- Nieuport 21
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Nieuport 21 
Role Fighter Manufacturer Nieuport Introduction 1916 Retired 1920s Primary users Aéronautique Militaire
Russian Air Force
US Army Air Service
Finnish Air ForceThe Nieuport 21 was a French single-seat, single-engine fighter aircraft used during World War I. The aircraft was used by the French, Russian, and American air forces. After the war, the Nieuport 21 was a popular civil aircraft.
Contents
History
The Nieuport 21 was designed by Gustave Delage and it made its maiden flight in 1916. While it had a similar airframe to the Nieuport 17, it was equipped with a less powerful Le Rhône 9C engine as it was originally intended as a fighter training aircraft. As the engine was fitted with a horseshoe shaped cowling, the Nieuport 21 was often mistaken for the smaller Nieuport 11, which had a similar cowling. However, due to the urgent requirement for fighters, it had to be taken into service as a frontline fighter. Nieuport 21s were sold to the United States (who used them as trainers) and Russia, equipped with a 110 hp Le Rhône engine. They were also used in limited numbers by the RNAS. The Nieuport 21 was license manufactured in Russia by A/O Duks.
The Finnish Air Force (the Whites) captured one aircraft in Tampere in 1918. It was used until 1923.
Operators
- Armee de l'Air
- Imperial Russian Air Force - Two aircraft only.
- Royal Flying Corps
- Royal Naval Air Service
- Five aircraft only.
Specifications
Data from Suomen Ilmavoimat I 1918-27
General characteristics
- Crew: 1
- Length: 6.0 m (19 ft 8 in)
- Wingspan: 8.16 m (26 ft 9 in)
- Height: 2.40 m (7 ft 10 in)
- Wing area: 14.75 m² (159 ft²)
- Empty weight: 320 kg (704 lb)
- Max takeoff weight: 495 kg (1089 lb)
- Powerplant: 1 × Le Rhône 9C rotary engine, 60 kW (80 hp)
Performance
- Maximum speed: 140 km/h (76 knots, 87 mph)
- Range: 250 km (132 nm, 152 mi)
- Wing loading: 33.6 kg/m² (6.89 lb/ft²)
- Power/mass: 0.121 kW/kg (0.073 hp/lb)
Armament
1 machine gun fixed to upper wing.
See also
Sources
- Keskinen, Kalevi; Partonen, Kyösti and Stenman, Kari: Suomen Ilmavoimat I 1918-27, 2005. ISBN 952-99432-2-9.
- Donald, David: The Encyclopedia of World Aircraft, Aerospace Publishing, 1997. ISBN 1-85605-375-X.
Aircraft produced by Nieuport Nieuport Nieuport-Delage Nieuport-Delage NiD 29 • 30T • 32 • 33 • 38 • 40 • 41/42S • 42C • 43 • 48 • 52 • 62 • 121/125 • 390/391 • 450/650 • 580 • 590 • 640/631/642 • 941 • Nieuport-Delage SesquiplanLoire-Nieuport Lists relating to aviation General Aircraft (manufacturers) · Aircraft engines (manufacturers) · Airlines (defunct) · Airports · Civil authorities · Museums · Registration prefixes · Rotorcraft (manufacturers) · TimelineMilitary Accidents/incidents Records Categories:- French fighter aircraft 1910–1919
- Nieuport aircraft
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