French Fighters

[TwinBoom]

The best fighter plane constructed in France, which was used by the French Air Force during World War II, was the low-wing monoplane Dewoitine D.520 whose series was completed by 1939. In 1936, it was further developed from its predecessor the D 500 by a team due to an announcement from the French designer Emile Dewoitine. At this time, Dewoitine was wrapped up with his company in the governmental SNCA du Midi (Societé Nationale de Constructions Aéronautiques du Midi).

The first of the three prototypes took off on October 1938 with an opened cockpit, powered by a liquid-cooled Hispano-Suiza 12Y-21 engine with 890 PS. It did not leave a good overall impression since it overheated and never attained the goal of reaching a speed of 520 km/h.

Nevertheless, by the beginning of 1939, there were already orders for 200 aircrafts placed before the initial flight of the improved second prototype. There were only slight differences among the three prototypes with regard to the wings, rudder assembly and the cabin hood. The third prototype was equipped with a tail wheel which was not available in other prototypes.

The Dewoitine D.520 had only one substantial disadvantage: when the Germans began their offensive in May 1940, of the 2,320 aircrafts which were ordered (2,200 by the French Air Force, 130 by the Marines) only 36 were delivered; too few to be able to defy the Germans. The French industry completed a total of 437 aircrafts until the armistice on June 25, 1940, of which 351 made it to the front line of battle. The air squadrons of D.520 were able to shoot down 147 German aircrafts while incurring only 85 casualties of their own. The highly maneuverable and versatile fighter airplanes arrived on the scene too late to precipitate a decisive turning point in the war in favor of the French.

The D.520 was originally conceived of as a cantilever low-wing airplane. The wing assembly was a pronounced V-formation and the nose of the aircraft was configured around the engine. The Hispano-Suiza 12Y 45 engine with Szydlowski-loader powered the aircraft. The first aircraft of the series production took off on November 2, 1939. It was powered by a 830 PS-strong Hispano-Suiza 12Y-31 engine, had a curved front window and was armed with two 7.5-mm-MG's which were situated under the wings. The fuselage was approximately 50 cm long after the prototypes and engine cover were altered. Furthermore, there were two additional tanks on the wings and a safety device behind the pilot's seat.
The machines of the second series were powered by stronger 910 PS-Hispano-Suiza 12Y-45 engines and had an electric propeller with three blades. The armament consisted of a 20-mm-cannon, which shot through the propeller hub and four 7.5-mm-MG's in the wings. The curved front window of the first series was replaced by an optical surface that did not distorted images.
After the armistice with France in June 1940, the German authorities allowed the further production of the D.520. The Vichy-Armed Forces utilized the D.520 as a standard fighter in North Africa and Syria. When the Vichy Zone was occupied in November 1942, the Germans requisitioned 411 aircrafts of this model and used them mostly as fighter training aircrafts in the German Luftwaffe. Other aircrafts were distributed to the Bulgarian, Italian and Romanian allies and came to the front lines of battle.
By the end of 1944, the many remaining D.520 aircrafts were demanded back by the Liberated French Armed Forces. These aircrafts were then used again against the withdrawn German units in southern France. A few of the D.520 DC modeled aircrafts (DC for "Double Control") were transformed into two-seater training aircrafts after end of the war and served in small numbers until the beginning of the 1950s. The last D.520 was flown in September 1953.

[TwinBoom]

Variations of the D.520 were the D.521, which was powered by a Rolls-Royce Merlin III in-line engine with 1,044 PS (768 kW), however, never made it into the series and whose Merlin-engine was traded for a Hispano-Suiza 12Z with 1,200 PS (883 kW) and was then renamed D.524. This project was also not pursued.
There were a total of 905 copies of the series model D.520 constructed with extended fuselage, armoring and stronger wing armament; 437 of which were constructed before the armistice of June 25, 1940 and 468 constructed afterwards. Counting both variations and the three prototypes, the entire production is estimated to be 910 copies.
A D.520 is on display at the Musée de l'Air in Le Bourget in Paris.
The D.520 was Emile Dewoitine's last

[TwinBoom]

