Nieuport
Encyclopedia
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France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
aeroplane
Fixed-wing aircraft
A fixed-wing aircraft is an aircraft capable of flight using wings that generate lift due to the vehicle's forward airspeed. Fixed-wing aircraft are distinct from rotary-wing aircraft in which wings rotate about a fixed mast and ornithopters in which lift is generated by flapping wings.A powered...
company that primarily built racing aircraft before World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
and fighter aircraft during World War I and between the wars.
Beginnings
Blériot Aéronautique
Blériot Aéronautique was a French aircraft manufacturer founded by Louis Blériot. It also made a few cyclecars from 1921 to 1922.After Louis Blériot became famous for being the first to fly over the English Channel in 1909, he established an aircraft manufacturing company. This company really took...
) and an enclosed fuselage with the pilot fully protected from the elements.
In 1911, the company was reformed specifically to build aircraft (though it continued to build components including propellers) under the name Nieuport et Deplante. In 1911, Edouard Nieuport(1875-1911) (one of several brothers) died after being thrown from his aircraft, and the company was taken over by Henri Deutsch de la Meurthe
Henri Deutsch de la Meurthe
Henri Deutsch de la Meurthe was a successful French petroleum businessman and an avid supporter of early aviation...
, a famous supporter of aviation development. With his financing, the name was changed to Société Anonyme des Établissements Nieuport, and development of the existing designs was continued. Charles Nieuport, the second brother died in another accident in 1912 (he stalled
Stall (flight)
In fluid dynamics, a stall is a reduction in the lift coefficient generated by a foil as angle of attack increases. This occurs when the critical angle of attack of the foil is exceeded...
and spun in), and the position of chief designer was taken over by the Swiss engineer Franz Schneider
Franz Schneider
Franz Schneider was an engineer granted the first patent on 15 July 1913 for a synchronisation device allowing a machine gun to fire between an aircraft's spinning propeller blades...
, more famous for his work for his next employer, L.V.G., and his long-running fight with Anthony Fokker
Anthony Fokker
Anton Herman Gerard "Anthony" Fokker was a Dutch aviation pioneer and an aircraft manufacturer. He is most famous for the fighter aircraft he produced in Germany during the First World War such as the Eindecker monoplanes, the Fokker Triplane the and the Fokker D.VII, but after the collapse of...
over machine gun
Machine gun
A machine gun is a fully automatic mounted or portable firearm, usually designed to fire rounds in quick succession from an ammunition belt or large-capacity magazine, typically at a rate of several hundred rounds per minute....
interrupter / synchronizer
Interrupter gear
An interrupter gear is a device used on military aircraft and warships in order to allow them to target opponents without damaging themselves....
patents. Schneider left Nieuport in late 1913.
Gustave Delage and World War I
Delage
Delage was a French luxury automobile and racecar company founded in 1905 by Louis Delage in Levallois-Perret near Paris; it was acquired by Delahaye in 1935 and ceased operation in 1953.-History:...
automobile company) took over as chief designer in January 1914. He began work on a sesquiplane racer - a biplane
Biplane
A biplane is a fixed-wing aircraft with two superimposed main wings. The Wright brothers' Wright Flyer used a biplane design, as did most aircraft in the early years of aviation. While a biplane wing structure has a structural advantage, it produces more drag than a similar monoplane wing...
whose lower wing was much narrower in chord
Chord (aircraft)
In aeronautics, chord refers to the imaginary straight line joining the trailing edge and the center of curvature of the leading edge of the cross-section of an airfoil...
than its top wing and relied on a single wing spar instead of the usual two. This aircraft was not ready to fly until after World War I had begun but, as the Nieuport 10
Nieuport 10
|-See also:- External links :* *...
, the type saw extensive service with the Royal Naval Air Service
Royal Naval Air Service
The Royal Naval Air Service or RNAS was the air arm of the Royal Navy until near the end of the First World War, when it merged with the British Army's Royal Flying Corps to form a new service , the Royal Air Force...
(R.N.A.S.) of the United Kingdom and with the French and Russian Flying Services. The performance of the Nieuport 10, and the more powerful Nieuport 12
Nieuport 12
|-See also:...
