WW1 French Fighter: Nieuport 17 2016-10-05

The Nieuport 17 was a French sesqui-winged fighter aircraft of World War I, manufactured by the Nieuport company. It was a slightly larger development of the earlier Nieuport 11, and 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) Le Rhône 9J engine, though later versions were upgraded to a 130 hp (97 kW) engine. It had outstanding maneuverability, and an excellent rate of climb. Unfortunately, the narrow lower wing - which marked it as a "sesquiplane" design, with literally "one-and-a-half wings" - was weak and had a disconcerting tendency to disintegrate in flight, from the lower wing's single spar construction.

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