Hispano-Suiza was formed in 1901 and is historically famous for its automobiles and engines. The Hispano-Suiza V-8 aircraft engine of 1914 powered the SPAD XIII.

After World War I, Hispano-Suiza's aviation subsidiary (Hispano Aviacion) license built first British and French, then Italian and German aircraft. After the second World War, Hispano-Suiza continued license building aircraft engines to become a division of SNECMA in 1968.

The Hispano-Suiza 8A was introduced near the end of 1914 and produced 140 hp. Continued refinement of this design produced 220 hp by 1917.
The Hispano-Suiza 8 was license built by Wolseley of Britain as the W.4 (named Python, Viper or Adder) and by Wright-Martin in the U.S. as the Model E.

models

• 8Be: 220 hp (164 kW)

specifications

• 8-cylinder vee-piston engine
• Water-cooled
• Displacement: 718 cubic inches (11.8 litres)
• Bore x stroke: 120 x 130 mm
   

used by

• SPAD XIII