TheNieuport 11 (orNieuport XI C.1 in contemporary sources), nicknamed theBébé, is a FrenchWorld War I single seatsesquiplanefighter aircraft, designed by Gustave Delage.[1] It was the primary aircraft that ended theFokker Scourge in 1916.[2] The type saw service with several of France's allies, and gave rise to the series of "vee-strut" Nieuport fighters that remained in service (latterly as trainers) into the 1920s.
The Nieuport 11 was a new, slightly smaller aircraft based on the general configuration of theNieuport 10, but designed specifically as a single-seat fighter. Like the "10", the "11" was a sesquiplane, a biplane with a full-sized top wing with two spars, and a lower wing of much narrowerchord and a single spar.Interplane struts in the form of a "Vee" joined the upper and lower wings. The sesquiplane layout reduced drag and improved the rate of climb, as well as offering a better view from the cockpit than either biplane or monoplane, while being substantially stronger than contemporary monoplanes. The narrow lower wing could experienceaeroelastic flutter, but at air speeds beyond which the Nieuport 11 was capable, and would only become an occasional problem on later much higher powered developments, as well as the GermanAlbatros D.III.[3]Nieuport 11s were supplied to the FrenchAéronautique Militaire, the BritishRoyal Naval Air Service, theImperial Russian Air Service, theBelgian Air Force, and ItalianCorpo Aeronautico Militare. 646 Nieuport 11s were produced by the ItalianMacchi company under licence.[3] After Romania suffered military setbacks, one Nieuport 11, and severalNieuport 12s were transferred from RNAS No.2 Wing as part of theRomanian Flight mission.[4] Additional airplanes received were assembled atRezerva generală a aviației, however the exact number of Nieuport 11s delivered is unknown.[5]
In 1916 an improved version appeared as theNieuport 16, which was a strengthened Nieuport 11 airframe powered by a 110 hp (82 kW)Le Rhône 9J rotary engine.[2] Visible differences included a larger aperture in front of the "horse shoe" cowling and a headrest for the pilot.[3] The Nieuport 16 was an interim type pending the delivery of the slightly largerNieuport 17 C.1 whose design was begun in parallel with the 16, and remedied the 16'sbalance problems, as well as further improving performance.[6]
The Nieuport 11 reached the French front in January 1916, and 90 were in service within the month.
This small sesquiplane outclassed theFokkerEindecker in every respect, including speed, climb rate and maneuverability. It featuredailerons for lateral control rather than the Fokker'swing warping, giving lighter, quicker roll response, and its elevator was attached to a conventional tail plane which provided better pitch control as opposed to the all-moving, balanced "Morane type"elevators of the Fokker.
The Fokker's sole remaining advantage was itssynchronized machine gun, which fired forward through the arc of its propeller. At the time, the Allies lacked a similar system, and the Nieuport 11'sLewis machine gun[note 1] was mounted to fire over the propeller, allowing uninterrupted forward fire. The Lewis wasnot synchronizable, due to itsopen bolt firing cycle design which resulted in an unpredictable rate of fire.[citation needed] Clearing gun jams and replacing ammunition drums in flight were challenging though, and the drums limited ammunition supply.
During the course of theBattle of Verdun in February 1916, the combination of the Nieuport 11s technical advantages and its concentration in dedicated fighter units allowed the French to establish air superiority, ending the so-called "Fokker Scourge" and forced radical changes in German tactics. The impact of the Nieuport was so dramatic that in mid to late 1916 several captured examples were repaired, rearmed with a synchronised "Spandau" gun, and flown at the front.[7] Others were supplied byIdflieg to several manufacturers with the request that copies be built, and this had considerable influence on German fighter design.
By March 1916 theBébé was being replaced by both theNieuport 16 and the much improvedNieuport 17, although Italian-built examples remained in first line service longer, as did Russian examples. Thereafter the Nieuport 11s continued to be used as trainers.[3]
TheMusée de l'Air atle Bourget in Paris has the sole original surviving Nieuport 11, currently marked as N556 with the personal markings of CommandantCharles de Tricornot de Rose, creator of the first dedicated fighter squadrons. It had previously been marked as N976.[15]
Old Rhinebeck Aerodrome has had a reproduction Bébé flying in many of their airshows in past years, last seen inVictor Chapman's colours, and powered with an original 80 hp (60 kW)Le Rhône 9C rotary engine, however it is currently being rebuilt following a crash.[16]
Vintage Aviator in New Zealand flies a Le Rhône-powered replica which was built in the United States which flies in the markings of Italian ace Alvaro Leonardi.
Two Canadian museums have flyable 7/8 scale replicas (built smaller to fall into the experimental aircraft category under Canadian law) - the Saskatchewan Aviation Museum[17] and the New Brunswick Aviation Museum.[18]
^A few aircraft were at first fitted withHotchkiss guns and, in Italian service, with theFiat-Revelli until the Lewis was available in sufficient numbers.
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