Nieuport VI-M

The Nieuport VI‑M was a Russian‑built variant of the French Nieuport VI series, produced under licence for the Imperial Russian Air Service during the early 1910s. First assembled in 1913 at the Dux factory in Moscow, the aircraft entered operational service just before World War I and saw limited front‑line use during the early battles on the Eastern Front. The VI‑M retained the sesquiplane layout of its French counterpart, with a single‑bay wing structure, a larger upper wing and a markedly smaller lower wing that reduced drag and improved climb. Power was supplied by a 70 hp Le Rhône rotary engine, driving a wooden two‑bladed propeller and giving a top speed of about 100 km/h (62 mph). Its open cockpit offered the pilot an unobstructed view, while the simple control system made it suitable for training new pilots as well as for reconnaissance missions. Although quickly superseded by more powerful biplanes, the Nieuport VI‑M demonstrated the feasibility of licensed production in Russia and contributed to the development of indigenous designs such as the Sikorsky Ilya Muromets. Its service marked an early step toward establishing a domestic aviation industry in the Russian Empire.

Russian Empire

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Design & Classification