Flight, December 1924

The Paris Aero Show 1924

BLERIOT AERONAUTIQUE

   IT is to be feared that many visitors to the Grand Palais may have missed the Bleriot exhibits altogether, as the stand alloted to the famous French constructor is tucked away under one of the galleries. Of the exact cause for this we have no knowledge, but a rumour is current to the effect that M. Bleriot had at first decided not to exhibit, and that when, at the last minute, so to speak, he altered this decision all the main stands had been taken and he had to be satisfied with the present position, which is certainly not at all in keeping with the importance of one of France's oldest constructors and one of the pioneers of aviation.
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   The Spad 51 is mainly interesting on account of the very excellent climb which the "Jupiter" engine (built, of course, by Gnome and le Rhone) is claimed to give it. We were unable to obtain the actual figures as ascertained by the Section Technique, but the Spad 51 is claimed to be the best climber (grimpeur) in the world. The ceiling is stated to be 10,000 m. (32,800 ft.), and the speed at 8,000 m. (26,200 ft.) is claimed to be more than 200 km./h. (125 m.p.h.). Whereas the Spads 81 and 61 have straight top planes, M. Herbemont has returned, in the Spad 51, to his original arrangement, in which the upper wing is swept back while the lower is straight. The arrangement was, we believe, originally chosen in order to get the top centre section well forward and so improve the view, while still keeping the single I-struts at a reasonable angle. In the type 51, however, it seems probable that the sweep back has been necessitated by the short nose resulting from fitting a "Jupiter" instead of the long water-cooled engines.
   The armament of the Spad 51 consists of four machine guns, two on the upper plane and two in the fuselage, firing "through" the propeller. The standard Spad 51 has a wooden monocoque fuselage and metal wings, but, like the other Spads, it can also be supplied with wooden wings. The main characteristics are as follows: Length, o.a., 6-45 m. (21 ft. 2 ins.); span, 9-47 m. (31 ft. 1 1/2 ins.); wing area, 26 sq. m. (280 sq. ft.); weight, empty, 791-5 kgs. (1,750 lbs ); useful load, 485 kgs. (1,067 lbs.); total loaded weight, 1,276-5 kgs. (2,817 lbs.).