Time Period: Pre-WW1, World War I
Country of Origin: France
Type: Monoplane, Sporting / Racing Aircraft
Manufacturer: Nieuport
Nieuport II Aircraft Overview
The Nieuport II was a French single-seat, single-engine biplane fighter aircraft designed and built by the Nieuport company during World War I. It was one of the earliest successful fighter aircraft designs and was used extensively by the French and other Allied air forces in the early years of the war.
The Nieuport II had a wooden monocoque fuselage and fabric-covered wings and was powered by a 60 hp Le Rhône rotary engine. It had a top speed of around 130 km/h (80 mph) and was armed with a single machine gun mounted on the top wing.
The aircraft was highly maneuverable and was widely regarded as one of the best fighter aircraft of its time. It was used by many famous World War I aces, including the French ace Charles Nungesser, who scored many of his victories in a Nieuport II.
Later versions of the Nieuport II, such as the Nieuport 10, were developed with improved engines and armament, and were used for reconnaissance and ground attack missions in addition to their fighter role. Overall, the Nieuport II and its variants were important early contributors to the development of military aviation and fighter aircraft technology.
Nieuport II Specifications
- Crew: 1 pilot
- Length: 7.15 m (23 ft 5 in)
- Wingspan: 8.65 m (28 ft 5 in)
- Height: 2.60 m (8 ft 6 in)
- Wing Area: 14 m² (150 sq ft)
- Empty Weight: 240 kg (529 lb)
- Gross Weight: 340 kg (750 lb)
- Engine: 1 × Nieuport 2-cylinder horizontally opposed air-cooled engine, 21 kW (28 hp)
- Propeller: 2-bladed
Nieuport II Performance
- Maximum Speed: 115 km/h (71 mph)
