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 SPAD XIII (S.13) Reproduction - Seattle, WA
N 47° 31.136 W 122° 17.847
10T E 552892 N 5263073
One of many static aircraft displays located at the Museum of Flight at King County International Airport. Admission fees apply.
Waymark Code: WMVKCW
Location: Washington, United States
Date Posted: 04/28/2017
Views: 5
Located at the Museum of Flight are a large number of static aircraft on display. One of them is a SPAD XIII (S.13) Reproduction. The Museum of Flight website contains a page devoted to this aircraft and it reads:
Air Superiority For the Allies
The XIII was designed in late 1916 to counter the twin-gun German fighters appearing over the front. The SPAD XIII had a powerful Hispano-Suiza engine and two proven Vickers machine guns. By the middle of 1917, the SPADs were arriving at French combat squadrons and by early 1918, they had become the standard single-seat fighter for France. After the experiencing the characteristics of their delicate Nieuports, French pilots couldn't help but notice that their new SPADs were solid as rocks. The SPAD had other rock-like features too -- they were slow climbers and not particularly maneuverable. But, at least, they could dive away from most German fighters with ease.
The Museum of Flight's SPAD was created by Richard Day of Colonia, New Jersey and is powered by a Hispano-Suiza, 200- to 235-horsepower in-line engine and two .303-inch Vickers machine guns. Because the original SPAD drawings were destroyed during World War II, Day had to locate and study existing original examples to build this plane. The Museum's plane is painted in the markings of famous American ace Frank Luke, Jr.
The SPAD is currently being re-covered and will return to display upon completion.
A nearby placard highlights this SPAD XIII in more detail and reads:
The SPAD XIII entered French service in May,
1917 and, by early 1918, had become France's standard single-seat fighter. Eleven Italian squadrons and one Belgian squadron also flew SPAD XIIIs, and the U.S. Air Service received 893 of the 8,472 SPAD XIIIs that were built. Many famous aces flew the SPAD XIII,
including France's two highest-scoring aces, Rene Fonck and Georges Guynemer; and the United States' "ace of aces", Eddie Rickenbacker.
Richard Day of Coleman, New Jersey, built this SPAD XIII reproduction in 1984. Because all original SPAD drawings had been destroyed during World War II, Day had to locate and study original SPAD XIIIs.
The Museum's airplane depicts the Bleriot-built SPAD XIII that Seattle native Norman S. "Jim" Archibald flew from July 18 to August 9, 1918, from Saints, France. Archibald flew with the 1st Pursuit Group's 95th Aero Squadron from July 16, 1918, until being shot down and captured on September 29, 1918. In his will, Archibald stipulated that his Estate be used to create the Norman Archibald Charitable Foundation, "to be perpetually operated exclusively for the benefit of qualified non-profit charitable organizations serving the needs of the greater Puget Sound region."
Type of Aircraft: (make/model): SPAD XIII (S.13) Reproduction
Tail Number: (S/N): NX3883F
Construction:: replica
Location (park, airport, museum, etc.): Museum of Flight - Personal Courage Wing - 2nd Floor
inside / outside: inside
Other Information:: Not listed
Access restrictions: Not listed
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Visit Instructions:
Photo of aircraft (required - will be interesting to see if the aircraft is ever repainted or progress if being restored)
Photo of serial number (required unless there is not one or it is a replica)
Photo(s) of any artwork on the aircraft (optional but interesting)
Tell why you are visiting this waymark along with any other interesting facts or personal experiences about the aircraft not already mentioned.
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