, which also served with the Royal Flying Corps
Royal Flying Corps
The Royal Flying Corps was the over-land air arm of the British military during most of the First World War. During the early part of the war, the RFC's responsibilities were centred on support of the British Army, via artillery co-operation and photographic reconnaissance...
(R.F.C.) was such that they were used as fighters. Nieuport developed an improved design specifically intended as a fighter - the Nieuport 11
Nieuport 11
|-See also:-References:NotesBibliography* Angelucci, Enzio, ed. The Rand McNally Encyclopedia of Military Aircraft. New York: The Military Press, 1983. ISBN 0-517-41021-4....
, which was regarded as the "baby" (bébé) of the 10, which it closely resembled, except in size.
Until the end of 1917, most of the companies' aircraft would be successive developments of this one design, with bigger engines, longer wings, and more refined fuselages, until the line ended with the Nieuport 27. As horsepower increased, the "V-strut" Nieuports began to suffer from the limitations of the sesquiplane wing form, and required careful piloting to avoid the risk of wing failures. By March/April 1917 the design was technically outclassed by the newer twin-gun Albatros D.III
Albatros D.III
The Albatros D.III was a biplane fighter aircraft used by the Imperial German Army Air Service and the Austro-Hungarian Air Service during World War I. The D.III was flown by many top German aces, including Manfred von Richthofen, Ernst Udet, Erich Löwenhardt, Kurt Wolff, and Karl Emil Schäfer...
, and although the process of replacement had already begun, Nieuport 27's would still be in front line service in the spring of 1918. Even while still in frontline service, Nieuports of all types were being used at French and American flight training facilities, with the bulk of production from 1917 onwards going to flying schools. Many pilots, notably Albert Ball
Albert Ball
Albert Ball VC, DSO & Two Bars, MC was an English fighter pilot of the First World War and a recipient of the Victoria Cross, the highest decoration for gallantry "in the face of the enemy" that can be awarded to members of the British or Commonwealth armed forces...
and Charles Nungesser
Charles Nungesser
Charles Eugène Jules Marie Nungesser, MC was a French ace pilot and adventurer, best remembered as a rival of Charles Lindbergh...
preferred the Nieuport due to its exceptional climb rate and maneuverability. Pilots Eddie Rickenbacker
Eddie Rickenbacker
Edward Vernon Rickenbacker was an American fighter ace in World War I and Medal of Honor recipient. He was also a race car driver and automotive designer, a government consultant in military matters and a pioneer in air transportation, particularly as the longtime head of Eastern Air Lines.-Early...
and Billy Bishop
Billy Bishop
Air Marshal William Avery "Billy" Bishop VC, CB, DSO & Bar, MC, DFC, ED was a Canadian First World War flying ace, officially credited with 72 victories, making him the top Canadian ace, and according to some sources, the top ace of the British Empire.-Early life:Bishop was born in Owen Sound,...
flew Nieuport aircraft to some of their first victories, with Bishop achieving his when the Nieuport 23 he flew was already deemed to be obsolete.
The next design, the Nieuport 28
Nieuport 28
|-See also:-Bibliography:* Cheesman E.F. Fighter Aircraft of the 1914-1918 War. Letchworth, UK: Harleyford Publications, 1960, pp. 98–99....
was the first Nieuport fighter with two spars to both upper and lower wings but by the time it was ready for service The French had already chosen the SPAD S.XIII
SPAD S.XIII
|-See also:-Bibliography:* Bruce, J.M. The Aeroplanes of the Royal Flying Corps . London: Putnam, 1982. ISBN 0-370-30084-X.* Sharpe, Michael. Biplanes, Triplanes, and Seaplanes. London: Friedman/Fairfax Books, 2000. ISBN 1-58663-300-7....
as their primary fighter. Due to a shortage of SPAD S.XIIIs, the first fighter squadrons of the United States Army Air Service
United States Army Air Service
The Air Service, United States Army was a forerunner of the United States Air Force during and after World War I. It was established as an independent but temporary wartime branch of the War Department by two executive orders of President Woodrow Wilson: on May 24, 1918, replacing the Aviation...
