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| The French Air Service replaced the Nieuport 17 with the SPAD S.VII. Although disadvantaged by poor forward and downward views from the cockpit, the SPAD S.VII was fast, durable and difficult to shoot down. A good performer, it was flown by nearly all the French aces. It proved less successful in the hands of the British, possibly due to the combat tactics employed by the pilots of the Royal Flying Corps. The highest scoring ace for the SPAD S.VII and SPAD S.XIII was William Cochran-Patrick, an Irishman, with 18 victories. |
| | Country: | France | Manufacturer: | Société Anonyme Pour L'Aviation et ses Dérives | Type: | Fighter | First Introduced: | September 1916 | Number Built: | 3,825 | Engine(s): | Hispano-Suiza 8A, V-8, 150 hp | Wing Span: | 25 ft 7¾ in [7.82 m] | Length: | 20 ft 2 in [6.15 m] | Height: | 7 ft 6.5 in | Empty Weight: | 1,102 lb | Gross Weight: | 1632 lb [740 kg] | Max Speed: | 119 mph [191.5 kmh] | Ceiling: | 17,500 ft | Endurance: | 1.5 hours | Crew: | 1 | Armament: | 1 Vickers .303 machine gun |
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