Dewoitine D.27

The Dewoitine D.27 was a single‑engine, low‑wing monoplane fighter developed in the late 1920s by the French aeronautical firm Dewoitine. Designed by Émile Dewoitine as a successor to the D.1 series, the D.27 first flew in 1928 and was produced primarily for export markets, most notably the Swiss Air Force, which purchased 66 aircraft between 1929 and 1933. Powered by a 450 hp Hispano‑Suiza 12Mc V‑12 engine, the aircraft featured an all‑metal, semi‑monocoque fuselage, a fixed, spatted landing gear, and a sleek, tapered wing with a modest 7.5 m span. Armament comprised two synchronized 7.5 mm Vickers machine guns mounted in the forward fuselage.

The D.27 represented a transitional step between World War I biplanes and the all‑metal, high‑performance monoplanes that dominated the 1930s. Its clean aerodynamic lines and robust construction gave it superior speed—up to 280 km/h—and maneuverability compared with contemporary biplanes. Although quickly outclassed by newer designs, the D.27 helped establish Dewoitine’s reputation for innovative metal aircraft and provided valuable experience that led to later successes such as the D.500 series. The type remains an important example of interwar aviation development. Its legacy endures in museum displays and historic aviation literature.

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