W.Green, G.Swanborough The Complete Book of Fighters

DUCROT SLD Italy

  During World War I, a number of Italian industrial concerns were invited to convert their facilities to cater for aircraft manufacture, one such being the Palermo-based firm of Vittoria Ducrot, which, in February 1916, initiated licence manufacture of flying boats. Anxious to progress from licensee to prime contractor, Ducrot established its own design office under Ing Manlio Stiavelli, who, with Guido Luzzatti, designed a high-performance single-seat fighter, the SLD (Stiavelli-Luzzatti-Ducrot). Powered by a 200 hp Hispano-Suiza 35 engine, the SLD placed emphasis on aerodynamic cleanliness, featuring an oval-section plywood monocoque fuselage which was carried above the lower wing by struts which also carried the undercarriage. Trials commenced in October 1918, but no details of the results of these survive.

Max speed, 186 mph (300 km/h).
Time to 16,405 ft (5 000 m), 10.0 min.
Empty weight, 1,345 lb (610 kg).
Loaded weight, 1,786 lb (810 kg).
Wing area, 236.8 sq ft (22,00 m2).