Nieuport 15
Nieuport · France · first flew 1916 · bomber
The Nieuport 15 was a two-seat bomber development of 1916, scaled up from the Nieuport 14 and using the company's characteristic V-strut sesquiplane configuration with a large upper wing and narrow lower wing.
Recognition (WEFT)
| W — Wings | Mid-mounted, tapered |
|---|---|
| E — Engines | 1 × piston, nose-mounted |
| F — Fuselage | 9.57 m fuselage |
| T — Tail | Conventional |
WEFT is AircraftIQ's four-point recognition method — how it works.
Spot it by:
- Nieuport V-strut sesquiplane scaled up from the Nieuport 14, tractor layout
- Renault V-12 engine; distinctive heart-shaped elevator outline
- Declared obsolete December 1916 — never entered service
The V-strut sesquiplane configuration — narrow lower wing, wide upper wing with characteristic Nieuport V-interplane struts — is the primary identifier. The heart-shaped elevator and Renault V-12 engine distinguish it from the smaller Nieuport fighters of the same era.
Specifications
- The Nieuport 15 has a length of 9.57 m (31 ft).
- It has a wingspan of 17 m (56 ft).
- Its maximum speed is 155 km/h (96 mph).
- Typical crew: 2.
Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.
History
Powered by a Renault 12F V-12 engine, the Nieuport 15 was ordered by Britain (70 aircraft) but cancelled after poor test results. France declared it obsolete in December 1916, and it never entered operational service with any air arm. The type was hampered by insufficient speed and climb performance.
Variants
No production variants; a single prototype evaluated.
Where you'll see it
Never entered operational service; British and French orders cancelled.
Related aircraft
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