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| Description | |||
| Manufacturer: | Nieuport | ||
| Designation: | Nieuport 11 | ||
| Type: | Fighter (WWI) | ||
| Specifications | |||
| Length: | 19' 0 1/4'' | 5.8 M | |
| Wingspan: | 24' 9'' | 7.55 M | |
| Height: | 8' | 2.45 M | |
| Gross Weight: | 1,060 lbs. | 480 KG | |
| Armament: | 1 Machine Gun | ||
| Propulsion | |||
| No. of Engines: | 1 | ||
| Powerplant: | Le Rhone Air Cooled Rotary, 9 cylinder | ||
| Horsepower (each): | 80 hp | ||
| Performance | |||
| Endurance/Range: | 2 hours 30 min | ||
| Max Speed: | 97 mph | 156 kph | |
| Ceiling: | 15,000 ft | 4,700 M | |
The Nieuport 11, one of the most famous fighters of World War I, was originally designed for racing. It was called "Bebe" (Baby) because of its small size. It was designed by Gustave Delage for the 1914 Gordon Bennet Trophy race. The outbreak of the war cancelled the meet, but the British and French ordered the plane at once. The Nieuport 11 entered service in the summer of 1915. Hundreds were built and flown until the end of the war. It was flown by some of France's greatest Aces: Guynemer, de Rose, and Nungesser. After brilliant service in the French, British, Italian, Belgian, Dutch, and Russian air forces, and with the first American volunteers, it was replaced in the summer of 1916 by the Nieuport 16. The aircraft displayed is a 7/8th scale replica and has Italian markings. It was built from a kit and designed to be flown as an ultra-light.
This aircraft was built by Richard Felter, who donated it to the museum.
