The SPAD XII was inspired by the ideas of French flying aceGeorges Guynemer, who proposed that a manoeuvrable single-seat aircraft be designed to carry a 37 mm cannon, a weapon which had previously been mounted only in large two-seat "pusher" aircraft such as the Voisin III. Béchereau took his own SPAD VII design as the starting point, but the many major and minor changes incorporated into the SPAD XII made it a quite different aircraft.
Restored HS.8Ca geared-output engine, similar to the 8Cb used on the SPAD S.XIIA geared-output shaft HS.8C engine for a SPAD S.XII, showing the elevated intake manifold to clear the 37mm cannon mounted in the "vee" between the cylinder banks.
The gun chosen for the SPAD XII was not the old Hotchkiss cannon but a new 37 mm Semi Automatique Moteur Canon (SAMC), built by Puteaux, for which 12 shots were carried. The Hispano-Suiza aviation engine had to be geared to allow the gun to fire through the propeller shaft. The SPAD XII also carried a single 0.303 inch synchronized (7.7 mm) Vickers machine gun mounted on the starboard side of the nose. In order to carry the heavy cannon the airframe was lengthened and the wingspan and wing area increased. The wingtips were rounded rather than squared off and the wings given a slight forward stagger. To accommodate the required geared output propshaft engine, which easily allowed for the hollow propeller shaft for the cannon to fire through, and power the resultingly heavier airframe, 587 kilograms (1,294 lb) compared to the 500 kilograms (1,100 lb) of the SPAD VII, the 180 bhp Hispano-Suiza 8 direct-drive Ab engine was replaced by the geared 220 bhp model 8Cb, and gave the SPAD XII a clockwise rotating propeller, as seen from a "nose-on" view.
Test flown by Guynemer, the early production models of the SPAD XII were highly successful after overcoming initial problems with the reduction gear between engine and propeller.[2] Other aces also had success with the new model. However, deliveries were slow, the SPAD VII and later SPAD XIII having top priority, and even the modest total of 300 aircraft which were ordered were not all completed.[citation needed] Best estimates are only 20 produced. Average pilots found the SPAD XII a difficult aircraft to master, and the cannon difficult to aim and fire, while manual reloading was difficult. The cockpit filled with fumes upon every firing. Its breech mechanism protruded into the cockpit and prevented the use of a conventional stick to control the aircraft, adding to the difficulties encountered by ordinary pilots. The control setup reverted to a split setup on either side of the pilot, a la Deperdussin.[3]
Serviceedit
The 13th Aero Squadron SPAD S.XII, showing the slight positive stagger of the wings.
Bruce, J. M. The Aeroplanes of the Royal Flying Corps (Military Wing). London: Putnam, 1982. ISBN0-370-30084-X.
Cony, Christophe (January 1995). "Le Spad XII Canon (1re partie)" [The Canon-armed SPAD XII]. Avions: Toute l'aéronautique et son histoire (in French) (23): 39–42. ISSN 1243-8650.
Davilla, James J., & Soltan, Arthur M., French Aircraft of the First World War. Stratford, Connecticut: Flying Machines Press, 1997. ISBN0-9637110-4-0.
Green, William and Swanborough, Gordon. The Complete Book of Fighters. New York: Smithmark, 1994. ISBN0-8317-3939-8.
Guttman, Jon, SPAD XII/XIII aces of World War I. Osprey Publishing, 2002. ISBN1841763160, 9781841763163.
October 27, 2023
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This article includes a list of general references but it lacks sufficient corresponding inline citations Please help to improve this article by introducing more precise citations June 2013 Learn how and when to remove this template message The SPAD S XII or SPAD 12 was a French single seat biplane fighter aircraft of the First World War developed from the successful SPAD VII by Louis Bechereau chief designer of the Societe Pour L Aviation et ses Derives SPAD SPAD S XIIA USAAS SPAD S XII in 1918 Role FighterNational origin FranceManufacturer SPADDesigner Louis BechereauFirst flight 5 July 1917Primary users Aeronautique MilitaireRed ArmyNumber built unknown 300 ordered 1 Developed from Spad S VII Contents 1 Development 2 Service 3 Operators 4 Specifications S XII 5 See also 6 References 6 1 Notes 6 2 BibliographyDevelopment editThe SPAD XII was inspired by the ideas of French flying ace Georges Guynemer who proposed that a manoeuvrable single seat aircraft be designed to carry a 37 mm cannon a weapon which had previously been mounted only in large two seat pusher aircraft such as the Voisin III Bechereau took his own SPAD VII design as the starting point but the many major and minor changes incorporated into the SPAD XII made it a quite different aircraft nbsp Restored HS 8Ca geared output engine similar to the 8Cb used on the SPAD S XII nbsp A geared output shaft HS 8C engine for a SPAD S XII showing the elevated intake manifold to clear the 37mm cannon mounted in the vee between the cylinder banks The gun chosen for the SPAD XII was