SPAD S.61C1

The SPAD 61C1 was a French biplane fighter from the interwar period. The machine was first flew in 1923 and its serial production started shortly after. The drive was provided by a single engine Lorraine-Dietrich 12EW with a power of 450 hp. The machine was 6.98 meters long with a wingspan of 9.57 meters. The deck armament consisted of two 7.7 mm machine guns. The SPAD 61C1 was designed and built at the French aviation plant Bleriot Aeronautique, as well as under license in Poland by CWL, and later PZL. The machine was characterized - for those times - by a high maximum speed, a very good climb rate and was very sensitive in the piloting, which in the hands of an experienced pilot was a big advantage. The big disadvantage was the dramatically poor structure of the plane, as well as the very difficult recovery of the plane from the spin. Airplanes of this type were not used in French aviation, and in Polish aviation they served until 1933-1934, and from 1929 they were used as training planes.