SPAD SA.2

Specifications SPAD SA.2 blueprint

The SPAD SA.2 undefined is a two-seat fighter and observation aircraft produced in France during the 1910s. It features a biplane wing configuration with two-bay wings of equal span with trailing edge slots. The fuselage is a conventional wooden box girder structure with cladding panels, while the tail consists of a four-part unit with an elevator and rudder. The landing gear is a fixed tailwheel arrangement. The powerplant of the SPAD SA.2 undefined consists of a Hispano-Suiza 8A V8 engine. This engine delivers a maximum power output of 230 horsepower and provides the SPAD SA.2 with a maximum speed of 115 mph in level flight and 145 mph in a dive. Range is good, too, with the maximum distance flown reaching over 500 miles. On the external points are four Lewis machine guns in a fixed, forward-firing synchronised mount. Alternatively, the guns can be replaced with three Le Prieur rockets mounted on the lower wings. The rear seat of the SPAD SA.2 features a ring mount for flexible defensive fire and the observation position has an armoured bulkhead for increased protection. Pilots of the SPAD SA.2 found it to be a versatile and capable aircraft with good performance and stability. Easy to fly, it was a dependable and reliable aircraft in its day, with a favourable safety record. It saw service throughout World War I primarily as an observation aircraft, but was also employed in combat in limited numbers.