Nieuport 14

Nieuport 14 A.2
Role	Reconnaissance aircraft
National origin	France
Manufacturer	Nieuport
First flight	September 1915
Introduction	1916
Status	retired
Primary user	Aéronautique Militaire
Number built	100

TheNieuport 14(orNieuport XIV A.2in contemporary sources) was a military reconnaissancesesquiplaneproduced in France during the First World War. The French Army deployed it in 1916 but the type was quickly withdrawn from front-line service.^[1]

Development

Developed in response to an order by theAéronautique Militairein the summer of 1915 for a two-seat reconnaissance machine capable of making a flight of 180 km (110 mi) and back while carrying a load of bombs.^[2]Nieuport started with theNieuport 12reconnaissance aircraft, but stretched its fuselage to balance the single nose-mountedHispano-Suiza V-8engine and its wingspan was increased by the addition of an additionalbay.^[2]^[3]Protracted development that saw some refinement in the engine installation and the wing area increased from 28 m²(300 sq ft) square meters to 30 m²(320 sq ft) resulted in it entering service only in mid 1916.

Further development, with a larger engine and a further enlarged and airframe would result in theNieuport 15.

Three additional unrelated airframes that some sources have connected to the Nieuport 14 were built, all featuring a nose radiator, single bay wings and a deep hunchback fuselage. One had large wing cut-outs to improve visibility and was fitted with a 180 hp (130 kW)Lorraine-Dietrich 8Aengine, another with a 150 hp (110 kW) Hispano-Suiza engine, and a third with a 220 hp (160 kW) Hispano-Suiza engine and a crescent-shaped wing.^[3]

With its failure as a combat aircraft, a dedicated trainer variant was developed, theNieuport 14 Écolewith dual controls, nosewheels to guard against nose-over accidents, and an 80 hp (60 kW)Le Rhone 9Crotary engine in the place of the original V-8.^[3]It is possible that some of these airframes had been left over from the original production.^[3]When further refined, the trainer version was redesignated theNieuport 82 E.2and was nicknamedGrosse Julie( "Big Julie" ).^[3]

Operational history

Deliveries to reconnaissance squadrons commenced in late 1916, replacing obsoleteVoisin IIIandVtypes. However, changing priorities resulted in production being curtailed as the Hispano-Suiza engines were desperately needed forSPAD VIIfighters, and several units includingEscadrille 102and103that had planned on operating the Nieuport 14 became fighter units instead, operating theNieuport 17.^[4]

With production halted prematurely,^[2]the remaining machines were relegated to training duties and as unit hacks once improvements had been made to their side-mounted Hazet radiators that had been the source of some problems.^[5]While the Nieuport 14 only saw service in France, the Nieuport 82 served more widely. Aside from flight schools in France, Brazil operated 9 Nieuport 82s from 1919 to 1924, and Japan operated a small number, with at least one acquiring the civil registration J-TOXC. The first Native American and African-American female aviatorBessie Colemandid some of her training in a Nieuport 82 in France.^[6]

Variants

Nieuport 14 A.2- service designation of prototype reconnaissance aircraft with 140 hp (100 kW) engine.
Nieuport 14bis A.2- designation of production reconnaissance aircraft with 175 hp (130 kW) engine.
Nieuport 14 E.2- initial service designation of trainer.
Nieuport 82 E.2- purpose-built trainer version with 80 hp (60 kW) rotary engine.

Operators

France

Aeronautique Militaire
- Escadrille 62^[7]
- Escadrille 69^[8]
- Escadrille 112^[9]
- Escadrille 202(operated at least one example)
- Escadrille 210(operated one example)^[10]

Brazil: Aviacao Militar

Japan: Imperial Japanese Army - Army Aviation Department

Specifications

Data fromNieuport Aircraft of World War One^[3]and French Aircraft of the First World War^[5]

General characteristics

Crew:Two, pilot and observer
Length:7.90 m (25 ft 11 in)
Wingspan:11.90 m (39 ft 1 in)
Height:2.65 m (8 ft 8 in)
Wing area:30.0 m²(323 sq ft)
Empty weight:620 kg (1,367 lb)
Gross weight:1,030 kg (2,271 lb)
Powerplant:1 ×Hispano-Suiza 8Aa liquid-cooled V-8 piston engine, 130 kW (175 hp)
Propellers:2-bladedRégy 326orEclair 8,2.60 m (8 ft 6 in) diameter wood fixed pitch propeller.^[11]

