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Страна: Франция

Год: 1915

J.Davilla, A.Soltan French Aircraft of the First World War (Flying Machines)

Nieuport 14

  A report of the Commission of Aircraft and Motors dated August 1915 mentioned that two new "fighters" were undergoing evaluation. Both aircraft were two-seaters and were designated "fighters" because they carried machine guns to defend against attacking fighters and to strafe ground troops. The true mission of both aircraft was to perform reconnaissance and artillery spotting missions. One aircraft was the Ponnier M.2, the other was the Nieuport 14. While the M.2 was actually favored over the Nieuport 14 in terms of climb rate, the Nieuport had the advantage of a stronger airframe, better maneuverability, and could be put into production more quickly than Ponnier's design.
  However, the Battle of Verdun resulted in the decision to expand the fighter force. It is likely that production of the Nieuport 14 as well as the proposed Nieuport 18/19 bomber suffered as a result of this decision, the Nieuport firm having to allocate its resources to build new fighters. Furthermore, the Hispano-Suiza engines were now to be reserved for the SPAD fighter series. As a result, only a small number of Nieuport 14s were built.
  The Nieuport 14 was a two-seat reconnaissance/light bomber powered by a 175-hp Hispano-Suiza 8Aa engine. The motor was enclosed by a bulged cowling with cooling radiators on either side; later examples had modified engine cowlings (see photograph). The two-bay wings were of uneven span with the top wing considerably longer than the lower. The inner pair of struts were placed vertically and the outer pair were slanted outwards. Both were of the standard V configuration. The tailplane had raked tips and there was a balanced rudder. The pilot and gunner sat back-to-back, the latter armed with a single Lewis machine gun.
  Two units of GB 1, VB 102 and 103, were dispatched to Plessis in January to re-equip with Nieuports and some sources have recorded that these were to be Nieuport 14s. VB 112 has also been recorded as receiving the Nieuport 14. However, a review of the Aviation Militaire's records suggest that these were in fact Nieuport fighters, and not Nieuport 14s (although it is possible that these units received a few Nieuport 14s in addition to the fighters). The Nieuport 14s had a modest bomb load of up to four 120-mm bombs.
  However, a limited number of Nieuport 14s were supplied to army cooperation escadrilles. Little seems to have been recorded of their activities but there were some problems with the type. A note from the Ministry of War dated 22 September 1916 warned that the radiators of the Nieuport 14 were not working adequately and instructed the escadrilles to make alterations to them. Furthermore, the radiators were to be drained and the filters cleaned after each flight.
  Some Nieuport 14s were subsequently placed in service with training squadrons. Later, the engines were removed from some of the airframes and may have been replaced by 80-hp Le Rhone engines. (See Nieuport 82).
  The RNAS ordered 50 but none were delivered.


Nieuport 14 Two-Seat Reconnaissance Aircraft/Bomber with 175-hp Hispano-Suiza 8Aa
   Span 11.90 m; length 7.90 m; height 2.65 m; wing area 30 sq. m
   Loaded weight 1,030 kg
   Maximum speed: 138 km/h at 2,000 m; 129 km/h at 3,000 m; climb to 1,950 meters in 15 minutes, endurance 3 hours
   Armament: one Lewis machine gun on a ring mount and four 120-mm bombs



Nieuport 15

  Little is known about the Nieuport 15, which was built in 1916. It may have been designed for entry in the 1916 concours puissant intended to select a heavy bomber for the Aviation Militaire. However, it was never entered in that competition. The aircraft was powered by a 220-hp Renault 12F engine, and carried a crew of two in tandem, the pilot seated under the top wing and the gunner behind the top wing, The aircraft was a two-bay biplane with two sets of V-shaped interplane struts. Radiators were located on either side of the fuselage between the pilot's and gunner's positions; at least one version had a frontal radiator. The bomb load, which was apparently carried in underwing racks, has been estimated at 140 kg. At least two aircraft were built, but the type was never accepted for service with the French air service. Ten two-seaters and 60 single-seaters were ordered by the British but these were never delivered. The RNAS assigned serials N5560-N5599 to Nieuport 15s ordered in September 1916, but these were canceled in February 1917.


Nieuport 15 Two-Seat Bomber with 220-hp Renault 12F
   Span 17 m, length 9.50 m, wing area 47.7 sq. m
   Loaded weight 1,897 kg
   Climb to 2,000 m in 16 minutes 37 seconds; to 3,000 m in 30 minutes 15 seconds
   Armament: one or two machine guns on a ring mount; 14 10-kg Anilite bombs
   Approximately two built



Nieuport 160-hp Renault Bomber

  In 1916 the Nieuport firm built a bomber powered by a 160-hp Renault engine. This airplane was of similar size and had a performance comparable to the Nieuport 15. It did not enter service.



Nieuport Two-Seaters with 120-hp Hispano-Suiza

  The Nieuport firm built at least two single-engine tractor airplanes powered by 120-hp Hispano-Suiza engines. The aircraft carried a crew of two, had a square radiator in the nose, a swept back upper wing, and a single bay of struts. Apparently, one had redesigned wings probably to provide improved strength. The aircraft seem to have been intended for ground attack and bombing. Neither of these versions was selected for production.

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  • J.Davilla, A.Soltan French Aircraft of the First World War (Flying Machines)