Nieuport 17
Nieuport · France · first flew 1916 · fighter
The Nieuport 17 was a French World War I single-seat sesquiplane fighter that outperformed the Fokker Eindeckers it replaced and equipped the air forces of France, Britain, Belgium, Russia, and Italy. Its narrow-chord lower wing arrangement was a distinctive Nieuport design trait.
Recognition (WEFT)
| W — Wings | High-mounted, tapered |
|---|---|
| E — Engines | 1 × piston, nose-mounted |
| F — Fuselage | 5.74 m fuselage |
| T — Tail | Conventional |
WEFT is AircraftIQ's four-point recognition method — how it works.
Spot it by:
- Sesquiplane — narrow-chord lower wing half the width of upper wing
- Le Rhône rotary engine with rounded cowling
- Lewis gun on Foster mount above upper wing centre-section
The sesquiplane wing arrangement with a very narrow lower wing is the primary recognition feature shared with all Nieuport fighters of this period; the Nieuport 17 is slightly larger than the Nieuport 11 with a more powerful engine.
Specifications
- The Nieuport 17 has a length of 5.74 m (19 ft).
- It has a wingspan of 8.16 m (27 ft).
- Its maximum speed is 177 km/h (110 mph).
- Typical crew: 1.
Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.
History
Entering service in March 1916, the Nieuport 17 was operated by many of the war's greatest aces including Albert Ball, Georges Guynemer, and Billy Bishop. It dominated the air until the Albatros D.III and D.V appeared in late 1916, after which it was gradually replaced by the SPAD S.VII and S.XIII.
Variants
The Nieuport 17bis had a wider-chord lower wing; the Nieuport 21 was a trainer version with a less powerful engine; the Nieuport 23 was a developed variant with a synchronised gun.
Where you'll see it
Served with the French Service Aéronautique, RFC, RNAS, Belgian Aviation Militaire, and the Imperial Russian Air Service; the US Air Service also flew them in 1918.
Related aircraft
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