Nieuport-Delage Sesquiplan

Sesquiplan
Role	Racing monoplane
National origin	France
Manufacturer	Nieuport-Delage
First flight	1921
Number built	2

The Nieuport-Delage Sesquiplan was a 1920s French racing monoplane built by Nieuport-Delage. It established a world air speed record in 1923.^[1]

Development

The Susquiplane first appeared in 1921 it was a sleek shoulder-wing braced monoplane powered by a supercharged 300hp (224kW) Hispano-Suiza 8Fb engine.^[1] The name Sesquiplane was due to the additional aerofoil that was attached to the axle of the fixed Conventional landing gear.^[1]

Two Sesquiplans were built and both were entered into the Coupe Deutsch de la Meurth speed event held in October 1921. One aircraft crashed during the race but the other won with an average speed of 278.36 km/h (173 mph).^[1] The surviving aircraft was modified with a 400hp (298kW) Wright H.3 engine and a revised vertical tail and named named Eugéne Gilbert.^[1] On 13 October 1923, flown by Sadi Lecointe, it established a new world speed record of 375.132 km/h (233.096 mph).^[1]

Specifications

General characteristics

• Crew: 1
• Powerplant: 1 × Wright H.3 , 300 kW (400 hp)

Performance

• Maximum speed: 375 km/h (233 mph; 202 kn)

References

Notes

1. ^ ^{a b c d e f} Orbis 1985, p. 2615

Bibliography

• The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Aircraft (Part Work 1982-1985). Orbis Publishing.