SPAD VII

René Fonck, the Allies leading ace, had high praise for the SPAD, “it completely changed the face of aerial warfare.” The SPAD VII was not an easy aircraft to fly. At low speed, its thin airfoil cross-section often resulted in unforgiving stalls. It was, however, an outstanding diver, capable of speeds of nearly 250mph followed by a steep climb. Dive and zoom tactics were soon developed, giving SPAD pilots the ability to dive on their opponents, fire off a burst, and zoomclimb back out of harm’s way.