Time Period: Pre-WW1, World War I
Country of Origin: France
Type: Monoplane, Sporting / Racing Aircraft, Reconnaissance and Surveillance
Manufacturer: Nieuport
Nieuport IV Aircraft Overview
The Nieuport IV was a French single-seat, single-engine biplane fighter aircraft designed and built by the Nieuport company during World War I. It was an improved version of the earlier Nieuport II fighter, with a more powerful engine and improved performance.
The Nieuport IV had a wooden monocoque fuselage and fabric-covered wings, and was powered by a 80 hp Le Rhône rotary engine. It had a top speed of around 140 km/h (87 mph) and was armed with a single machine gun mounted on the top wing.
The aircraft was highly maneuverable and was used extensively by the French and other Allied air forces in the later years of World War I. It was also used by several famous aces, including the Canadian ace Billy Bishop, who scored many of his victories in a Nieuport IV.
Later versions of the Nieuport IV, such as the Nieuport 11 and 17, 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 IV and its variants were important contributors to the development of military aviation and fighter aircraft technology during World War I.
Nieuport IV Specifications
- Crew: 1 pilot
- Capacity: 1 passenger
- Length: 8.2 m (26 ft 11 in)
- Wingspan: 12.1 m (39 ft 8 in)
- Wing Area: 22.0 m² (237 sq ft)
- Empty Weight: 483 kg (1,065 lb)
- Engine: 1 × Gnome rotary piston engine, 75 kW (100 hp)
- Propeller: 2-bladed
Nieuport IV Performance
- Maximum Speed: 120 km/h (75 mph)
- Climb Rate: 12 minutes 40 seconds to 500 m