not the old Hotchkiss cannon but a new 37 mm Semi Automatique Moteur Canon SAMC built by Puteaux for which 12 shots were carried The Hispano Suiza aviation engine had to be geared to allow the gun to fire through the propeller shaft The SPAD XII also carried a single 0 303 inch synchronized 7 7 mm Vickers machine gun mounted on the starboard side of the nose In order to carry the heavy cannon the airframe was lengthened and the wingspan and wing area increased The wingtips were rounded rather than squared off and the wings given a slight forward stagger To accommodate the required geared output propshaft engine which easily allowed for the hollow propeller shaft for the cannon to fire through and power the resultingly heavier airframe 587 kilograms 1 294 lb compared to the 500 kilograms 1 100 lb of the SPAD VII the 180 bhp Hispano Suiza 8 direct drive Ab engine was replaced by the geared 220 bhp model 8Cb and gave the SPAD XII a clockwise rotating propeller as seen from a nose on view Test flown by Guynemer the early production models of the SPAD XII were highly successful after overcoming initial problems with the reduction gear between engine and propeller 2 Other aces also had success with the new model However deliveries were slow the SPAD VII and later SPAD XIII having top priority and even the modest total of 300 aircraft which were ordered were not all completed citation needed Best estimates are only 20 produced Average pilots found the SPAD XII a difficult aircraft to master and the cannon difficult to aim and fire while manual reloading was difficult The cockpit filled with fumes upon every firing Its breech mechanism protruded into the cockpit and prevented the use of a conventional stick to control the aircraft adding to the difficulties encountered by ordinary pilots The control setup reverted to a split setup on either side of the pilot a la Deperdussin 3 Service edit nbsp The 13th Aero Squadron SPAD S XII showing the slight positive stagger of the wings No units were entirely equipped with SPAD XIIs citation needed The unknown number of aircraft produced were issued in small numbers intended for use only by the most skilled pilots such as Rene Fonck Lionel de Marmier Fernand Henri Chavannes Henri Hay de Slade Albert Deullin and Francois Battesti They were distributed one or two per squadron 4 Few were delivered to combat units eight being recorded on strength in April and again in October this may be contrasted with the thousands of SPAD VIIs and SPAD XIIIs in service Single examples for testing were delivered to the Royal Flying Corps 5 and one to the Aviation Section of the American Expeditionary Force with the AEF s 13th Aero Squadron receiving the code 0 it was primarily flown by the 13th s Charles John Biddle 6 Operators edit nbsp FranceFrench Air Force nbsp Russia nbsp Soviet UnionImperial Russian Air Force Soviet Air Force Postwar nbsp SerbiaSerbian Air Force nbsp United KingdomRoyal Flying Corps One aircraft only nbsp United StatesAmerican Expeditionary Force One aircraft only serving with 13th Aero Squadron nbsp Kingdom of YugoslaviaYugoslav Royal Air Force PostwarSpecifications S XII editData from The Complete Book of Fighters 7 General characteristicsCrew 1 Length 6 4 m 21 ft 0 in Wingspan 8 m 26 ft 3 in Height 2 55 m 8 ft 4 in Wing area 20 2 m2 217 sq ft Empty weight 587 kg 1 294 lb Gross weight 883 kg 1 947 lb Powerplant 1 Hispano Suiza 8Cb V 8 water cooled piston engine 164 kW 220 hp Propellers 2 bladed fixed pitch propellerPerformance Maximum speed 203 km h 126 mph 110 kn Endurance 1 hour 45 minutes Service ceiling 6 850 m 22 470 ft 5 Time to altitude 2 000 m 6 562 ft 6 minutes 3 secondsArmament Guns 1 x 37 mm Puteaux single shot cannon 1 x 303 in 7 7 mm Vickers machine gunSee also editRelated development SPAD S VII SPAD S XI SPAD S XIV De Bruyere C 1References editNotes edit nbsp Wikimedia Commons has media related to SPAD S XII The Cannon Pioneers Archived from the original on 2009 05 16 SPAD XII XIII aces of World War I pp 7 9 SPAD XII XIII aces of World War I pp 8 9 SPAD XII XIII aces of World War I pp 9 10 a b Bruce 1982 p 560 Guttman Jon 2002 SPAD XII XIII Aces of World War I Osprey Publishing pp 12 14 15 ISBN 978 1 84176 316 3 Green and Swanborough 1994 pp 542 543 Bibliography edit Bruce J M The Aeroplanes of the Royal Flying Corps Military Wing London Putnam 1982 ISBN 0 370 30084 X Cony Christophe January 1995 Le Spad XII Canon 1re partie The Canon armed SPAD XII Avions Toute l aeronautique et son histoire in French 23 39 42 ISSN 1243 8650 Davilla James J amp Soltan Arthur M French Aircraft of the First World War Stratford Connecticut Flying Machines Press 1997 ISBN 0 9637110 4 0 Green William and Swanborough Gordon The Complete Book of Fighters New York Smithmark 1994 ISBN 0 8317 3939 8 Guttman Jon SPAD XII XIII aces of World War I Osprey Publishing 2002 ISBN 1841763160 9781841763163 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title SPAD S XII amp oldid 1153333594, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
