Nieuport 11
Nieuport · France · first flew 1915 · fighter
The Nieuport 11 'Bébé' was a French First World War fighter biplane notable for its sesquiplane layout—a full-span upper wing paired with a much narrower lower wing—which gave it excellent manoeuvrability and helped end the 'Fokker Scourge' of 1915–16.
Recognition (WEFT)
| W — Wings | High-mounted, straight |
|---|---|
| E — Engines | 1 × piston, nose-mounted |
| F — Fuselage | 5.64 m fuselage |
| T — Tail | Conventional |
WEFT is AircraftIQ's four-point recognition method — how it works.
Spot it by:
- WWI sesquiplane with narrow lower wing
- Le Rhône rotary engine with bullet-shaped cowling
- Lewis gun mounted on upper wing to fire over the propeller arc
Classic sesquiplane with a full-span upper wing and a very narrow V-strut lower wing, a round rotary engine cowling and a Lewis gun angled upward on the upper wing; the narrow lower wing is the defining visual feature.
Specifications
- The Nieuport 11 has a length of 5.64 m (19 ft).
- It has a wingspan of 7.52 m (25 ft).
- Its maximum speed is 156 km/h (97 mph).
- Typical crew: 1.
Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.
History
Entering service with the French Aviation Militaire in early 1916, the Nieuport 11 quickly demonstrated its superiority over the Fokker Eindecker. It was supplied to Britain's Royal Flying Corps and Royal Naval Air Service, Russia, Belgium and Italy, and became one of the most important Allied fighters of the mid-war period. Ace pilots including Albert Ball, Charles Nungesser and René Fonck flew the type.
Variants
The Nieuport 11 had few significant variants; the Nieuport 16 was a more powerful development, and the sesquiplane layout continued through the Nieuport 17.
Where you'll see it
Operated by France, Britain, Russia, Belgium, Italy and the Netherlands; replaced progressively from mid-1916 by the Nieuport 17 and later types.
Related aircraft
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