The Aerodrome Forum - View Single Post - Different flying characteristics Spad XIII vs SE5a

m9a3r5i7o2n · 2 April 2008, 01:49 PM

Quote from izstew

SPAD versus SE5a
What an amazing forum this is - great replies from all over the world. Thanks to all those who have helped. I must also admit to being surprised by what I have found that from the sources referred to. Before I posted the question here I had in my mind that the SPAD X III was a bit like the Republic Thunderbolt in the Second World War- a super stable rugged gun platform that could always dive its way out of trouble. I knew the SPAD VII was maneuverable and had read things about the XIII where pilots were disappointed that some of the maneuverability had been traded away for more speed and ruggedness. However there does seem a critical mass of opinion that the SPAD XIII climbed better and was more maneuverable than the SE5a -- which given the latter's reputation is quite some compliment. The only consistent downside reported on the SPAD was the difficulty of flying at low speed where it had a vicious stall

I am always hearing about the SPAD XIII and the flying characteristics and reminded about the airfoil sections of Gottingen Germany listed on page #113 of I.H. Abbott & A.E. von Doenhoff book, “THEORY OF WING SECTIONS” PAGE #113 CHAPTER 6 Paragraph 6.4. This paragraph states that the Gottingen 398 and the Clark Y were nearly the same when there camber was removed (mean line straightened) and they were reduced to the same maximum thickness.
Statements like that make me wonder if Gottingen had better wind tunnels and a head start on designing airfoils?

M.L. Anderson

2 April 2008, 01:49 PM	#8 (permalink)
m9a3r5i7o2n Two-seater Pilot Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Las Cruces New Mexico U.S.A. Posts: 184	Quote from izstew SPAD versus SE5a What an amazing forum this is - great replies from all over the world. Thanks to all those who have helped. I must also admit to being surprised by what I have found that from the sources referred to. Before I posted the question here I had in my mind that the SPAD X III was a bit like the Republic Thunderbolt in the Second World War- a super stable rugged gun platform that could always dive its way out of trouble. I knew the SPAD VII was maneuverable and had read things about the XIII where pilots were disappointed that some of the maneuverability had been traded away for more speed and ruggedness. However there does seem a critical mass of opinion that the SPAD XIII climbed better and was more maneuverable than the SE5a -- which given the latter's reputation is quite some compliment. The only consistent downside reported on the SPAD was the difficulty of flying at low speed where it had a vicious stall I am always hearing about the SPAD XIII and the flying characteristics and reminded about the airfoil sections of Gottingen Germany listed on page #113 of I.H. Abbott & A.E. von Doenhoff book, “THEORY OF WING SECTIONS” PAGE #113 CHAPTER 6 Paragraph 6.4. This paragraph states that the Gottingen 398 and the Clark Y were nearly the same when there camber was removed (mean line straightened) and they were reduced to the same maximum thickness. Statements like that make me wonder if Gottingen had better wind tunnels and a head start on designing airfoils? M.L. Anderson Last edited by m9a3r5i7o2n; 3 April 2008 at 01:31 PM.