S.91

The Blériot S.91 was a French two‑seat biplane developed in the early 1920s as a response to the post‑World War I demand for versatile trainer and sport aircraft. Designed by Louis Bleriot’s company at Suresnes, the S.91 combined a wooden frame with fabric covering and featured a single, water‑cooled V‑8 Hispano‑Saunders engine delivering around 180 hp. Its staggered wings were of equal span, equipped with ailerons on both upper and lower surfaces, giving the plane excellent roll control and gentle handling characteristics that made it popular with flight schools. The aircraft’s fixed split‑axle undercarriage and open cockpit arrangement provided straightforward maintenance and good visibility for the instructor and student. Although only a limited series of about 30 units were built, the S.91 earned a reputation for reliability and contributed to the training of a generation of French pilots during the interwar period. Its design influenced later Blériot trainers such as the S.112, and the S.91 remains a noteworthy example of early 1920‑s innovation, illustrating the transition from wartime combat planes to peacetime civil aviation. Today, a few restored S.91s appear at vintage airshows, reminding enthusiasts of the era’s pioneering spirit.