The French Air Service replaced the Nieuport 17 with the SPAD S.VII. Although disadvantaged by poor forward and downward views from the cockpit, the SPAD S.VII was fast, durable and difficult to shoot down. A good performer, it was flown by nearly all the French aces. It proved less successful in the hands of the British, possibly due to the combat tactics employed by the pilots of the Royal Flying Corps. With 18 victories, Irish ace William Cochran-Patrick scored more victories with the SPAD S.VII and SPAD S.XIII than any other ace.

Country: France
Manufacturer: Société Anonyme Pour L'Aviation et ses Dérives
Type: Fighter
First Introduced: September 1916
Number Built: 3,825
Engine(s): Hispano-Suiza 8A, V-8, 150 hp
Wing Span: 25 ft 7¾ in [7.82 m]
Length: 20 ft 2 in [6.15 m]
Height: 7 ft 6.5 in
Empty Weight: 1,102 lb
Gross Weight: 1632 lb [740 kg]
Max Speed: 119 mph [191.5 kmh]
Ceiling: 17,500 ft
Endurance: 1.5 hours
Crew: 1
Armament: 1 Vickers .303 machine gun