SPAD S.XX (S.20)
The SPAD S.XX, also known as the S.20, was a French biplane fighter developed shortly after World War I. It was designed by Louis Béchereau.
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(Société Pour L'Aviation Et Ses Dérivés)
SPAD, short for Société pour l’aviation et ses dérivés (which translates roughly to “Company for Aviation and its Derivatives”), was a major French aircraft manufacturer during World War I. It became famous for producing some of the best fighter planes of the war, especially the SPAD VII and SPAD XIII.
The company played a central role in strengthening the air power of the Allied forces, supplying aircraft not only to France but also to other nations like the U.S., Italy, and Belgium.
SPAD didn’t start under that name. It was originally founded as Deperdussin, a company known for its racing planes in the early 1910s. However, after a scandal involving embezzlement, it went bankrupt. In 1913, the company was taken over and restructured by Louis Blériot (the famous pilot who first flew across the English Channel), and it was renamed SPAD.
During the war, SPAD became a key defense contractor. Their planes were known for being strong, fast, and rugged, even if they weren’t the most agile. This made them ideal for tactics that relied on speed and firepower, rather than tight maneuvering.
One of their greatest successes was the SPAD XIII, which was an upgrade of the earlier SPAD VII. Pilots like René Fonck, Georges Guynemer, Eddie Rickenbacker, and Francesco Baracca all flew SPAD fighters, scoring dozens of victories.
After the war, SPAD continued producing aircraft after the war, but like many wartime manufacturers, demand fell sharply. Eventually, it merged with other companies, and the SPAD name faded from the aviation world. However, its legacy lived on through its contributions to military aviation and the legendary pilots who flew its planes.
SPAD (Société pour l’aviation et ses dérivés) was a leading French aircraft manufacturer during World War I, best known for producing fast, durable fighters flown by some of the war’s greatest aces. Below is a list of all known SPAD aircraft and warplanes developed throughout its history, from early prototypes to legendary frontline fighters.
The SPAD S.XX, also known as the S.20, was a French biplane fighter developed shortly after World War I. It was designed by Louis Béchereau.
The Deperdussin Monocoque, built in 1912, was a revolutionary racing aircraft and one of the first to use monocoque construction.
The SPAD S.XIII was a French biplane fighter aircraft produced by Société Pour L’Aviation et ses Dérivés and used during World War I.
The SPAD S.VII was a series of successful French biplane fighter aircraft produced by Société Pour L’Aviation et ses Dérivés and used during WW1.
The Deperdussin TT was a French monoplane introduced in 1912 and widely used by the French Air Force during World War I.
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