SPAD XIII

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Built by the French aircraft company, Société pour l’Aviation et ses Dérives (SPAD), the SPAD XIII biplane was one of the most effective fighters of World War I. It had a top speed of 135 mph, about 10 mph faster than contemporary German fighters, and was the primary fighter used by the U.S. Army Air Service. The aircraft at the National Museum of the Air Force never saw combat, but is painted in the markings of WWI ace Eddie Rickenbacker of the 94th Pursuit Squadron.

Source/ more information: National Museum of the U.S. Air Force

Photographer Lyle Jansma started creating 360º views of cockpits in 2005, and has documented historic aircraft in several collections, including the Heritage Flight Museum, Museum of Flight, Erickson Aircraft Collection, Evergreen Air & Space Museum, and the National Museum of the Air Force. A full set of his cockpit views is available on the ACI Cockpit360º App for iOS and Android. Keep visiting this site (airspacemag.com/cockpits) as we add to the gallery below.