SPAD XVI Seeen at the NASM Udvar-Hazy facility, Washington DC on 23 September 2006 during an all too brief visit by a British Aviation Enthusiasts Society (BAES) group.
The Spad XVI was an attempt to improve upon the Spad XI by replacing its Hispano-Suiza engine with a 240 hp Lorraine-Dietrich 8 Bb. It was otherwise quite similar to the Spad XI. It was a two-bay biplane, with a slight sweep-back on both wings, and ailerons on the top wing only. One interesting safety feature was a provision for dumping the fuel from the main tank, located under the pilot's seat, in the event of fire. An auxiliary fuel tank was located in the top wing. Armament was the same as on the Spad XI.
The Spad XVI appeared in January 1918, and was slightly faster than the Spad XI, but had a lower ceiling and the same poor handling qualities. It offered no overall improvement. Nevertheless, approximately 1,000 Spad XVIs were built, ultimately equipping 32 French escadrilles.
An otherwise undistinguished aircraft, this Spad XVI is significant because of its association with Brigadier General William "Billy" Mitchell. Six Spad XVIs were acquired from the French in August 1918. One of these, serial number 9392, became Mitchell's personal aircraft. He piloted it on many observation flights over the front lines during pivotal battles in the last months of the war. He received the Distinguished Service Cross in November 1918 for "repeated acts of extraordinary heroism in action." His citation made special mention of the "daily reconnaissances over the lines during the battle of St. Mihiel salient, September 12th to 16th, securing valuable information of the enemy troops in the air and on the ground, which led to the excellent combined action by the Allied air services and ground troops particularly in this battle." Shortly after the Armistice, Mitchell flew the Prince of Wales in this aircraft over the River Rhine to observe American Army installations in the American area of occupation.
Mitchell's Spad XVI was transferred from the U.S. War Department to the Smithsonian Institution in 1920.
Picture added on 01 February 2008
