SPAD S.A

what is it?

The SPAD S.A (also called S.A.L.) was a French two-seat tractor biplane first flown in 1915. It was used by France and Russia in the early stages of the First World War in the fighter and reconnaissance roles. It was a unique aircraft that carried its observer in a nacelle ahead of wing, engine and propeller.

🔎How to recognise it: 1 piston engine with propeller · 9.6 m wingspan

base stats

• speed 140 km/htop speed
• size 674 kgmax take-off weight
• built 107made in total

Bars compare against all aircraft: 3,500 km/h, 20,000 km, 850 seats; size and number built on a log scale up to 640 t (An-225) and 45,000 built (Cessna 172).

fun facts

• 🎂First flew 111 years ago, in 1915.
• 🚗Wingspan of 9.6 m: about 2 cars parked nose to tail.

piston: A car-like piston engine turning a propeller: simple and cheap, the classic small plane.

spec sheet

first flight

1915

introduced

1915

status

retired

number built

107

role

fighter

makers

Société Pour L'Aviation et ses Dérivés

engines

1× Le Rhône 9J / Le Rhône 9C

length

7.3 m

wingspan

9.6 m

height

2.6 m

max take-off weight

674 kg

top speed

140 km/h

range

—

Specs are for the version in the Wikipedia article's specification section. Blank means the sources don't say.