DISCONTINUED DEWOITINE D.501 'IN FRENCH SERVICE'

The Dewoitine D.501 was a French fighter aircraft from the interwar period and World War II. The machine was built in a low wing configuration, it had a metal structure and a classic - fixed undercarriage. The prototype flight took place in 1932. The drive was provided by a single engine Hispano-Suiza 12Xcrs. The deck armament was a single 20mm Hispano-Suiza S7 cannon and two 7.5mm MAC 1934 machine guns. The D.501 model was developed as a development of the successful Dewoitine D.500 aircraft by order of the French Navy. Compared to its predecessor, it was distinguished above all by a reinforced structure, stronger on-board armament and the use of a different power unit. Dewoitine D.501 has also been adapted to operate from aircraft carriers. Structurally, however, it was very similar to the D.500 version. About 160 units of the basic version (D.501) and about 15 units of the D.501L version produced for the needs of the Lithuanian military aviation were produced in the course of production. Machines of this type remained on the French armed forces in 1939-1940, clearly giving way to the newest British or German designs.