 09 29 at the Wayback Machine aviafrance com Hirschauer Louis Dollfus Charles eds 1920 L Annee Aeronautique 1919 1920 Paris Dunod p 9 Hirschauer Louis Dollfus Charles eds 1921 L Annee Aeronautique 1920 1921 Paris Dunod p 15 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title SPAD S XX amp oldid 1190281178, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
