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The Blériot SPAD S.510 was the last French bi-plane fighter to be produced.
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Development
Conceived in 1930, this clean, open-cockpit biplane first flew in 1933 and entered service in 1936. Performance was similar to the British Gloster Gladiator and Hawker Fury but armament was twice as heavy. Largely overshadowed by the faster Dewoitine D.510 monoplane, an order of 60 planes was secured in August of 1935 when French ace pilot Louis Massot demonstrated the S.510 to excellent effect showing its superior maneuverability and rate of climb.
Despite its strengths, the S.510 only enjoyed about a year of utility. A decent fighter for 1936, it was quickly overshadowed by the new, modern monoplanes developed by Germany, England, and France. It had fixed landing gear as well as a weak fuel system and undercarriage.
Operational history
The S.510 entered service in early 1936, being asigned to the GC I/7 in May 1937 and the GC II/7 in July, 1938. They were intended as transition aircraft between the Morane 225 and the Morane-Saulnier MS-406 and served in the Weiser Circus, a military acrobatic group. Upon the outbreak of World War 2, the S.510 served in reserve squadrons only. The metropolitan reserves were mobilized into the II/561 based in Havre-Oteville. From January 18, 1940 over a period of weeks, the S.510s were replaced with Bloch MB.151 aircraft, the groupe changing designation to GC III/10. The displaced S.510s returned to their training role. Approximately ten S.510s had been sent to French North Africa where, by the Battle of France, they were mobilized into a fighter group, the GC III/5 but their age allowed them to be used for training flights only.
Twenty seven examples were reported delivered to the Spanish Republican Air Force during the Spanish civil war (sometimes the number is 15), but there is no evidence that they were ever actually sent.
Variants
- S.510 - Hispano-Suiza 12Xbrs, 4 x 7.5 mm MAC 1934 MGs (60 built)
The S.510 saw service with the Armée de l'Air (60), and possibly the Spanish "Escuadrilla Internacional" (15-27?)
Total production (including prototypes): 61
Specifications (S.510)
General Characteristics
- Crew: one
- Length: 7.46 m (24 ft 5.75 in)
- Wingspan: 8.84 m (29 ft 0 in)
- Height: 3.72 m (12 ft 2.5 in)
- Wing area: 22.0 m² (237 ft²)
- Empty: 1250 kg (2755 lb)
- Loaded: 1830 kg (4034 lb)
- Maximum takeoff:
- Powerplant: 1x Hispano-Suiza 12Xbrs, 516 kW (690 hp)
Performance
- Maximum speed: 370 km/h (230 mph)
- Range: 875 km (543 miles)
- Ferry Range:
- Service ceiling: 10,500 m (34,650 ft)
- Rate of climb: 14.85 m/s (2,920 ft/min)
- Wing loading: kg/m² ( lb/ft²)
- Power/Mass: kW/kg ( hp/lb)
Armament
- Four 7.5 mm MAC 1934 machine guns
References
- Breffort, Dominique & Jouineau, André. French Aircraft from 1939 to 1942
- Weal, Elke C., Weal, John A., Barker, Richard F. Combat Aircraft of World War Two
Related content
Related development:
Comparable aircraft: Dewoitine D.510, Gloster Gladiator, Hawker Fury, Heinkel He 51, Fiat C.32, Boeing P-26
Designation sequence:
See also:
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