D.500

The Dewoitine D.500 was a French single‑seat, low‑wing monoplane fighter introduced in the early 1930s. Designed by Émile Dewoitine’s company, the D.500 first flew on 12 February 1932 and entered service with the Armée de l’Air in 1934, representing a decisive shift from biplane to all‑metal monoplane construction in French military aviation. Its airframe combined a stressed‑skin duralumin structure with a sleek, cantilever wing and a fixed, spatted undercarriage, which reduced drag while simplifying maintenance. Powered by a 860 hp Hispano‑Suiza 12Ycrs V‑12 engine, the aircraft achieved a top speed of roughly 380 km/h (236 mph) and an operational ceiling of 10,500 m, giving it performance comparable to contemporary fighters such as the British Hawker Fury. Armament consisted of two 7.5 mm MAC 1934 machine guns mounted in the wings, later upgraded in some variants to include a 20 mm cannon. Though quickly eclipsed by more powerful successors like the Dewoitine D.520, the D.500’s modern aerodynamics, all‑metal construction, and reliable engine set a benchmark for French fighter design and paved the way for the rapid development of high‑performance monoplane combat aircraft on the eve of World War II.

Dewoitine

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