@hwoods01 One of the few thing the French can be proud of lol? Tell me, what thing an American could be proud of? The richness of his Country Strory lol? The richness of his Country Architecture? Culture lol? Or the only true war United States truly won on their own : their ownn civil war? You have no idea about what France is. BTW, no wonder why French got smashed during when the battle of France (WW2), when you know that American Companies (Ford, ITT ect) developed German Army technology...
Rene Fonck also wrote his autobiography in which he describes using a cannon fired through the propeller shaft, claiming 16 German a/c downed. It also gives two lists of his combat career. The first is his confirmed kill list of 75 and the other is his unconfirmed which totals around 25-30 more. Both lists give date of kill and type of a/c downed. He often flew alone and behind German lines, hence his unconfirmed score. Like the Baron, he knew what the air war of WWI was all about.
One of the finest planes of WW1, fast, rugged, reliable and heavily armed.
Rene Fonck flew SPAD's almost exclusively during his career, shot down 75 German planes, five less than Richthofen, and survived to tell the tale. Boom and Zoom planes like the SE5's and the SPAD's, were ultimately better suited for keeping their pilotes alive, than the famed DR-1's and Camels.
The thing I love about WWI aviation is that it was the beginning of the dogfighting age. Men like Richtofen, Fonke, Baracca, and Rickenbacker were TRUE pioneers. There's an inescapable sense of romance to those four years in the air...
@DonTheCritic A veteran I´ve met when I was a child, made clear for me that there was anything romantic in killing another young pilot,a guy that probably loved flight the same as you firing from behind the poor devil and by surprise ( most wished situation from attacker point of view).Besides that this man who hated wars and never weared many medals he got, loved planes, he used to say " they all born angels".Mr Paco Birriel was an I-16 pilot .Loved to present us kids with paper planes!
The fact that the S.P.A.D. XIII was faster than most of its German rivals gave it one significant advantage. Once engaged it could disengage at will. Not so the Dr.I. Such was the fate of famed German pilot Werner Voss when he was surrounded by British S.E.5.a's and found it impossible to run. Rather, he stood his ground and fought one of the most heroic aerial engagements of the war.
Yes, Rene Fonck used his SPAD XIII's great speed to shoot down numerous German aircraft. He was an excellent marksman and usually surprised his opponents and finished them off with very few shots. Anyway, he didn't waste his time with dogfights.
The Fokker Dr1 was not the fastest, but it was one of the more agile (a choice made by Fokker himself). Maybe you want to talk about the Fokker DVII: it could climb nearly verticaly, as hanged to its propeller! The Spad was undoubtly the fastest at any altitude, because it was designed this way, and not the Fokkers, made for aerobatics first (the main choice was the wing profile combined with the length of the wing).
No I meant The 1100 ft/min Rate of Climb of the Fokker Dr.I. In Terms of Speed the S.E.5 Ties in with the SPADS.XIII at a top level speed of 137mph compared to the SPAD's 135mph (Although the SPAD Outdives the S.E.5
I've just read 1300ft/min rate of climb for the Spad XIII, but not at every altitude. Logical: it was more recently designed than the Dr1, equiped with a rotative engine of the early years of the WW1 (Oberürsel, copy of the Le Rhone)
Little History. It's said Spads are delicate to fly. In fact, the profile of the wings is made for speed, at the contrary of the Fokker VII, e.g., optimised for aerobatics. Spads could dive at 400kph. It's the way René Fonck (75 victories) was using it, in "hit and runs".
400kph? I always though 300kph was probably the maximum WWI fighters could achieve in a dive. I'm having a hard time believing these fragile aircraft could stay in one piece in 400kph. Remeber they weren't exactly streamlined.
I can't find an english digest talking about it, sorry. But Deperdussin designed the Spads and was crazy of arodynamics (see the Spad's fuselage). Those planes are real war machines and more strongly built than they seem, even totally in wood.
UAU The Engine Sounds XXI centure machine!!!!
nglprtl 5 days ago
How close is this motor to the real thing? It sounds really unique.
rotagen5 5 months ago
@rotagen5 This is the original engine. This is equipped with a 220hp geared Hispano-Suiza V8 engine.
memorialflight 5 months ago
Interesting Landing
44492611 8 months ago
One of the few things the French can be proud of.. Their WWI aircraft were the best.. Speed is everything, and the Spad 13 was one of the fastest..
hwoods01 9 months ago
@hwoods01 One of the few thing the French can be proud of lol? Tell me, what thing an American could be proud of? The richness of his Country Strory lol? The richness of his Country Architecture? Culture lol? Or the only true war United States truly won on their own : their ownn civil war? You have no idea about what France is. BTW, no wonder why French got smashed during when the battle of France (WW2), when you know that American Companies (Ford, ITT ect) developed German Army technology...
kingoftwat 7 months ago
@kingoftwat +1
bingofioul 6 months ago
Australia's FUTURE technology
lmfao !
