Nieuport 17

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Nieuport 17

Description
Role	Fighter
Crew	Pilot
First Flight
Entered Service	March 1916
Manufacturer	Nieuport
Dimensions
Length	19 ft	5.8 m
Wingspan	26 ft 9 in	8.2 m
Height	7 ft 10 in	2.4 m
Wing area	159 ft²	14.8 m²
Weights
Empty	827 lb	375 kg
Loaded	1235 lb	560 kg
Maximum takeoff	lb	kg
Capacity
Powerplant
Engines	Le Rhone JB
Power	110 hp	82kW
Performance
Maximum speed	102 mph	164 km/h
Combat range	155 miles	249 km
Service ceiling	17390 ft	5300 m
Rate of climb	11.5 min to 3,000 m (9,840 ft)
Wing loading	7.77 lb/ft²	37.9 kg/m²
Power/Mass	0.09 hp/lb	0.15 kW/kg
Avionics
Avionics
Armament
Guns	1 Vickers or Lewis machine gun

The Nieuport 17 was a biplane fighter aircraft manufactured by Nieuport, and prominent during the World War I era.

The Nie. 17 was similar to the earlier Nieuport 11, but had a more powerful engine, larger wings, and a more refined structure in general. At first, it was equipped with a 110 hp (82 kW) engine, though later versions were upgraded to a 130 hp (97 kW) engine. It had outstanding maneuverability, and an excellent rate of climb, but the structure, especially the narrow lower wing, was weak, and had a disconcerting tendency to disintergrate in flight.

The plane reached the French front in March 1916, at the same time as the British DH-2, and was quickly adopted by the Royal Flying Corps and Royal Naval Air Service, as it was superior to any British plane at that time. Worthy of note is the fact that during part of 1916 the Nie 17 equipped every squadron of the Aviation Militaire. The Germans supplied captured examples to several of their aircraft manufacturers - the Siemens-Schukert D.I - a Nieuport copy, actually went into production, although the improved German fighters of late 1916 soon surpassed it.

Many Allied air aces flew this plane, including Canadian ace W.A. Bishop, who received a Victoria Cross while flying it.