The history of Dewoitine D.520 starts in 1934 when the Staff of the Air Force seeks a substitute in D.510, Dewoitine proposes D.513 but the choice is made on Morane-Saulnier MS.405. Not wanting to remain on this failure, Emile Dewoitine forms in June 1936 a engineering and design department directed by Robert Castello who ends to a project of hunter able to reach 500 km/h, at this point in time Technical Services of the Air Force request a flying plane from 520 km/h. A modified project, indicated D.520 in reference at the required speed, is subjected in January 1937 but it is once again refused.
Its factory having been nationalized and renamed National Société of Aeronautical Engineerings of South (SNCAM), Emile Dewoitine was however an administrator general and it is for this reason that it decided to continue the studies of D.520.
The first of the three prototypes flew for the first time on October 2, 1938 to Toulouse Francazal, controlled by Marcel Doret, motorized by Hispano-Suiza 12Y-21 of 890 HP, but it did not manage to exceed 480 km/h. Following an accident it accepted Hispano-Suiza 12Y.29 with which it reached 825 km/h in piqué. Two other prototypes were built.

D.520 is a single-seat hunter, its fuselage of ovoid section covered with duralumin sheet. The cantilever wing realized of only one part comes to be fixed under the fuselage. The windshield is consisted of the ices “Plywood”, the glass slide backwards. The landing gear is retractable.
The armament comprises a gun of 20 mm HS 404 with charger of 60 blows placed on the engine, like four machine-guns MAC 34 M 39 fed with 675 blows, placed in the wings.
An indicated two-seater version D.520DC (Double Order) was also produced.

A first order of 200 apparatuses had placed on April 17, 1939, followed of another of 600 apparatuses on June 5 which was brought back to 510. To the declaration of war, a new contract carried the total order to 1280 apparatuses. Finally in April 1940 one envisaged a total production of 2240 apparatuses for the Air Force plus 120 for naval Aeronautics.
The production started at the beginning of 1939, the first flying standard appliance in November of the same year.
In 1941 the German authorities allowed the prolongation of the production of D.520, the SNCAM having become the National Company of Aeronautical Engineerings of South-east (SNCASE).

Several projects were not born because of the Occupation:
D.520T with Hispano-Suiza 12Z-89 of 1200 HP.
D.520Z with Hispano-Suiza 12Z of 1600 horses.
D.521 with Rolls-Royce Merlin III of 1030 HP.
D.523 new driving Hispano-suiza 12Y.51 of 1000 horses.
D.524 Hispano-suiza 12Z.89 for the third time.
HD-780, float seaplane equipped with Hispano-Suiza 12Y-51.
The total production of D.520 exceeded the 600 machines.
Some were modified after the war in the two-seaters D.520DC.

D.520 was used fights some by the Air Force in 1940 during the Countryside of France within the Groups of I/3 Hunting, II/3, III/3, III/6, II/7 and engaged against Luftwaffe and Regia Aeronautica. Flotilla AC1 of Naval Aeronautics was also equipped with D.520.
After the defeat the GC I/3, II/3, III/6, II/7 and the flotilla 1AC were stationed in North Africa under the colors of Vichy, however that three D.520 joined Great Britain. Thus D.520 were engaged in Syria against the RAF.
At the time of the invasion of the zone nonoccupied by German, D.520 being were captured there then were used as plane of drive for Luftwaffe, others were implemented by Regia Aeronautica for the drive and hunting, being thus opposed to the allies. Romania and Bulgaria also used it for hunting.
At the end of 1944, German leaving the South-west of France, a group of hunting FFI was created in Tarbes and Toulouse, ordered by Marcel Doret. The Doret Group took part in the combat of the pocket of Royan and the Low register Point as a cover for allied bombers.
The Doret group is dissolved on November 30, 1944 and becomes the G.C. 11/18 “Saintonge”, which yields its D.520 to the G.C.B.1/18 “the Vendée” starting from the second fortnight of February 1945 like with the unit of drive of Toulouse-Francazal.
The last flight of Dewoitine 520 took place on July 13, 1986 in Vannes with the accident which cost the life its pilot, the commander Bove.

[Bronk]

Originally posted by Krusty
Knegel, that wasn't about the D.520. That was hypothetical.

Bronk I never called into question your orientation. I just said (regardless of it) you suck so-and-so to gain acceptance as one of the BKs. Don't know why, as they're one of the worst group of griefers in this so-called community.

Hmm what you said.

