On April 4, 1917, the SPAD S.XIII fighter biplane took its maiden flight, marking a pivotal moment in World War I aviation. Designed by Louis Béchereau as an improvement over the aging SPAD S.VII, the ...

Javier Arango (right) helps escort a SPAD XIII, built by Roger Freeman of Vintage Aviation Services in Texas. Philip Makanna It’s a windless morning near the California town of Paso Robles ...