Dewoitine D.1

Dewoitine

Industry	Aerospace
Founded	1920s
Founder	Emile Dewoitine
Headquarters	France
Products	Aircraft

The Dewoitine D.1 was a French single-seat fighter aircraft from the 1920s, produced by the French manufacturer Dewoitine.

Development

File:Dewoitine D.1 prototype.jpg

Prototype D.1 featuring a short pylon

Designed by Emile Dewoitine as his inaugural project following the founding of his company, the D.1 was created to fulfill specifications set by the French Service Technique de l'Aeronautique. It was a monoplane characterized by a metal fuselage with an oval cross-section clad in duralumin sheets, paired with a parasol wing supported by metal struts and covered in fabric. The initial prototype (D.1.01) took to the skies in November 1922.

Various derivatives of the D.1 were equipped with different engine types: V-8 engines powered the D.1 and D.8; V-12 engines were installed in the D.19 and D.27; W-12 engines were used on the D.12 and D.21; and radial engines featured in the D.9 and D.26, accompanied by diverse wing configurations. Radiator placement for inline engine models varied, being mounted either on undercarriage struts (D.1 and D.8), alongside the engine cowling (D.1.01), positioned forward on the nose ahead of the cowling (D.12, D.19, D.21), or beneath the nose (D.27 and D.53).

Operational history

The Dewoitine D.1 was exhibited internationally, resulting in sales to several countries: Yugoslavia acquired 79 units, Switzerland procured two, and Japan purchased one example. Italy bought one aircraft but proceeded to manufacture 112 units under license as the Ansaldo AC.2.

Although the French Air Force did not adopt the D.1 into active service, the French Navy operated 30 units of the D.1ter variant, with half assigned to Escadrille 7C1 aboard the French aircraft carrier Béarn.

Surviving aircraft

File:Ansaldo AC 2 Vigna di Valle DSCN0597 (2).jpg

Ansaldo AC.2 displayed at the Italian Air Force Museum

• The Ansaldo AC.2 MM1208 is preserved at the Italian Air Force Museum located in Vigna di Valle, central Italy.

Variants

D.1.01

The initial prototype equipped with a 224 kW (300 hp) Hispano-Suiza 8Fb V-8 engine, featuring a parasol wing mounted on a very short pylon without cabane struts; (one unit built).

D.1

Pre-production series with some aircraft lacking a pylon and others constructed to the D.1bis standard with a pylon; (15 units built).

D.1bis

An enhanced model featuring wings elevated approximately 121 mm (4.75 in) on a pylon.

D.1ter

The production variant of the D.1 with wings supported by cabane struts; most existing D.1s were either built or modified to this configuration.

D.8

A high-altitude adaptation of the D.1 fitted with an enlarged wooden wing and powered by a high-compression 270 kW (360 hp) Hispano-Suiza 8Fe V-8 engine, submitted for the 1921 C1 fighter competition organized by CEDANA (Commission d'Éxamen des Appareils Nouveaux pour l'Aéronautique). The withdrawal of the high-altitude category led to no orders being placed despite one unit setting multiple closed circuit speed records in 1924; (one unit built).

D.9

Main article: Dewoitine D.9

A variant of the D.1 equipped with a 310 kW (420 hp) Gnome-Rhône 9Ab Jupiter IV radial engine and later fitted with an enlarged wing, entered in the 1924 C1 fighter contest but unsuccessful domestically; nonetheless, ten were exported—eight to Yugoslavia and two to Belgium—with three additionally constructed for Swiss Fliegertruppe by EKW, while Italy produced 150 modified versions designated Ansaldo AC.3 under license; (thirteen units built).

File:Dewoitine D.12 C.1 L'Aéronautique January,1926.jpg

Photograph of Dewoitine D.12 C.1 from L'Aéronautique January 1926

D.12

Developed concurrently with the D.9, this model featured a 340 kW (450 hp) Lorraine-Dietrich 12E W-12 engine for participation in the 1923 C1 competition but did not secure production orders despite later installation of a high-compression engine; (two units built).

