DEWOITINE D.500

The Dewoitine D.500 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 June 1932. The drive was provided by a single engine Hispano-Suiza 12Xbrs with 691hp. The deck armament consisted of two 7.5 mm machine guns. Dewoitine D.500 was developed and produced by Société Aeronautique Francaise (Avions Dewoitine) in connection with the desire of the French military aviation to create a low-wing fighter in the early 1930s, which would have much better aerodynamic properties and better performance than the existing high-wing and biplane. It was also assumed that the new machine would replace the Nieuport 62 planes in the line. The presented plane turned out to be successful when it was put into service and was exported, among others, to China and Spain. Machines of this type took part, among others, in the course of the Spanish Civil War (1936-1939) and during the Japanese-Chinese War (1937-1945). They also remained in the equipment of the French air force in the years 1939-1940, clearly giving way to the latest British or German designs. They were also replaced in line by the Dewoitine D.520 machines.