Spad fighter aircraft (WW 1): books - history and deployment

Spad Fighters - The Spad A.2 to XVI in World War I (Legends of Warfare)

This book traces the history of one of World War I's most famous French fighters, the SPAD. From its early development, it became the aircraft of choice for celebrated aces such as Georges Guynemer, René Fonck, Eddie Rickenbacker, Francesco Baracca, and many others.

Using rare period photographs, the book explains how the SPAD was designed, built, and flown. It highlights surviving aircraft and provides information on where they can be seen today around the world.

The book also introduces several US aerodromes where visitors can observe SPAD aircraft, including the Golden Age Air Museum in Pennsylvania and the Old Rhinebeck Aerodrome in New York, home to the world's only flying SPAD VII replica. This work is part of the "Legends of Warfare" series.

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Spad VII vs Albatros D III - 1917-18 (Osprey)

When originally conceived, the French SPAD VII and German Albatros D II represented steps away from an emphasis on manoeuvre in aerial combat in favour of speed and durability. At the end of 1916, however, Albatros tried to have the best of both worlds. The result combined the better downward view and manoeuvrability of the Nieuport with the power and twin machine guns of the Albatros D II.
At the same time, the French worked to improve the SPAD VII with more power and a more reliable cooling system before moving on to the twin-gunned SPAD XIII. While all that was going on, the Albatros D III became a mainstay of the German and Austro-Hungarian air services in frequent encounters with SPAD VIIs flown by French, Belgian, British, Italian and American airmen.

This book examines the technology and strategy that defined the outcome of the battles between the Spad VII and the Albatros D III.

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Spad XIII vs Fokker D VII - Western Front 1916-18 (Osprey)

English (rewritten, max. 200 words)
This book tells the story of two of World War I's finest fighters and their duels over the trenches in the final months of the war.
The Fokker D VII gained a reputation as the most formidable fighter of the conflict, while the SPAD XIII, with its higher speed - especially in a dive - and exceptional durability, proved a powerful rival.

Previously unpublished artwork, including detailed cockpit illustrations, shows dramatic encounters between these aircraft. Diary entries and firsthand pilot accounts bring these aerial battles vividly to life, offering a close view of the skill and courage involved.

The book also provides technical details, development history, strategic context, and performance comparisons, allowing readers to understand why these two machines dominated the skies of 1918.

Contents:
- Introduction
- Chronology
- Design and Development
- Strategic Situation
- Technical Specifications
- The Combatants
- Combat
- Statistics and Analysis
- Aftermath and Conclusion
- Bibliography
- Further Reading
- Glossary

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