AntarcticaPride24 11 months ago
Rene Fonck also wrote his autobiography in which he describes using a cannon fired through the propeller shaft, claiming 16 German a/c downed. It also gives two lists of his combat career. The first is his confirmed kill list of 75 and the other is his unconfirmed which totals around 25-30 more. Both lists give date of kill and type of a/c downed. He often flew alone and behind German lines, hence his unconfirmed score. Like the Baron, he knew what the air war of WWI was all about.
TheSV3 1 year ago 2
Well this was a later plane in World War 1 so of course it was superior to many of the other aircraft. Very fast for its time too!
sargothi 1 year ago
Great footage.
One of the finest planes of WW1, fast, rugged, reliable and heavily armed.
Rene Fonck flew SPAD's almost exclusively during his career, shot down 75 German planes, five less than Richthofen, and survived to tell the tale. Boom and Zoom planes like the SE5's and the SPAD's, were ultimately better suited for keeping their pilotes alive, than the famed DR-1's and Camels.
LarS1963 1 year ago
The thing I love about WWI aviation is that it was the beginning of the dogfighting age. Men like Richtofen, Fonke, Baracca, and Rickenbacker were TRUE pioneers. There's an inescapable sense of romance to those four years in the air...
DonTheCritic 2 years ago
@DonTheCritic A veteran I´ve met when I was a child, made clear for me that there was anything romantic in killing another young pilot,a guy that probably loved flight the same as you firing from behind the poor devil and by surprise ( most wished situation from attacker point of view).Besides that this man who hated wars and never weared many medals he got, loved planes, he used to say " they all born angels".Mr Paco Birriel was an I-16 pilot .Loved to present us kids with paper planes!
mig15fan 1 year ago
The fact that the S.P.A.D. XIII was faster than most of its German rivals gave it one significant advantage. Once engaged it could disengage at will. Not so the Dr.I. Such was the fate of famed German pilot Werner Voss when he was surrounded by British S.E.5.a's and found it impossible to run. Rather, he stood his ground and fought one of the most heroic aerial engagements of the war.
razumfrackle 2 years ago
Yes, Rene Fonck used his SPAD XIII's great speed to shoot down numerous German aircraft. He was an excellent marksman and usually surprised his opponents and finished them off with very few shots. Anyway, he didn't waste his time with dogfights.
McLarenMercedes 1 year ago
Wee bit of a bouncy landing, but cool video. *****
Hendo56 2 years ago
i cannot abide jets, i LOVE these old birds, ty so much for posting.
flibideegibbit 2 years ago
Beautiful airplane! The SPAD S.XIII had a top speed of 218 km/h (135 mph). Designer: Louis Béchereau.
Sources: Wikipedia and Winchester: "Fighter - The World's Finest Combat Aircraft"
Northside777 4 years ago
Yes I confirm: Louis Béchereau, from Déperdussin (various French sources). Engine of the SXIII: Hispano Suiza V8 "8B", 220hp.
deck614 3 years ago
Wow. Spad 13 really climbs that fast?
Vabapaase 4 years ago
Well If the Spad climbs that fast wait till you see how fast the Fokker Dr.I climbs.
Detoyato 3 years ago
The Fokker Dr1 was not the fastest, but it was one of the more agile (a choice made by Fokker himself). Maybe you want to talk about the Fokker DVII: it could climb nearly verticaly, as hanged to its propeller! The Spad was undoubtly the fastest at any altitude, because it was designed this way, and not the Fokkers, made for aerobatics first (the main choice was the wing profile combined with the length of the wing).
deck614 3 years ago
No I meant The 1100 ft/min Rate of Climb of the Fokker Dr.I. In Terms of Speed the S.E.5 Ties in with the SPADS.XIII at a top level speed of 137mph compared to the SPAD's 135mph (Although the SPAD Outdives the S.E.5
Detoyato 3 years ago
I've just read 1300ft/min rate of climb for the Spad XIII, but not at every altitude. Logical: it was more recently designed than the Dr1, equiped with a rotative engine of the early years of the WW1 (Oberürsel, copy of the Le Rhone)
deck614 3 years ago
Cmon, 200-235 Hp Hispano Suiza V8 Engines
Detoyato 3 years ago
Little History. It's said Spads are delicate to fly. In fact, the profile of the wings is made for speed, at the contrary of the Fokker VII, e.g., optimised for aerobatics. Spads could dive at 400kph. It's the way René Fonck (75 victories) was using it, in "hit and runs".
deck614 4 years ago
400kph? I always though 300kph was probably the maximum WWI fighters could achieve in a dive. I'm having a hard time believing these fragile aircraft could stay in one piece in 400kph. Remeber they weren't exactly streamlined.
McLarenMercedes 4 years ago
I can't find an english digest talking about it, sorry. But Deperdussin designed the Spads and was crazy of arodynamics (see the Spad's fuselage). Those planes are real war machines and more strongly built than they seem, even totally in wood.
deck614 4 years ago
What a great video. I WANT TO FLY THAT AIRCRAFT!!!!
cowboyfjt 4 years ago
Wonderful footage! Thank you!
xpdnc12 4 years ago
fantastic!
F16Matz 4 years ago