SPAD versions

[jollyjack]

Just curious, what is the difference between the Early and Late Vii versions?

 

Compared with the Spad 13, what is your favorite?

 

[NO.20_Krispy_Duck]

Spad VII early gets a 150 hp direct drive engine; Spad VII late (180) gets a 180hp direct drive engine; Spad XIII reportedly has a geared 220hp engine, though some have tested and found its performance more like 200hp in the XIII. The XIII is a more robust but heavier plane than the VII. The XIII has a higher absolute top speed while the VII late 180 climbs and accelerates better because of its lighter weight. The XIII is better armed. The visibility from the seat is poor in both the VII and XIII.

 

The VII early 150hp is pretty poor by 1918 standards. It was a solid aircraft by late 1916 standards. The VII late 180hp can be a good plane if flown to its strengths and if you don't make any bad mistakes in it. The XIII packs a harder punch and is more popular because it can be a struggle to do enough damage to some of the German aircraft. I actually prefer the VII 180hp of the group because of the climb and acceleration abilities, but you have to make peace with the fact that your armament is pretty limited and stick with hit and run type tactics.

 

My approach to the VII 180, which makes it fun, is take the minimal fuel needed for the mission, take only the fuselage gun, and take whatever gunsight you prefer. I try to get the most climb and acceleration out of the plane that I can get, relying on hit and run type attacks, and then returning to base when ammo runs low (I think it's only 350 rounds if you go with that package).

Edited March 23, 2022 by NO.20_Krispy_Duck

[LukeFF]

The 150 hp SPAD VII also carries more ammo than the 180 hp model.

[US103_Baer]

8 hours ago, LukeFF said:

The 150 hp SPAD VII also carries more ammo than the 180 hp model.

 

On this. If anyone can point us to a good data source showing the S.VII 180hp loaded out with max 350 rounds we'd be grateful.

A bunch of us have searched and found nothing so far. Actually we found the opposite, but are still in the data-gathering stage.

 

@jollyjack

As others noted the Climb performance of the S.VII 180hp in FC is better than the XIII at low and medium altitudes. Higher up the XIII is better.
The S.VIIs are also very bouncy, which, combined with a single gun makes them an inferior gun platform. For a BnZ fighter that's a big deal.
You can add the Lewis overwing for extra firepower and elevate it for attacking 2 seaters from below. It'll cost you 3-5kph and some climb performance, but that may be a worthwhile tradeoff if you're flying it conservatively.

 

Both S.VIIs also lose an awful amount of energy in turns or any maneuver involving control surface deflection! So BnZ discipline has to be strictly enforced. IE Fly like Fonck - don't turn. But dive speed is excellent, the engine revs higher than the XIII (which is 'interesting') and straight zooms and horizontal speeds are not too bad, so if you can stay disciplined with hit-n-run attacks you'll be ok.

Forget the VII 150hp until we get a 1916 planeset.

 

Some people/contrarians 'like' the feel of the VII 180hp, but if a XIII is available I don't know why you'd take a VII.

Edited March 24, 2022 by US103_Baer

[NO.20_Krispy_Duck]

I think it was 350 for the fuselage gun on the VII 180 in RoF as well. It may have just been ported over that way without assessing whether 350 was right for it. RoF also did not address the improved rate of fire on fuselage Vickers guns that took place in 1917. The later VIIs had the benefit of that as well.

Edited March 24, 2022 by NO.20_Krispy_Duck

[LukeFF]

2 hours ago, NO.20_Krispy_Duck said:

RoF also did not address the improved rate of fire on fuselage Vickers guns that took place in 1917.

 

For all Allied planes or just the late SPAD VII? Because I remember distinctly the work that went into making the rates of fire correct for synched and non-synched MGs.

[jollyjack]

You mean in RL... in IL2 that should be no problem LoL. The prop is virtual anyway.

Would be a nice test: two runway planes facing each other and watch the DM model of the opponent's prop ..

[LukeFF]

2 hours ago, jollyjack said:

You mean in RL... in IL2 that should be no problem LoL. The prop is virtual anyway.

Would be a nice test: two runway planes facing each other and watch the DM model of the opponent's prop ..

 

No, I mean in game. Firing rates based on prop speed are modeled.