(USAAS), used the Nieuport 28 on operations. Despite its short time in operational service with the USAAS, the Nieuport 28 became the first fighter used on operations by a U.S. Squadron.
The Nieuport scouts were a popular choice with many of the Allied air arms during the first World War, and various models were built under licence in both Italy and Russia. In Italy, the modern firm of Aermacchi was originally formed as Nieuport-Macchi for the purpose of building various Nieuports under licence. They started with the Nieuport IV, but built the Nieuport 10, 11, 17 and finally the post-war NiD.29 under license. In Russia several companies built Nieuports of nearly every type used though the bulk were built by Dux in Moscow.
Post-World War I
By the end of 1918, Nieuport had two new fighter types flying, the Nieuport 29 and the Nieuport 31 monoplane both of which had evolved in parallel from the Nieuport 28. The 29 differed from earlier Nieuports in having a streamlined wooden monocoqueMonocoque
Monocoque is a construction technique that supports structural load by using an object's external skin, as opposed to using an internal frame or truss that is then covered with a non-load-bearing skin or coachwork...
fuselage, a 300 hp Hispano-Suiza
Hispano-Suiza
Hispano-Suiza was a Spanish automotive and engineering firm, best known for its luxury cars and aviation engines in the pre-World War II period of the twentieth century. In 1923, its French subsidiary became a semi-autonomous partnership with the parent company and is now part of the French SAFRAN...
engine, and a strongly-braced two bay biplane wing. Specially modified Nieuport 29 and 31 aircraft set speed and height records, and the 31 was the first aircraft to exceed 200 mi/h in level flight, in the hands of Joseph Sadi-Lecointe.
At this time, Nieuport became Nieuport-Astra, with the absorption of Société Astra
Société Astra
Société Astra des Constructions Aéronautiques was a major French manufacturer of balloons, airships, and aeroplanes in the early 20th Century. It was founded in 1908 when Henri Deutsch de la Meurthe purchased Édouard Surcouf's workshops at Billancourt...
, a company known for aerial balloons, though this name would not be used for long, before becoming Nieuport-Delage, in honour of the work of the chief designer, Gustave Delage, who had been running the company throughout the war years. Also at this time, Tellier
Tellier
Tellier is a surname, and may refer to:* Charles Tellier, French compressed air engineer* Joseph-Mathias Tellier , Quebec Conservative Party* Louis Tellier , Canadian lawyer, politician, and judge...
(who built seaplane
Seaplane
A seaplane is a fixed-wing aircraft capable of taking off and landing on water. Seaplanes that can also take off and land on airfields are a subclass called amphibian aircraft...
s) was also absorbed, and for a brief time the name Nieuport-Tellier was used.
Despite the many successes achieved with 29 and 31 in setting speed and altitude records, Delage quickly embarked on a new design (The Nieuport-Delage NiD.42) that was to provide the basis for a family of aircraft that would remain in service until the fall of France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
. This design first saw light as a shoulder wing racer (42S), then as single seat (42 C.1) and two seat fighters (42 C.2) for the French Air Force though none of these would see service.
The Nieuport-Delage 52, a slightly improved NiD.42, entered service with Spain, and remained in service well into the Spanish Civil War
Spanish Civil War
The Spanish Civil WarAlso known as The Crusade among Nationalists, the Fourth Carlist War among Carlists, and The Rebellion or Uprising among Republicans. was a major conflict fought in Spain from 17 July 1936 to 1 April 1939...
, although by that time it was obsolete and was retired before the end of the conflict. The French then bought large numbers of the 62 series (620, 621, 622, 629 - also derived from the NiD.42) which equipped the bulk of the French fighter units until replaced by newer designs in the late 30's. Despite being hopelessly obsolete by this stage, several French second-line escadrilles were equipped with them during the invasion of France. The Nieuport-Delage 38 and similar 39 were small airliners of which more than 37 were built. Other types were developed, the majority of which were one-offs or did not result in significant development.