Originally posted by Krusty
Oh, and bronk, try to hold down the snickering when you're fondling BK organs.  

 
Nothing about regardless of my orientation.

You are an pampered school boy who has seen little of the real world.
Try and deny it , you can't.
You only now what you read and nothing of how knowledge is used.
You try and sway arguments with grand exaggerations. Then backpedal/spin  and rationalize your lame opinion  till the tread dies.

You don't need acceptance by the BKs to dislike bullchiters.  You just have to dislike the bullchit.
Sorry boieo your a bullchiter.

Bronk

[Krusty]

Oh Bronk, you're a sad sad man. Truly you are. Please, get help. Take a break from the forums if you need to calm down.

[Bronk]

Yet no denial on the prissy pampered school boy, interesting.

The only thing sad here Krusty is you. With your sad attempt at proving the French bird has no place in AH.
I'll bet this bird would give your glorious 202 a run for its money in an MA environment.

Bronk

[wstpt10]

This thread delivers.

[Vespasiano]

Yes, it should be sad not to be able to be talking quietly about french aviation in this thread...

[Bronk]

Originally posted by Vespasiano
Yes, it should be sad not to be able to be talking quietly about french aviation in this thread...

    
Vespasiano

 I apologize for my exuberant disagreement with the school boi.  
His style of urinating on other peoples threads with non facts aggravates me.

I see no reason why this AC shouldn't be added into the early plane set.


Bronk

[TracerX]

There is no reason to quote the virtues of this planes performance.  It has very little by almost all standards.  I don't care how many German planes it shot down.  The only reason to add this plane is for flavor, your wasting your breath to argue on any other point.  It is a no brainer to be considered as the first French plane addition along with the M.S.406.  It is bound to be a hanger Queen in the MA, but for Special Events and for the French fighter enthusiasts, it is an essential plane.  Lets just leave it at that and hope that HT has the time to make it in the near future.  A request is noted, it is ok for people to dissent.

[Debonair]

OMG I M P0ASTING IN EPIC THREAD!!!!!11

[Angus]

There have been requests about the I-16, bipes, PZL's, Yak-1's, Lagg-3's etc.
All would add something to the early war planeset. Well, early to middle, as well as being fine for scenarios.
If you think of the Battle of France up to Dunquerque, it would offer a bigger Spectrum of aircraft than the BoB. You'd have the Hawk, the 109E, (even 109D, not sure), Hurry-I, Spit-I, D520 and Ms406. If the Scenario was to happen in those weeks from the invasion of the Lowlands (10th of May 1940, - same days as the English sneaked Iceland, hehe) untill Dunquerque has fallen, you would also include the Fokker, and perhaps the Gladiator.
Amongst those, the D520 would be one in the same park as the 109E and SpitI, the followers up being Hurricane, Hawk, and the MS406.
(I refer to single engined fighters only)
The MS406 would then fall into the Finnish scenarios (maybe the Hawk could work as a Brewster?), so would the Fokker. The D520 would fall into a N-African scenario as well.
In AH TOD which shall come one day, you start with training, - actually the LW used D-520's in training.
So, I think the promotion is good, but with many other plans, it's probably not on the top of HTC's list.
IMHO, an early war European scenario, - or sequence of them (Poland-France-BoB-Barbarossa) would be one hell of a ride, - all happens in less than 2 years, starts with Bipes, and ends with the 190. But HTC would have to do some 10 aircraft from scratch or close to scratch just to make it nice

[Vespasiano]

Originally posted by Angus
(maybe the Hawk could work as a Brewster?)

No, I think it shouldn't be possibel :

Hawk 75 :



Finish Brewster :



There are too many differences  in order to use the H-75 as a finnish Brewster.
The H-75 could be used simply as a finnish H-75

[quintv]

I fly the H.75 in another sim which shall not be named (think FOG), and while its a fun plane its glass jaw and RCMG only armament makes the baby jesus cry.

[wstpt10]

Originally posted by quintv
I fly the H.75 in another sim which shall not be named (think FOG), and while its a fun plane its glass jaw and RCMG only armament makes the baby jesus cry.

In said unnameable sim it still has 2x mgs mounted in the fuselage, above the engine. Just wait for that poor 110 or 109E to give you a cockpit shot and his day is ruined.