Flight testing revealed handling problems which resulted in the aircraft's centre fuselage being lengthened by 40 cm (16 in) and its vertical tail surfaces being enlarged.

The S.510 was doomed to obsolescence before it even flew, although when it was designed many pilots and experts strongly believed that biplanes would prove better fighters than monoplanes because of their tighter turning circles.

[citation needed] In response to a 1934 French competition for a more modern single-seat fighter, Herbemont designed the Blériot-SPAD S.710, based on the 510.

A prototype flew for the first time in April 1937, but crashed on 15 June that year due to tail flutter, killing the pilot.

[7] In 1937, SPAD 510s were used to equip the Weiser circus aerobatic team, named after the commander of 7e Escadre (7th Wing, the parent unit of the two Groupes), which displayed around France that year.

[11][12] In October, the two ERCs joined together to form Groupe Aėrien Régional de Chasse II/561 (GARC II/561) based at Havre-Oteville.

[11][13] On 18 January 1940 GARC II/561 was redesignated as GC III/10, which received Bloch MB.151s over the next few weeks to allow the unit to transition to a front-line fighter role.

[11][16] In May 1940, the ERCs based in French North Africa were combined to form a new fighter group, GC III/5, with equipment including SPAD 510s, but these were replaced by Morane-Saulnier M.S.406s by the end of May.