The final aircraft developed by Nieuport saw much of their development done by successor companies, as Nieuport was first merged with Loire Aviation to form Loire-Nieuport, and then reformed as SNCAO
SNCAO
Société nationale des constructions aéronautiques de l'ouest was a state-owned French aircraft manufacturer, which originated on November 16, 1936, from the merger of the factories of Breguet in Bouguenais, and Loire-Nieuport in St Nazaire and Issy-les-Moulineaux.The company had been formed as one...
during the mergers in the French aircraft industry. Only one of these, a single seat, single engine monoplane dive bomber with an inverted gull wing and a similarity to the Junkers 87 saw service.
The end of Nieuport
In 1932, as a result of the forced amalgamations taking place in the French aviation industry, Delage retired and Nieuport-Delage reverted back to Nieuport, albeit only briefly before becoming Loire-Nieuport, then disappearing completely into SNCAOSNCAO
Société nationale des constructions aéronautiques de l'ouest was a state-owned French aircraft manufacturer, which originated on November 16, 1936, from the merger of the factories of Breguet in Bouguenais, and Loire-Nieuport in St Nazaire and Issy-les-Moulineaux.The company had been formed as one...
. Without a skilled chief designer, the company was unable to produce any memorable aircraft and had pretty much disappeared before World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
. SNCAO would eventually be merged into the massive conglomerate known as Aérospatiale
Aérospatiale
Aérospatiale was a French aerospace manufacturer that built both civilian and military aircraft, rockets and satellites. It was originally known as Société Nationale Industrielle Aérospatiale...
; however, the companies' records were destroyed during World War II, when they were burned to prevent their falling into German hands. This step didn't prevent the Germans from charging several employees with espionage, as the last aircraft to carry the Nieuport name looked remarkably like a Junkers 87—albeit as a single-seater with retractable gear.
Aircraft produced
During WW1 Nieuport aircraft were often known only by their wing area (in square meters) rather than their official designations, thus the Nieuport 10 sesquiplane was also a Nieuport 18 or an 18 meter Nieuport, the Nieuport 11 & 16 were known as Nieuport 13M and the Nieuport 17/21/23 were the 15 meter Nieuports.- Nieuport II - small single-seat sport monoplane
- Nieuport III - single-seat sport monoplane
- Nieuport IVNieuport IV-External links:**...
- two-seat sport monoplane - Nieuport VINieuport VI-References: Note: The online copy of this article is incomplete. The URL provided points to the first available page....
- three-seat sport monoplane - Nieuport VII - two-seat sport monoplane
- Nieuport VIII - two-seat sport monoplane
- Nieuport IX - two-seat sport monoplane
- Nieuport X - three-seat sport monoplane
- Nieuport XI - small single seat sport monoplane
- Nieuport-Dunne - tailless biplane built under licence with many local modifications
- Nieuport 10Nieuport 10|-See also:- External links :* *...
- sport sesquiplane, later used in wide variety of military roles, no relation to earlier monoplane Nieuport X- Nieuport 83 - trainer version of Nieuport 10
- Nieuport 11Nieuport 11|-See also:-References:NotesBibliography* Angelucci, Enzio, ed. The Rand McNally Encyclopedia of Military Aircraft. New York: The Military Press, 1983. ISBN 0-517-41021-4....
- sesquiplane fighter; Nieuport's first purpose-built fighter, no relation to earlier monoplane Nieuport XI - Nieuport 12Nieuport 12|-See also:...
- two-seat artillery spotting sesquiplane developed from Nieuport 10 - Nieuport 12bis - two seat artillery spotting sesquiplane, extensively redesigned from Nieuport 12
- Nieuport 80 and 81 - trainer versions of Nieuport 12 with 80-hp engines
- Nieuport 13 - two-seat artillery spotting sesquiplane developed from Nieuport 12
- Nieuport 14 - two-seat reconnaissance sesquiplane
- Nieuport 82 - trainer version of Nieuport 14 with 80-hp engine
- Nieuport 15 - sesquiplane bomber
- Nieuport 16 - sesquiplane fighter; Nieuport 11 airframe powered by the Le Rhône 9JLe Rhône 9J|-See also:-Bibliography:* Lumsden, Alec. British Piston Engines and their Aircraft. Marlborough, Wiltshire: Airlife Publishing, 2003. ISBN 1-85310-294-6....
engine. - Nieuport 17Nieuport 17|-Specifications :-See also:-Bibliography:* Bruce, Jack. "Those Classic Nieuports". Air Enthusiast Quarterly. Number Two, 1976. Bromley, UK:Pilot Press. pp. 137–153....
