History of War – October 2019

OPERATOR’S HANDBOOK

COCKPIT

TheD.520’scockpitwassituatedbehindthe

wing,givinggooddownwardviewsbutleaving

a significantblind-spotunderthenose,

whichmadetaxyingparticularlydifficult.

It alsolackeda rear-viewmirror,although

longpanelsbehindthecanopyhelpedto

compensate.Theseatwasadjustableand

wasarmoured,whiletheinstrumentpanel

wasdisorganisedcomparedto contemporary

Britishaircraft.It wasonlythesecondFrench

fighterto havea fullyenclosedcockpitand

retractableundercarriage.

Insidethecockpitof theD.520in the

museumat LeBourget

ENGINE  

The Hispano Suiza 12Y series began in 1932, and by 1938 had

reached the 12Y45, a 36 litre, 12 cylinder in-line engine rated at 668kW

(900hp) in a climb or 648kW (870hp) in level flight with 100 octane fuel.

Liquid cooled, it had a Szydlowski-Planiol supercharger for improved

performance at altitude. From 1942, the 12Y49 replaced the -45. Rated

at 630kW (850hp) at lower altitudes and 690kW (920hp) higher up, it

offered the better high-altitude performance needed in a modern fighter.

Unusually for a fighter, both types had fire extinguishers.

Image: pppachy

An earlier Hispano Suiza

12Y engine, showing how

the cannon was positioned

between the cylinders