D.13

A proposed 1923 upgrade of the D.1 incorporating a 260 kW (350 hp) Hispano-Suiza 12Ja engine; project discontinued in favor of developing the D.19.

D.19

Main article: Dewoitine D.19

Designed for the 1923 C1 fighter contest, this version was powered by a 300 kW (400 hp) Hispano-Suiza 12Jb V-12 engine, with two prototypes competing and subsequent deliveries including two to Belgium and one to Switzerland, where EKW manufactured an additional two units locally; (seven units built).

D.21

Main article: Dewoitine D.21

In late 1925, the second prototype of the D.12 was re-engined with a 370 kW (500 hp) Hispano-Suiza 12Gb W-12 engine intended primarily for export markets, securing orders for three aircraft from Paraguay, twelve from Turkey, eight from Argentina—including one prototype—where thirty were also license-built by Fábrica Militar de Aviones (FMA), plus seven imported from Switzerland where EKW undertook production as well; FMA-built examples were powered by Lorraine-Dietrich 12Eb W-12 engines technically classifying them as D.12s though commonly referred to as D.21s; possibly three sold to Czechoslovakia where Škoda Works manufactured twenty-six under license as Skoda D.1; total production around 100 units.

D.25

Main article: Dewoitine D.25

A two-seat fighter variant derived from the D.21 designed for France’s 1925 C2 program (two-seat chasseur), fitted with a Lorraine-Dietrich 12Eb W-12 engine; four constructed by Hanriot subsequently sold to Argentina after failing to secure French orders.

D.26

Main article: Dewoitine D.26

A trainer model powered by a license-produced 250 kW (340 hp) Wright R-975 Whirlwind (Hispano-Wright 9Q) nine-cylinder radial engine; eleven assembled in Switzerland from Dewoitine-supplied kits.

D.27

Main article: Dewoitine D.27

A fighter configuration utilizing a 373 kW (500 hp) Hispano-Suiza 12Mc V-12 engine with an improved chin radiator design; operated extensively by several air forces including Romania’s Royal Air Force which used about one hundred units (ninety-seven produced under license by Industria Aeronautică Română), Switzerland’s air force with sixty-six examples (sixty-five built by EKW), Yugoslavia’s air force operating four locally produced by Zmaj Aircraft, plus two or three exported to Spain; seven enhanced variants designated D.53 served French Aviation Navale for carrier trials; total production exceeded 179 units.

Ansaldo AC.1

The sole assembled example of a licensed-built D.1bis produced by Aeronautica Ansaldo SA prior to commencing AC.2 manufacturing.

Ansaldo AC.2

A licensed version of the modified D.1ter constructed in Italy by Ansaldo for service within Regia Aeronautica, totaling 112 units built.

Ansaldo AC.3

Main article: Ansaldo AC.3

Licensed production derivative of the Dewoitine D9 for Regia Aeronautica, comprising 150 aircraft manufactured.

Ansaldo AC.4

A direct evolution from AC .2 replacing its Hispano-Suiza V-8 powerplant with a 420 hp (310 kW) FIAT A .20 V-12 engine, first flown in 1927;(one unit built).

Skoda D .1

D .21 model produced under license in Czechoslovakia by Škoda Works;(26 units built).

Operators

File:Dewoitine D1 C1.jpg

Dewoitine D.1bis demonstrator, acquired by Japan

Template:CZS

• One D.1bis model.

France

• French Navy
  • Escadrille 7C1 and Escadrille 6C3 units

Template:Country data Kingdom of Italy

• Regia Aeronautica - Manufactured by Ansaldo, comprising one D.1bis and 112 D.1ter aircraft

Template:JPN

• Single D.1bis unit.

Switzerland

• Swiss Air Force - Operated two D.1bis planes.

Template:Country data Kingdom of Yugoslavia

• Royal Yugoslav Air Force - Produced 79 D.1 units under license by Zmaj

Specifications (D.1.01)

File:Dewoitine D1.svg

D.1 six-view diagram illustrating the French prototype and subsequent C1 variant manufactured at Zmaj. The depiction features the Yugoslav version equipped with skis for winter operations instead of wheels.