- sesquiplane fighter similar to the earlier Nieuport 11, but had the same engine as the 16, larger all around, and a more refined structure in general. - Nieuport 18 - twin engine sesquiplane bomber
- Nieuport 19 - same as Nieuport 18 but with different engines. Neither appear to have been built
- Nieuport 20 - two-seat artillery spotting sesquiplane aircraft developed from Nieuport 12
- Nieuport 21Nieuport 21|-See also:-Sources:* Keskinen, Kalevi; Partonen, Kyösti and Stenman, Kari: Suomen Ilmavoimat I 1918-27, 2005. ISBN 952-99432-2-9.* Donald, David: The Encyclopedia of World Aircraft, Aerospace Publishing, 1997. ISBN 1-85605-375-X....
- light weight sesquiplane fighter and advanced trainer version of Nieuport 17 with lower-powered engine - Nieuport 23 - sesquiplane fighter, development of Nieuport 17 with Vickers machine gun offset (when installed)
- Nieuport 24 - sesquiplane fighter; cleaned-up version of Nieuport 17. Used by France, the (Royal Flying CorpsRoyal Flying CorpsThe Royal Flying Corps was the over-land air arm of the British military during most of the First World War. During the early part of the war, the RFC's responsibilities were centred on support of the British Army, via artillery co-operation and photographic reconnaissance...
), (Royal Naval Air ServiceRoyal Naval Air ServiceThe Royal Naval Air Service or RNAS was the air arm of the Royal Navy until near the end of the First World War, when it merged with the British Army's Royal Flying Corps to form a new service , the Royal Air Force...
), (Imperial Russian Air Service), United States Army Air ServiceUnited States Army Air ServiceThe Air Service, United States Army was a forerunner of the United States Air Force during and after World War I. It was established as an independent but temporary wartime branch of the War Department by two executive orders of President Woodrow Wilson: on May 24, 1918, replacing the Aviation...
and postwar in Japan and several other countries. - Nieuport 24bis - sesquiplane fighter, like 24 but with Nieuport 17 rudder and horizontal tail
- Nieuport 25 - sesquiplane fighter; cleaned-up version of Nieuport 17 with much larger engine
- Nieuport 27 - sesquiplane fighter - the definitive version of the Nieuport 24 and penultimate example of series.
- Nieuport 28Nieuport 28|-See also:-Bibliography:* Cheesman E.F. Fighter Aircraft of the 1914-1918 War. Letchworth, UK: Harleyford Publications, 1960, pp. 98–99....
- biplane fighter of late First World War - first non-sesquiplane Nieuport fighter. - Nieuport-Delage NiD 29 - biplane fighter used by France, Japan, Spain, Sweden, Thailand, Argentina, Italy, and others.
- Nieuport-Delage NiD 30 - large single engine biplane bomber later redeveloped as transport (as the NiD 30T), several sold
- Nieuport-Delage NiD 31 - monoplane fighter
- Nieuport-Delage NiD 38 & NiD 39 - light single engine biplane cabin airliners produced with different engines
- Nieuport-Delage NiD 42 - sesquiplane fighter, prototype for 52, 62, 72 and others, was originally a parasol monoplane
- Nieuport-Delage NiD 450 & 650 - monoplane racers for Schneider cup
- Nieuport-Delage NiD 48 - sesquiplane fighter scaled down NiD 42 for Jockey light fighter program
- Nieuport-Delage NiD 52 - sesquiplane fighter
- Nieuport-Delage NiD 62 - sesquiplane fighter
- Nieuport-Delage NiD 641 - large single engine monoplane airliner with eliptical wing
- Nieuport-Delage NiD 72 - sesquiplane fighter all metal version of 62
- Loire-Nieuport LN.40 - Single engine, single seater dive bomber with inverted gull wing.