- Variants
- Operators
- Specifications (S.81/1)
- See also
- References
- Further reading
| name=S.81 | image= | caption= }}{{Infobox Aircraft Type | type=Fighter | manufacturer=Blériot | designer=André Herbemont | first flight=13 March 1923 | introduced= | retired= | status= | primary user=French Air Force | more users= | produced= | number built= ca. 85 | variants with their own articles=
}} |
The Blériot-SPAD S.81 (S.81 C.1) was a French fighter aircraft developed in 1923 to a requirement by the French Air Force. It was flown competitively against the Dewoitine D.1 and was selected over that aircraft due to the Dewoitine's more radical design, leading to an order for 80 aircraft. The S.81 was a single-bay biplane of conventional configuration with I-shaped interplane struts and lacking Herbemont's usual swept upper wing. It featured a wooden fuselage of monocoque construction and metal wings skinned in fabric. Production versions differed from the prototypes in having a lengthened fuselage and larger tail fin. Variants- S.81.01
- two prototypes, powered by a {{convert|300|hp|kW|abbr=on|disp=flip}} Hispano-Suiza 8Fb V-8 engine. The second aircraft was used for static tests only
- S.81/1
- production version, powered by a {{convert|300|hp|kW|abbr=on|disp=flip}} Hispano-Suiza 8Fb V-8 engines, designated S.81 C.1 (S.81 Chasseur - single-seater) in air force service.[1]
- S.81bis
- single example of racer version developed for the Coupe Michelin race. Performance poor.[1]
- S.81/2
- single machine to evaluate alternative radiator design.
- S.81/3
- single machine to evaluate alternative radiator design
- S.81/4
- single machine to evaluate wooden wing design
- S.81/6
- racer converted from the S.81-bis
Operators- {{FRA}}
Specifications (S.81/1) {{Aircraft specs
|ref=Jane's all the World's Aircraft 1924[2], Aviafrance:SPAD S-81[3]
|prime units?=met
|crew=1
|length m=6.4
|span upper m=9.62
|span lower m=8.96
|height m=2.8
|wing area sqm=30
|aspect ratio=
|airfoil=
|empty weight kg=800
|gross weight kg=1250
|max takeoff weight kg=
|fuel capacity=
|more general=
|eng1 number=1
|eng1 name=Hispano-Suiza 8Fb
|eng1 type=V-8 water-cooled piston engine
|eng1 hp=300
|prop blade number=2
|prop name=fixed pitch wooden propeller
|prop dia m=
|prop dia ft=
|prop dia in=
|prop dia note=
|max speed kmh=250
|max speed note=at sea level
|cruise speed kmh=
|stall speed kmh=
|never exceed speed kmh=
|range km=750
|combat range km=
|ferry range km=
|endurance=
|ceiling m=8000
|g limits=
|roll rate=
|climb rate ms=6
|time to altitude=
|wing loading kg/m2=41.6
|fuel consumption kg/km=
|power/mass={{cvt|0.1087|hp/lb|kW/kg|order=flip}}
|more performance=
|guns= 2 × fixed, forward-firing {{cvt|7.7|mm|3}} Vickers machine-guns
}}
See also{{aircontent|
|related=
|similar aircraft=
|sequence=
|lists=- List of Interwar military aircraft
|see also=
}}References{{commons category|SPAD}}1. ^{{cite web |last1=Parmentier |first1=Bruno |title=SPAD S-81bis |url=https://www.aviafrance.com/aviafrance1.php?ID=128&ID_CONSTRUCTEUR=10264&ANNEE=0&ID_MISSION=0&MOTCLEF= |website=Aviafrance |accessdate=10 March 2018|location=Paris |language=fr |date=4 October 2012}}
2. ^{{cite book |title=Jane's all the World's Aircraft 1924 |editor1-last=Grey |editor1-first=C.G. |year=1924 |publisher=Sampson Low, Marston & company, ltd |location=London|pages=99b-100b}}
3. ^1 {{cite web|last1=Parmentier|first1=Bruno|title=SPAD S-81|url=https://www.aviafrance.com/aviafrance1.php?ID=128&ID_CONSTRUCTEUR=1231&ANNEE=0&ID_MISSION=0&MOTCLEF=|website=Aviafrance|accessdate=10 March 2018|location=Paris|language=fr|date=12 April 2003}}
Further reading- Taylor, John W. R., and Jean Alexander. "Combat Aircraft of the World" New York: G.P. Putnam's Sons, 1969 Library of Congress Catalog Card Number 68-25459 (Pg.130-131)
- {{cite book |last= Taylor |first= Michael J. H. |title=Jane's Encyclopedia of Aviation |year=1989 |publisher=Studio Editions |location=London |pages=164 }}
- {{cite book |title=World Aircraft Information Files |publisher=Bright Star Publishing|location=London |pages=File 890 Sheet 42–43 }}
{{SPAD aircraft}}{{DEFAULTSORT:Bleriot-Spad S.81}} 6 : French fighter aircraft 1920–1929|Blériot aircraft|Biplanes|Single-engined tractor aircraft|Racing aircraft|Aircraft first flown in 1923 |