SPAD SA.2

From Wings of Linen
SPAD SA.2
Role Fighter
Manufacturer S.P.A.D.
Designer Louis Béchereau[1]
First flight 21 May 1915 [2]
Primary users France
Russia
Number built 40[1]-42[3] for France; 57 Russia
Developed from SA.1
Variants SA.3, SA.4
Wingspan 9.07 m (29 ft 9 in)[1]-9.55 m (31 ft 4 in)[4][5]
Engine 110hp Le Rhône rotary[note 1]
Armament front flexible Lewis
Crew 2
Max Speed 112 km/h (70 mph)[6] or
130 km/h (81 mph)[5] or
140 km/h (87 mph)[3][1]
Climb 1,000 m (3,280 ft) in 5:30[3]
2,000 m (6,560 ft) in 12:30[3]
3,000 m (9,840 ft) in 23:30[3]
Ceiling 3,000 m (9,840 ft) [6] to 4,000 m (13,100 ft) [3]
Endurance 2:00[6] to 3:00[3]

The innovative -- if only partially successful -- SPAD SA.1 was upgraded with a 110hp engine and various minor adjustments to lead to the SPAD SA.2. The horizontal stabilizers were widened with parallel edges and a set of cowl-cheeks were added to improve cooling. French SA.2s were handed out in ones and twos to reconnaissance units to provide escort. The were understandably not popular with the observers, but the limited forward view also made them hard for pilots to land. With Aviation Militaire they served in the latter half of 1915 before being phased out.

In Russia the SA.2 and SPAD SA.4 continued service through 1917 and likely into the Civil War.[2]

For more information, see Wikipedia:SPAD S.A.

Timeline [note 2]

Game Data

Wings of Glory

Unofficial Stats
Availability Maneuver Damage Dmg Points Max Alt. Climb
15Q2-17Q4 Y B 13 11 5
Card Links

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Aircraft Chart

Miniatures and Models

1:144 Scale

1:285/6mm/1:288 Scale

1:300 Scale

Resources

Orthographic Drawings

References

Notes
  1. Russian SA.2s may have used the 80hp Le Rhône.[2]
  2. Plane counts are approximate and based of escadrille usage in Davilla'97.
  3. 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 Updated card
Citations
  1. 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 Ferry'14, p.72.
  2. 2.0 2.1 2.2 Davilla, p.474.
  3. 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 3.5 3.6 Davilla, p.478.
  4. Lamberton, pp.216-217.
  5. 5.0 5.1 Angelucci, p.44.
  6. 6.0 6.1 6.2 Munson, p.22.
Bibliography
  • Enzo Angelucci, ed. The Rand McNally Encyclopedia of Military Aircraft, 1914-1980. New York: The Military Press, 1983 edition. ISBN 0-517-41021-4.
  • Dr. James J. Davilla and Arthur M. Soltan. French Aircraft of the First World War. Flying Machines Press, 1997. ISBN 0-9637110-4-0.
  • Alan Durkota, Thomas Darcey, and Victor Kulikov. The Imperial Russian Air Service. Flying Machines Press, 1995. ISBN 0-9637110-2-4
  • W.M. Lamberton and E.F. Cheesman, Fighter Aircraft of the 1914-1918 War. Great Britain: Harleyford Publications Limited, 1960.
  • Kenneth Munson, Fighters 1914-19, Attack and Training Aircraft. New York: MacMillan Publishing Co., Inc., 1976. ISBN 0713707607