Nieuport Bébé - 1915 WW1 fighter

Designed by Gustave Delage in 1914, the Nieuport 11 biplane was affectionately known as the “Bébé“ (Baby). The aircraft was originally designed for racing, and as such it was light, fast and extremely maneuverable. Its only major problem was in the design of the wing struts. In a steep dive, the struts allowed the wings to twist, sometimes with disastrous results. The type was used by the British and French to counter the Fokker ’Eindecker’ scourge in 1916, but the Nieuport 11 was at a disadvantage
Back to Top