NGC - SPAD XIII

[ohiorider]

I've never flown a plane, never been at the stick.  But was always interested in both WW1 and WW2 aircraft, especially fighters.  The SPAD was always a favorite.  Built of wood, linen, dope, it always fascinated me that these light airframes were powered by some relatively sophisticated engines.  The Hispano Suiza that powered the SPAD is a good example.

My dad took me to the official opening of the (new) airport in Charleston WV, (Now known as Yeager Airport) in approx 1948.  I was five years old, but still remember it to this day.  It was Eastern Airlines 20th (perhaps 25th) anniversary, and to celebrate, they flew a SPAD much like "Capt'n Eddie" Rickenbacker had flown in 1918.  I recall that Rickenbacker was president of Eastern.

Here is one, taxiing.  There's several YouTubes of SPADS flying, but I liked this  one because it showed off the plane so well.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6P4iCSGb-os

Bob

EDIT:  I'm probably way off on the dates. It could have been 1953, which would probably have meshed with Eastern Airline's 25th anniversary.

[Lannis]

Those are some good videos.   It would take a pilot with a lot of juice to fly one of those even today.

To mount a machine gun on one and take off hoping you'd see the other guy with a machine gun before he saw you ... you'd need a pair the size of church bells.

Lannis

[ohiorider]

Those are some good videos.   It would take a pilot with a lot of juice to fly one of those even today.

To mount a machine gun on one and take off hoping you'd see the other guy with a machine gun before he saw you ... you'd need a pair the size of church bells.

Lannis

My thoughts are the same.  Church bells? Maybe even bigger!

Bob

[Testarossa]

The SPAD XIII and RAC Se5a arrived in 1917 and quickly replaced lighter fighters like the Nieuports and Camels. Main reason was power: the earlier planes used Le Rhone rotary engines of about 110 hp and speed topped out at around 110 mph. The new planes used variants of the Hispano Suiza V8, typically 220 hp and top speed went to 135 mph which meant they could chase down or dive away from any German aircraft, even the Fokker D7 (185 hp Mercedes straight 6, 124 mph), which anyway arrived too late in the war to matter much.

The other big advantage of the HS V8 was that it could be, and was, built by car companies not only in France but in Britain, Italy, Spain and the U.S. The last variants put out 330hp.

[kingoffleece]

Capt. Eddie and The Hat in the Ring Squad.

[oldbike54]

 Very cool Bob 

 Dusty

[wheaties]

If you're in the Northeast US and want to see these planes fly, you can always visit the Rhinebeck Aerodrome in NY.  Come to think of it, I haven't been there in years and it's not that far away.  I really need to take a ride in that direction soon

http://oldrhinebeck.org/

[cbrider]

The Kingsbury Aerodrome in Texas has a collection of old aircraft, and they also have built a few WWI aircraft from plans. They have a grass runway and I fly down there occasionally.

They have a fly-in every fall. I took these photos a few years ago.

Here is a Spad that they were building from plans. Yes, they came up with some original plans and it is just like the old ones! It even has a real Hisso engine!











Here is a copy of a Fokker DVII.



And here is a copy of a Fokker Dr.I Triplane.



This one looks like a J-3 Cub, but it is a home built replica I built back in 2002.

[kingoffleece]

Wonderful

[Denis]

I recall that Rickenbacker was president of Eastern.

A couple of years ago at a motorcycle swap meet in Pennsylvania I met a guy who flew for Eastern and knew Rickenbacker. Just the fact that I can say that is pretty cool.

[twowings]

Yay biplanes!!!