Engineering:Blériot-SPAD S.81

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S.81
Role Fighter
Manufacturer Blériot
Designer André Herbemont
First flight 13 March 1923
Primary user French Air Force
Number built ca. 85

The Blériot-SPAD S.81 (S.81 C.1) 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 Herbemont'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, powered by a 220 kW (300 hp) Hispano-Suiza 8Fb V-8 engine. The second aircraft was used for static tests only
S.81/1
production version, powered by a 220 kW (300 hp) Hispano-Suiza 8Fb V-8 engines, designated S.81 C.1 (S.81 Chasseur - single-seater) in air force service.[1]
S.81bis
single example of racer version developed for the Coupe Michelin race. Performance poor.[2]
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

Specifications (S.81/1)

Data from Jane's all the World's Aircraft 1924,[3] Aviafrance:SPAD S-81[1]

General characteristics

  • Crew: 1
  • Length: 6.4 m (21 ft 0 in)
  • Upper wingspan: 9.62 m (31 ft 7 in)
  • Lower wingspan: 8.96 m (29 ft 5 in)
  • Height: 2.8 m (9 ft 2 in)
  • Wing area: 30 m2 (320 sq ft)
  • Empty weight: 800 kg (1,764 lb)
  • Gross weight: 1,250 kg (2,756 lb)
  • Powerplant: 1 × Hispano-Suiza 8Fb V-8 water-cooled piston engine, 220 kW (300 hp)
  • Propellers: 2-bladed fixed pitch wooden propeller

Performance

  • Maximum speed: 250 km/h (160 mph, 130 kn) at sea level
  • Range: 750 km (470 mi, 400 nmi)
  • Service ceiling: 8,000 m (26,000 ft)
  • Rate of climb: 6 m/s (1,200 ft/min)
  • Wing loading: 41.6 kg/m2 (8.5 lb/sq ft)
  • Power/mass: 0.1787 kW/kg (0.1087 hp/lb)

Armament

  • Guns: 2 × fixed, forward-firing 7.7 mm (0.303 in) Vickers machine-guns

See also

Related lists

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 Parmentier, Bruno (12 April 2003). "SPAD S-81" (in fr). Paris. https://www.aviafrance.com/aviafrance1.php?ID=128&ID_CONSTRUCTEUR=1231&ANNEE=0&ID_MISSION=0&MOTCLEF=. Retrieved 10 March 2018. 
  2. ↑ Parmentier, Bruno (4 October 2012). "SPAD S-81bis" (in fr). Paris. https://www.aviafrance.com/aviafrance1.php?ID=128&ID_CONSTRUCTEUR=10264&ANNEE=0&ID_MISSION=0&MOTCLEF=. Retrieved 10 March 2018. 
  3. ↑ Grey, C.G., ed (1924). Jane's all the World's Aircraft 1924. London: Sampson Low, Marston & company, ltd. pp. 99b–100b. 

Bibliography

  • Bruner, Georges (1977). "Fighters a la Francaise, Part One". Air Enthusiast (3): 85–95. ISSN 0143-5450. 

Further reading

  • Taylor, John W. R., and Jean Alexander. "Combat Aircraft of the World" New York: G.P. Putnam's Sons, 1969 Library of Congress Catalog Card Number 68-25459 (Pg.130-131)
  • 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. 



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