As a biplane design, the S.A series maintained several traditional qualities. Its biplane wing arrangement utilized an upper and lower wing section joined by parallel strutwork and applicable cabling. The wheeled undercarriage was fixed, also by strong struts and cabling while the tail was support by a simple skid. The body of the aircraft was well-rounded at front, slab-sided along its length and capped by a small, long vertical tail fin at rear. The horizontal tailplanes were affixed to the frontal area of the rudder and mounting along its midway point. Dimensions included a length of 7.29 meters and a wingspan of 9.55 meters.
In practice there proved many limitations in the A.2 design. Communication for the two-man crew - both in open-air cockpits - was hampered by engine and wind noise not to mention confusion encountered during an aerial firefight. The pilot's vision was limited by the upper and lower wing mainplanes as well as the extended nose section which did not help in landing, take-off and fighting endeavors. Additionally, the placement of the gunner at the nose - and within a flimsy nacelle structure to boot - made landing actions quite perilous for this crewman. With that said, the A.2 saw little combat action - if any - during the early phases of the air war for France.
Many A.2s were quickly shipped off to ally Russia as newer, better mounts were arriving in France. Production spanned from 1915 until 1916 though just 107 examples were delivered. In Russian hands, the A.2 saw a somewhat more useful, extended service life as the nation ran short of viable fighting aircraft to pit against the heart of the German and Austro-Hungarian empires. However, it bears noting that even Russian airmen held little regard for this French creation. The A.2 continued on under the flag of the Soviet Union in the care of the "Workers' and Peasants' Air Fleet" before finally being given up for good.
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