SPAD S.VII
| SPAD S.VII | |
|---|---|
| British-built SPAD S.VII of the RFC | |
| General information | |
| Type | Biplane fighter |
| National origin | France |
| Manufacturer | SPAD |
| Designer | |
| Primary users | Aéronautique Militaire |
| Number built | ~6000 |
| History | |
| Introduction date | August 1916 |
| First flight | May 1916 |
| Developed from | SPAD S.A. |
The SPAD S.VII C.1 was the first in a series of single-seat biplane fighter aircraft produced by Société Pour L'Aviation et ses Dérivés (SPAD) during the First World War. Like its successors, the S.VII was renowned as a sturdy and rugged aircraft with good diving characteristics. It was also a stable gun platform, although pilots used to the more manoeuvrable Nieuport fighters found it heavy on the controls. It was flown by a number of famous aces, such as France's Georges Guynemer, Italy's Francesco Baracca and Australia's Alexander Pentland.