Author Topic: SPAD VII 1927  (Read 2707 times)

Offline RLWP

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SPAD VII 1927
« on: April 11, 2020, 06:48:52 AM »
Well, OK, it is sort of period, just rather post the great War:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P4N0MrGst8Q

The film is the 1927 original of 'Wings'

The pilot of the SPAD VII is Dick Grace, this crash is described in two of his books, 'Crash Pilot' and 'Squadron of Death'.

The books describe how he prepared the 'plane, including removing the belly tank and fitting a gravity tank in the upper wing. He also mentions that the 'plane had a plywood fuselage, suggesting this is one of the US conversions

There are other crashes in the film, including crashing a Fokker D.VII in which he broke his neck. Being a stunt man, he naturally walked away...

Richard
Hendon for flying - the fastest way to the ground!

Offline AndRoby67

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Re: SPAD VII 1927
« Reply #1 on: April 15, 2020, 03:06:02 AM »
My heart made a "crack" when I saw the destruction of the SPAD.
With double Vickers it's a XIII instead of VII, "XIII" is written on rudder too.
Gravity tank on wing is a strange modification,
thank you for sharing!
Roberto

Offline RLWP

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Re: SPAD VII 1927
« Reply #2 on: April 15, 2020, 03:24:37 AM »
My heart made a "crack" when I saw the destruction of the SPAD.
With double Vickers it's a XIII instead of VII, "XIII" is written on rudder too.
Gravity tank on wing is a strange modification,
thank you for sharing!
Roberto

Only SPAD never mounted Vickers like that, they're a  film prop. I have gone by the position of the teardrops over the camboxes

And I don't think the tail in the shellhole picture is guaranteed to be the crashed SPAD, or the tail to be correctly labelled either!

Richard
Hendon for flying - the fastest way to the ground!