W.Pieters The Belgian Air Service in the First World War (Aeronaut)

Belgian Aircraft

Farman-Nelis GN1 - GN6 Series

  Capitaine Georges Nelis, who was in charge of the Calais-Le Beau Marais (France) maintenance and repair center of the Aviation Militaire Beige during World War I, started experimenting with refined versions of Farman pusher aircraft as early as 1916. Because no official documents are available on the GN aircraft produced, most available information comes from study of the remaining photographs. Nelis was assisted with design work by engineer Lt. Mathieu Demonty. The first two GN types were powered by a Le Rhone rotary engine, while the last four GN types had more powerful Hispano-Suiza water-cooled V-8 engines. All GN designs replaced the Farmans original undercarriage with a simpler, lighter design of reduced drag, the crew nacelle was generally more streamlined than the Farman original, and the wings were equal span, giving more agility than the Farman’s long-span upper wing.
  On 1 November 1916 there was one GN, powered by a 150 h.p. Hispano-Suiza, flying with Iere Escadrille de Chasse. Jacquet & Robin were the crew; they apparently flew this GN (a GN4?) in addition to the GN2.
  Six more GNs were expected to be built in 1917 at the Parc de Calais, but it is not known if all were completed. On 2 November 1916, 20 150 h.p. Hispano-Suiza engines were ordered for the BEs and the GNs, the latter under construction. For the first trimester of 1917, three GNs were expected at the front and one at the Parc de Reserve at Calais. It is thought that only six GN aircraft, one of each type, were constructed, but this is not confirmed and it is possible more were built; GN4 photos show more than one configuration, indicating the possibility that more than one GN4 was built.
  In addition to the GN2 flown on operations by Jacquet & Robin, it is likely the GN3 was flown operationally (probably by Prosper Georges), at least two crews flew the GN4 operationally, and the notable observer/photo crew of Wouters and Jaumotte flew the GN5 on operations.
  The following GN types have been identified:

Type Distinguishing Characteristics
  GN1 Two-seat reconnaissance airplane, Le Rhone engine.
  GN2 Two-seat reconnaissance airplane, Le Rhone engine.
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