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Even though it was lower in terms of pure speed to the Messerschmitt Bf 109E, the Dewoitine D-520 outclassed it in terms of maneuverability. For this reason, the Dewoitine was considered one of the best aircraft at the beginning of the war and it could have had a similar career, or a superior career, to the legendary aircraft that is now the Spitfire, the Focke Wulf Fw 190 or the Messerschmitt Bf 109. The D-520 was created in 1936 by the French designer Emile Dewoitine. The first prototype flew on October 2, 1938 but didn't make a good impression due to the engine overheating, stopping it from reaching the predicted 520 km/h. Consequently the engineers modified the aircraft. The radiator was moved under the belly, exhausts were modified and the other problems were adjusted. For official flights, it reached the speed of 550 km/h and recorded a good climbing speed. In April 1939, France ordered 200 units, and in June, a second share of 510 aircraft was ordered. At the end of the French campaign, 437 D 520 were constructed and the production continued until 1942. The operational career continued under the command of the Luftwaffe (principally in training squadrons), Italy, Bulgaria, Romania and some units of the Free France. The last units remained in service until 1943.
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