Performance

Maximum speed:155 km/h (96 mph, 84 kn) at sea level
- 138 km/h (86 mph; 75 kn) at 2,000 m (6,600 ft)
- 129 km/h (80 mph; 70 kn) at 3,000 m (9,800 ft)
Endurance:3
Time to altitude:
- 15 minutes to 2,000 m (6,600 ft)

Armament

1 × trainable 0.303 in (7.7 mm)Lewis gunon Etévé gun ring in rear cockpit for observer
4 x 120 mm (4.7 in) bombs

References

Citations

^Taylor, 1989, p.697
^^a ^b ^cHartmann, Gérard (2006)."Les Nieuport de la guerre"(PDF).La Coupe Schneider et hydravions anciens/Dossiers historiques hydravions et moteurs.p. 12.Retrieved2008-11-07.
^^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^fSanger, 2002, 41–44, 71
^Davilla, 1997, p.374-375
^^a ^bDavilla, 1997, p.374
^Pollard, Justin (26 June 2019)."The eccentric engineer: the highs and lows of Bessie Coleman, America's first black female pilot".Retrieved6 August2019.
^Denis, Albin (March 2019)."Escadrille MF 62 - N 62 - SPA 62"(in French).Retrieved6 August2019.
^Denis, Albin (March 2019)."Escadrille N 69 - SPA 69"(in French).Retrieved6 August2019.
^Denis, Albin (March 2019)."Escadrille V 29 - VB 112 - N 112 - SPA 112"(in French).Retrieved6 August2019.
^Denis, Albin (March 2019)."Section aertillerie lourde V 210 - Section artillerie lourde F 210 F 210 - R 210 - C 210 - BR 210"(in French).Retrieved6 August2019.
^Hartmann, 2015, p.20

Bibliography

Bruce, J.M. (1988).Nieuport Aircraft of World War One - Vintage Warbirds No 10.London: Arms and Armour Press.ISBN 0-85368-934-2.
Hartmann, Gérard (6 January 2015)."Les héliciers français"(PDF)(in French).Retrieved5 August2019.
Sanger, Ray (2002).Nieuport Aircraft of World War One.Wiltshire: Crowood Press.ISBN 978-1861264473.
Davilla, Dr. James J.; Soltan, Arthur (1997).French Aircraft of the First World War.Mountain View, CA: Flying Machines Press.ISBN 978-1891268090.
Pommier, Gerard (2002).Nieuport 1875-1911 — A biography of Edouard Nieuport.Atglen, PA: Schiffer Publishing.ISBN 978-0764316241.
Taylor, Michael J. H. (1989).Jane's Encyclopedia of Aviation.London: Studio Editions.

[JEA-1] Taylor, 1989, p.697

[Hartmann-2] Hartmann, Gérard (2006)."Les Nieuport de la guerre"(PDF).La Coupe Schneider et hydravions anciens/Dossiers historiques hydravions et moteurs.p. 12.Retrieved2008-11-07.

[Sanger-3] Sanger, 2002, 41–44, 71

[Davilla374-375-4] Davilla, 1997, p.374-375

[Davilla374-5] Davilla, 1997, p.374

[Pollard-6] Pollard, Justin (26 June 2019)."The eccentric engineer: the highs and lows of Bessie Coleman, America's first black female pilot".Retrieved6 August2019.

[DenisN62-7] Denis, Albin (March 2019)."Escadrille MF 62 - N 62 - SPA 62"(in French).Retrieved6 August2019.

[DenisN69-8] Denis, Albin (March 2019)."Escadrille N 69 - SPA 69"(in French).Retrieved6 August2019.

[DenisN112-9] Denis, Albin (March 2019)."Escadrille V 29 - VB 112 - N 112 - SPA 112"(in French).Retrieved6 August2019.

[DenisN210-10] Denis, Albin (March 2019)."Section aertillerie lourde V 210 - Section artillerie lourde F 210 F 210 - R 210 - C 210 - BR 210"(in French).Retrieved6 August2019.

[FrenchProps20-11] Hartmann, 2015, p.20

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