Deperdussin Monocoque
The Deperdussin Monocoque, built in 1912, was a revolutionary racing aircraft and one of the first to use monocoque construction.
Deperdussin Monocoque - Pre-WW1 French Aircraft & Warplanes.

Time Period: Pre-WW1, World War I
Country of Origin: France
Type: Monoplane, General Purpose Aircraft
Manufacturer: SPAD (Société Pour les Appareils Deperdussin)

Société Pour les Appareils Deperdussin

Deperdussin Monocoque Aircraft Overview

What made the Deperdussin Monocoque stand out was its streamlined fuselage, made not from a traditional wooden frame with fabric stretched over it, but from thin layers of wood veneer glued together into a smooth, rounded shell—like the body of a canoe. This method, known as monocoque (French for “single shell”), created a much stronger and more aerodynamic structure while keeping the aircraft lightweight.

The aircraft was designed for speed—and it delivered. Powered by a Gnome rotary engine, the Deperdussin Monocoque could reach speeds of around 200 km/h (124 mph), an astonishing feat for 1912. It was used primarily for air racing, where speed was everything.

Record-Breaking Success

In 1913, the Deperdussin Monocoque won the prestigious Gordon Bennett Trophy, an international air race. Flown by pilot Maurice Prévost, it reached a speed of 200.8 km/h (124.7 mph)—a world record at the time. This victory proved the potential of advanced aerodynamics and monocoque construction in aviation.

Legacy of the Deperdussin Monocoque

Although the Deperdussin company later faced financial scandal and was restructured into SPAD (which went on to build famous WWI fighters), the Monocoque left a lasting legacy. Its design paved the way for modern aircraft construction techniques and demonstrated the value of aerodynamic shaping in aviation performance.

Deperdussin Monocoque Specifications

  • Crew: 1
  • Length: 6.1 m (20 ft)
  • Wingspan: 6.65 m (21 ft 10 in)
  • Wing area: 9.7 m² (104 sq ft)
  • Gross weight: 612 kg (1,350 lb)
  • Powerplant: 1 × Gnome Lambda Lambda
    • Air-cooled, 14-cylinder, two-row rotary engine
    • Output: 120 kW (160 hp)
  • Propeller: 2-bladed Chauvière
    • Diameter: 2.31 m (7 ft 7 in)

Deperdussin Monocoque Performance

  • Maximum speed: 201 km/h (124.77 mph, 108.42 knots)

The aircraft could reach a maximum speed of 201 km/h (124.77 mph or 108.42 knots), making it one of the fastest aircraft of its time.

Deperdussin Monocoque Image Gallery

The Deperdussin Monocoque racer and four of its pilots. From left to right: Guillaume Busson, René Vidart, Jules Védrines and Maurice Prévost. Wikipedia.

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