Wibault 9

The Wibault 9 was a French single‑engine fighter developed in the early 1920s by the Société des Avions Michel Wibault. Building on the earlier Wibault 7, the 9 incorporated an all‑metal airframe, a novel feature for its time, using Wibault’s patented corrugated duralumin skin that provided strength without excessive weight. Powered by a 450 hp Hispano‑Suiza 12Gb V12 engine, the aircraft achieved a top speed of 260 km/h and a service ceiling of 9,000 meters. Its armament consisted of two synchronized Vickers machine guns mounted on the forward fuselage. First flown in March 1922, the Wibault 9 entered limited service with the Armée de l’Air in 1923, primarily as a testbed for metal construction techniques and high‑altitude performance. Although only a small batch was produced before being superseded by more advanced designs such as the Nieuport‑Delage NiD 62, the 9 demonstrated the feasibility of all‑metal fighters and influenced later French aircraft development. The type is remembered today for its role in the transition from wood‑and‑fabric biplanes to the all‑metal monoplane fighters that dominated the 1930s. Its legacy paved the way for later Wibault models, notably the successful Wibault 280 series, cementing the company's reputation for innovative metal aircraft construction.