Nieuport 17

Many of the French and British aces began their careers flying the Nieuport 17. The highly manoeuvrable "Superbébé" was a larger, improved version of the Nieuport 11. Like its predecessor, it was initially equipped with a Lewis gun but was upgraded to a synchronized Vickers machine gun. Helping end Germany's domination of the air war, the Nieuport 17 easily out-climbed and outperformed the Fokker E.III. The superior design was so successful that German high command ordered it copied. With 40 victories, English ace Philip Fullard scored more victories with the Nieuport 17, Nieuport 23 and Nieuport 27 than any other ace.

Country: France
Manufacturer: Societe Anonyme des Etablissements Nieuport
Type: Fighter
First Introduced: March 1916
Number Built:
Engine(s): Le Rhône 9J, 9 cylinder, rotary, 110 hp
Wing Span: 26 ft 11 in [8.22 m]
Length: 18 ft 10 in [5.74 m]
Height: 7 ft 10 in
Empty Weight: 827 lb
Gross Weight: 1246 lb [565 kg]
Max Speed: 110 mph [177 kmh]
Ceiling: 17,388 ft [5,300 m]
Endurance: 2 hours
Crew: 1
Armament: 1 Lewis .303 machine gun and/or
1 Vickers .303 machine gun