NIEUPORT XVII (late) - 1917

Description

The Nieuport 17 C.1 was a French sesquiplane fighter designed and manufactured by the Nieuport company during World War I. An improved development of the Nieuport 11/16, it was a little larger than its predecessors, and better adapted to the more powerful engine of the N.16. It also incorporated innovations such as the newly-developed Alkan-Hamy synchronization gear, permitting the use of a fuselage-mounted synchronised Vickers gun firing directly through the propeller arc. At the time of its introduction in March 1916, the type’s outstanding manoeuvrability and excellent rate of climb gave it a significant advantage over other fighters on both sides. It was widely used by many operators; entering service with virtually every Allied power, not to mention the German air service. In addition to substantial production by several French manufacturers, the N.17 and its close relatives were built in Italy by Nieuport-Macchi and in Russia at Dux. Unlicenced copies, notably the Siemens-Schuckert D.I and the Euler D.I, were produced in Germany. (Scale : 1/32e)