Dewoitine D.1

The Dewoitine D.1 was a pioneering French fighter prototype developed by the Dewoitine aircraft company in the early 1920s. Conceived by Émile Dewoitine after World War I, the D.1 first flew in 1922 as a single‑seat, low‑wing monoplane intended to replace aging biplanes in the French Air Force. Its all‑metal construction, using Duralumin ribs and skin, marked a decisive shift from wood and fabric structures, while the cantilever wing eliminated the need for external bracing wires. Powered by a 300‑hp Hispano‑Suiza 8Fb V‑8 engine, the aircraft reached a top speed of roughly 250 km/h (155 mph) and demonstrated excellent climb performance. Although only a limited series of D.1s entered production, the type served as a testbed for aerodynamic and structural innovations that influenced later Dewoitine models such as the D.9 and the celebrated D.520 of World War II. The D.1’s successful demonstration of monoplane handling and metal airframe durability helped convince military planners of the future of high‑performance monoplanes, accelerating the transition of global air forces away from biplane designs. The D.1 also earned limited export interest, with a few examples evaluated by the Italian and Spanish air services, underscoring its pioneering role in shaping interwar fighter concepts worldwide.

Dewoitine

Classification

Production & History

Design & Classification