Spad 13
This particular Spad 13 was an original Kelmer built aircraft which was restored with the customer's mandate of retaining every piece of the original as possible. This required removing the original wood, re-using where possible and amalgamated elsewhere within the airframe. An example of this can be seen in the rebuild of the wings and tailplane. Extensive reseach was carried out with regards to the exact colour match of the spad 13 metal fittings which ressembled a Bugatti Blue. The final camoflage was researched with the help of the archives at the French Museum in Paris. The unique camoflage used by the French during World War One consisted of nitro-cellulose dopes and fine metal powders such as aluminium, bronze etc. These gave the aircraft a distinctinve perlescence. The aircraft was fitted with a geared Hispano engine. The aircraft currently resides in a museum in America and is indicative of the company's ability to not only manufacture from original drawings but to carefully preserve a unique museum aritfact.
Original Parts |
Original Tailplane, Decking and Wood Components |
Original Floor, Wings & Metal Fittings |
Wings - Longerons |
Wings being Dis-Assembled |
Undercarriage Legs showing Inlay of New Material |
Engine Installed |
Oil Tank & Engine Installation |
Oil Tank & Starter Magneto |
Internal of Cockpit |
Full Aircraft prior to Painting |
The Completed Article |
This aircraft has recently been re-painted and hung at Terminal 3 in Pheonix Airport - pictures on next page.
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