Nieuport
Nieuport 24
The Nieuport 24 was a French single‑seat sesquiplane fighter introduced in early 1917 during the First World War. Developed by the Nieuport company as a direct evolution of the successful Nieuport 17, it retained the characteristic ‘V‑type’ interplane struts and the lightweight wooden frame while incorporating a more powerful 110 hp Le Rhône 9J rotary engine. The aircraft featured a revised wing layout with a slightly larger lower wing and a strengthened airframe that allowed higher speeds and improved climbing performance, reaching a top speed of about 190 km/h (118 mph) and a service ceiling of 6,000 m. Its armament consisted of a single synchronized Vickers machine gun, and later versions were equipped with an additional wing‑mounted Lewis gun. Although only a few thousand were built before being superseded by the Nieuport 27, the 24 played a crucial role in maintaining Allied air superiority during the pivotal battles of Verdun and the Somme. Pilots praised its agility and pleasant handling, qualities that influenced subsequent fighter designs and cemented the Nieuport lineage as a benchmark for lightweight, high‑maneuverability aircraft in early aviation history. It remains a celebrated example of World War I aeronautical engineering.
Classification
Production & History
- First Flight
- 1917