<p>The SPAD S.XIII was one of the most capable fighters of World War One. The type first flew in April 1917 and 8,472 had been built by the end of the War. Many well-known pilots flew the type in combat, including French pilots Georges Guynemer and Rene Fonk, Italian Francesco Baracca and Americans Eddie Rickenbacker and Frank Luke.
Several saw Belgian service after March 1918 with the last not being retired until 1928.
This is a genuine Belgian example which was gifted to the museum in 1920/1921. Since restored, it remains on display at what is known as the Brussels Air Museum, although it is actually the Air and Space Section of the Royal Museum of the Armed Forces and Military History.
Brussels, Belgium.
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26th June 2016
<a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://www.flickr.com/people/65001151@N03">Alan Wilson</a> from Stilton, Peterborough, Cambs, UK
CC BY-SA 2.0
<a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/ajw1970/34729307282/">SPAD S.XIII C1 ‘S.P.49’</a>