Blériot SPAD S.510
Description
Role	Day fighter
Crew	1
First flight
Entered service
Manufacturer
Dimensions
Length	24 ft 6 in	7.46 m
Wingspan	29 ft 0 in	8.84 m
Height	12 ft 2 in	3.72 m
Wing area	237 ft²	22.0 m²
Weights
Empty	2,750 lb	1,250 kg
Loaded	lb	kg
Maximum takeoff	4,030 lb	1,830 kg
Capacity
Powerplant
Engines	Hispano-Suiza 12Xbrs
Power	690 hp	520 kW
Performance
Maximum speed	230 knots	425 km/h
Combat range	540 statute miles	875 km
Ferry range	miles	km
Service ceiling	34,500 ft	10,500 m
Rate of climb	ft/min	m/min
Avionics
Avionics
Armament
Guns	4 x 7.5 mm machine guns
Bombs
Missiles
Rockets
Other

The Blériot SPAD S.510 was the last French bi-plane fighter to be produced. Conceived in 1930, this clean, open-cockpit biplane first flew in 1933 and entered service in 1936. Performance was similar to the British Gloster Gladiator and Hawker Fury but armament was twice as heavy. Largely overshadowed by the faster Dewoitine D.510 monoplane, an order of 60 planes was secured in August of 1935 when French ace pilot Louis Massot demonstrated the S.510 to excellent effect showing its superior maneuverability and rate of climb.

Despite its strengths, the S.510 only enjoyed about a year of utility. A decent fighter for 1936, it was quickly overshadowed by the new, modern monoplanes developed by Germany, England, and France. It had fixed landing gear as well as a weak fuel system and undercarriage.

Model History

S.510 Hispano-Suiza 12Xbrs , 4 x 7.5 mm MAC 1934 MGs (60 built)

The S.510 saw service with the Armée de l'Air (60), and possibly the Spanish "Escuadrilla Internacional" (15-27?)

Total production (including prototypes): 61

Active Service

The S.510 entered service in early 1936. Twenty seven examples were reported delivered to the Spanish Republican Air Force during the Spanish civil war (sometimes the number is 15), but there is no evidence that they were never actually sent. Upon the outbreak of World War 2, the S.510 served in reserve squadrons only. By the Battle of France, all S.510s had been relegated to North African units.

Specifications (variant described)

General characteristics

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• Capacity:
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• Powerplant: Engine type(s), kW ( hp)

Performance

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