AIRPLANE – NIEUPORT Ni-17c.i

NIEUPORT NI-17C.1

The Nieuport Ni-17 is a French World War I fighter plane that built upon the success of its predecessor, the Ni-11 “Bébé.” It’s a specific type of biplane called a sesquiplane — literally, one and a half plane — with a lower wing half or less the size of the upper wing. The sesquiplane design provided better downward visibility and contributed to its excellent maneuverability which quickly earned it a reputation among Allied pilots for its agility, speed, and superior climb rate.

The Ni-17 was powered by a 110 h.p. Le Rhône Rotary Engine (note the significant difference between Rotary & Radial engines). It was armed with a Lewis machine gun mounted above the wing or Vickers machine gun mounted directly in front of the pilot and synchronized to fire through the propeller arc.

When introduced in early 1916, the Ni-17 gave Allied air forces a much-needed advantage in dogfights against German aircraft like the Fokker Eindecker (one-winger). By mid-1917, Germany had the advantage introducing new designs like the Albatross with its more powerful 160 h.p. inline Mercedes engine. The Allies soon met these challengers with newer designs such as the Sopwith Camel and S.E.5a from Britain and the SPAD XIII from France.

Adorned in the livery of Lafayette Escadrille ace, Raoul Lufbery, Aluminum & Spruce’s Ni-17 is a one-of-a-kind, full-scale replica of the Nieuport model Ni-17c.i. Hand built by Richard P. Mienhardt from Redfern, Aermacchi and Rozdndaal drawings, it varies from the original by adding the modern benefits of brakes, an interchangeable tail-wheel / tail-skid, and a Radial engine in place of the Rotary.

AIRPLANE – NIEUPORT Ni-17c.i

NIEUPORT NI-17C.1

NI-17C.1 NOTES

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