Bleriot-SPAD S.81

S.81

Manufacturer: Blériot
Designed by: André Herbémont
First flight: 13 March 1923
Primary user: French Air Force
Number built: ca. 85

The Blériot-SPAD S.81 was a French fighter aircraft developed in 1923 to a requirement by the French Air Force. It was flown competitively against the Dewoitine D.1 and was selected over that aircraft due to the Dewoitine's more radical design, leading to an order for 80 aircraft. The S.81 was a single-bay biplane of conventional configuration with I-shaped interplane struts and lacking Herbémont's usual swept upper wing. It featured a wooden fuselage of monocoque construction and metal wings skinned in fabric. Production versions differed from the prototypes in having a lengthened fuselage and larger tail fin.

Variants

S.81.01 - two prototypes, second used for static tests only

S.81/1 - production version designated S.81 C.1 in air force service

S.81-bis - single example of racer version developed for the Coupe Michelin race. Performance poor.

S.81/2 - single machine to evaluate alternative radiator design

S.81/3 - single machine to evaluate alternative radiator design

S.81/4 - single machine to evaluate wooden wing design

S.81/6 - racer converted from the S.81-bis

Operators

France

French Air Force
2x¨me Fighter Regiment

Specifications (S.81/1)

General characteristics

Crew: one pilot
Length: 6.40 m (21 ft 0 in)
Wingspan: 9.61 m (31 ft 6 in)
Height: 2.90 m (9 ft 6 in)
Wing area: 30.0 m² (323 ft²)
Empty weight: 846 kg (1,865 lb)
Gross weight: 1,266 kg (2,791 lb)
Powerplant: 1 x— Hispano-Suiza 8Fb inline engine, 224 kW (300 hp)

Performance

Maximum speed: 240 km/h (149 mph)
Range: 500 km (311 miles)
Rate of climb: 6.0 m/s (1,180 ft/min)

Armament

2 x— fixed, forward-firing .303 Vickers machine guns

Taylor, Michael J. H. (1989). Jane's Encyclopedia of Aviation. London: Studio Editions. pp. 164.
World Aircraft Information Files. London: Bright Star Publishing. pp. File 890 Sheet 42-43.
aviafrance.com

Bleriot-SPAD S.81 Pictures

Living Warbirds: The best warbirds DVD series.

Source: WikiPedia