Nieuport-Delage NiD 29
Nieuport · France · first flew 1918 · fighter
The Nieuport-Delage NiD 29 was a French single-seat biplane fighter developed at the close of World War I that went on to form the backbone of several air forces through the 1920s. It set several world speed records and won the 1920 Gordon Bennett Trophy.
Recognition (WEFT)
| W — Wings | High-mounted, tapered |
|---|---|
| E — Engines | 1 × piston, nose-mounted |
| F — Fuselage | Clean fabric-covered wooden airframe with circular-section fuselage |
| T — Tail | Conventional |
WEFT is AircraftIQ's four-point recognition method — how it works.
Spot it by:
- Late WWI French sesquiplane fighter with single-bay biplane layout
- Clean fabric-covered wooden airframe with circular-section fuselage
- Post-war export success in Italy, Belgium, Japan, and Spain
Recognised by its rounded fuselage cross-section, single-bay biplane wings with the lower wing notably smaller than the upper, and large frontal radiator.
Specifications
- The Nieuport-Delage NiD 29 has a length of 6.49 m (21 ft).
- It has a wingspan of 9.7 m (32 ft).
- Its maximum speed is 235 km/h (146 mph).
- Typical crew: 1.
Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.
History
Designed by Gustave Delage, the NiD 29 first flew in August 1918, too late for WWI combat service. Post-war evaluations revealed it to be an outstanding design, and France adopted it as its primary fighter. Belgium, Italy, Japan, Spain, and Argentina also purchased the type. Japan licence-built it as the Ko-4, using it into the early 1930s.
Variants
The production NiD 29 C1 was the standard fighter; a racing variant set speed records in 1920. No major structural variants entered service.
Where you'll see it
Served as France's premier fighter through the early 1920s before being replaced by more modern designs; remained in service with export operators until the early 1930s.
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