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

Wibault Wib.1

  In 1917 Michel Wibault decided to initiate the construction of an airplane to meet the C1 category calling for a single-seat fighter with two machine guns. He intended to fit this aircraft with the new 280-hp Hispano Suiza 8F engine. However, this engine was reserved for the newer SPAD fighters, including the SPAD 17, and so Wibault was forced to use the older 220-hp Hispano Suiza 8Be.
  The aircraft was of metal construction with single-bay, fabric-covered wings. It featured an abbreviated nose with equal-span staggered wings. Ailerons were on the lower wings only. The ailerons for the C1 category had been based on work done by a Dr. Margoulis, who was director of the Laboratoire Eiffel. Wibault, however, was not hesitant to redesign the ailerons to meet his own ideas, even though Margoulis was critical of Wibault’s modifications. Radiators were located on the bottom wing. Armament, as with most other aircraft of the C1 category, consisted of two synchronized 7.7-mm Vickers machine guns.
  After completing testing with a model of the C1, Wibault initiated construction of the prototype (named the Flandre). The airplane was built by Niepce et Fetterer at Bolougne-Billancourt. Construction was completed by October 1918 and the aircraft was sent to Villacoublay for tests by Andre Boillot, chief test pilot for the Bleriot-SPAD firm. Flight tests, which began in November 1918, confirmed that the aircraft was both fast and maneuverable. At the official tests it attained a speed of 237 km/h, superior to the SPAD 13. However, the redesigned ailerons were found to be inadequate for sufficient control. They were subsequently modified but by then it was too late because the Nieuport 29, which had a superior climb rate and was more maneuverable, had been selected to fill the C1 requirement.


Wibault Wib.1 Single-Seat Fighter with 220-hp Hispano Suiza 8Be
   Span 7.85 m; length 6.39 m; height 2.39 m; wing area 21.85 sq. tn
   Loaded weight 810 kg
   Maximum speed: 244 km/h at sea level; 230 km/h at 3,000 m; 225 km/h at 5,000 m; ceiling 7,700 m; range 570 km
   One built