Nieuport 10

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nieuport_10

The Nieuport 10 was a French First World War sesquiplane that filled a wide
variety of roles including reconnaissance, fighter and trainer.

In January 1914, designer Gustave Delage joined the Société Anonyme des
Etablissements Nieuport, and started working on a series of aircraft that would
remain in production for the remainder of the First World War. The Nieuport 10
was first of these and was originally designed to compete in the Gordon Bennett
Trophy race of 1914. World War I caused this contest to be cancelled, and the
type was developed as a military two seat reconnaissance aircraft that entered
service in 1915.

The type featured a distinctive "V" strut layout. The lower wing was much
smaller in area than the upper wing. The concept was intended to combine the
strength of the biplane's wire braced wing cell with the good visibility of the
parasol monoplane.

Many were converted or built as single-seat fighters by covering the front
cockpit, and adding a Lewis Gun or Vickers machine gun either to fire through
the center section of the top wing or mounted over it, firing forwards. In this
form, the type was used as a fighter.

Two major types were developed from the Nieuport 10 - the Nieuport 11 Bébé - a
smaller aircraft, designed from the outset as a single-seater, and the Nieuport
12 - a more powerful two-seater with a larger top wing. In addition, production
was undertaken of a dedicated trainer version under the Nieuport 83 E.2
designation with detail changes. A single example of a triplane, using a
Nieuport 10 airframe was built to test an unusual staggered wing concept.


Role
reconnaissance, fighter and trainer

Manufacturer
Nieuport

Designer
Gustave Delage

First flight
1914

Introduction
1915

Status
retired

Primary users
Aéronautique Militaire
Royal Naval Air Service
Imperial Russian Air Service

Produced
1915-1918

Variants
Nieuport 12

Many of the early French aces flew the Nieuport 10, the best known of which was
Georges Guynemer, who used several Nieuport 10s, all marked "Vieux Charles". Jan
Olieslagers was flying a Nieuport 10 when he became the first Belgian to shoot
down another aircraft, while the first Canadian aerial victory was also scored
in a Nieuport 10, by Flight Sub-Lieutenant Arthur Ince.

Specifications (Nieuport 10 C.1 fighter)

General characteristics
Crew: one, pilot
Length: 7.09 m (23 ft 3 in)
Wingspan: 8.20 m (26 ft 11 in)
Height: 2.7 m (8 ft 11 in)
Wing area: 18 m² (193.8 ft²)
Empty weight: 411 kg (905 lb)
Loaded weight: 658 kg (1,450 lb)
Powerplant: 1 × le Rhône 9C rotary, 60 kW (80 hp)

Performance
Maximum speed: 139 km/h (75 knots, 86 mph)
Range: 249.44 kilometers (155 miles)
Service ceiling: 4,572 m (15,000 ft)
Rate of climb: 2.1 m/s (410 ft/min)
Endurance: 2.5 hours

Armament

1 × Lewis machine gun mounted atop the upper wing



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