Though the Nie 31 (it had been flown and subsequently abandoned before the company changed its name to Nieuport-Delage) was technically a sesquiplane, it could equally well be described as a shoulder-wingmonoplane with a small foreplane. Its immediate predecessor was the Nieuport Madon, which had an ancillary lifting surface built around the axle of its wide-track undercarriage. The Nie 31 had a narrower-track undercarriage, but the second wing extended outwards beyond the wheels, which were faired into its upper surface; this wing and the axle were joined to the lower fuselage by a pair of near vertical N-form struts.[2]
The main plane was of low aspect ratio. In plan it had a rounded leading edge, straight trailing edge and square tips. Its roots were cut away to allow a better downward view from the cockpit. This was placed ahead of the trailing edge so the pilot looked forward over the wing; he had a faired headrest behind. The Nie 31's upper wing had ailerons but no flaps and was braced on each side by a parallel pair of aerofoil section struts stretching outwards from the bottom of the undercarriage struts. The lower wing had parallel chord and straight edges, providing a lifting surface with about 40% the area of the main plane. Both wings were fabric covered.[2]
The Nie 31 was powered by a 130 kW (180 hp) Le Rhone 9R nine-cylinder rotary engine, smoothly and completely cowled. It drove a two-blade propeller. The fuselage, like that of the earlier Nieuport Nie 29, was a smooth wooden monocoque shell of tulipwood, produced by winding thin spiral strips around a mould in a series of alternately handed layers and glueing them together. It tapered to the rear, where an almost delta-shaped tailplane was mounted at mid-height, carrying horn-balancedelevators. The fin was much less broad, with a straight-edged, balanced rudder extending down between the elevators below the lower fuselage, where there was a small dorsal fin.[2]
Cockpit view
The Nie 31 was intended to carry twin 7.7 mm (0.303 in) Vickersmachine guns. A flight test programme conducted through 1919 showed that the Nie 31 had excellent performance, especially given the low engine power, but Nieuport did not proceed with its development as a fighter,[2] however the Nieuport-Delage Sesquiplan was a direct evolution of this design, but powered with a Hispano-Suiza 8 water-cooled V8 engine, and was built specifically for racing.
Specificationsedit
Data fromThe Complete Book of Fighters: An Illustrated Encyclopedia of Every Fighter Built and Flown[2]
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Nieuport 31.
Davilla, Dr. James J. & Soltan, Arthur M. (1997). French Aircraft of the First World War. Stratford, Connecticut: Flying Machines Press. ISBN0-9637110-4-0.
Green, William & Swanborough, Gordon (2001) [1994]. The Complete Book of Fighters: An Illustrated Encyclopedia of Every Fighter Built and Flown (Revised and Updated ed.). London: Salamander Books. ISBN1-84065-269-1.
Owers, Colin A. (2020). French Warplanes of WWI: A Centennial Perspective on Great War Airplanes. Gret War Aviation Centennial Series (43). Vol. 1: Fighters. n.p.: Aeronaut Books. ISBN978-1-935881-93-3.
April 04, 2024
nieuport, nieuport, single, engine, single, seat, monoplane, sesquiplane, fighter, aircraft, designed, built, france, 1919, circa, 1919role, single, seat, fighternational, origin, francemanufacturer, nieuportfirst, flight, 1919status, abandonednumber, built, d. The Nieuport Nie 31 or Nieuport 31 was a single engine single seat monoplane or sesquiplane fighter aircraft designed and built in France in 1919 Nie 31Nieuport 31 circa 1919Role Single seat fighterNational origin FranceManufacturer NieuportFirst flight 1919Status AbandonedNumber built 2 1 Developed from Nieuport Madon Contents 1 Design and development 2 Specifications 3 See also 4 References 5 BibliographyDesign and development editThough the Nie 31 it had been flown and subsequently abandoned before the company changed its name to Nieuport Delage was technically a sesquiplane it could equally well be described as a shoulder wing monoplane with a small foreplane Its immediate predecessor was the Nieuport Madon which had an ancillary lifting surface built around the axle of its wide track undercarriage The Nie 31 had a narrower track undercarriage but the second wing extended outwards beyond the wheels which were faired into its upper surface this wing and the axle were joined to the lower fuselage by a pair of near vertical N form struts 2 The main plane was of low aspect ratio In plan it had a rounded leading edge straight trailing edge and square tips Its roots were cut away to allow a better downward view from the cockpit This was placed ahead of the trailing edge so the pilot looked forward over the wing he had a faired headrest behind The Nie 31 s upper wing had ailerons but no flaps and was braced on each side by a parallel pair of aerofoil section struts stretching outwards from the bottom of the undercarriage struts The lower wing had parallel chord and straight edges providing a lifting surface with about 40 the area of the main plane Both wings were fabric covered 2 The Nie 31 was powered by a 130 kW 180 hp Le Rhone 9R nine cylinder rotary engine smoothly and completely cowled It drove a two blade propeller The fuselage like that of the earlier Nieuport Nie 29 was a smooth wooden monocoque shell of tulipwood produced by winding thin spiral strips around a mould in a series of alternately handed layers and glueing them together It tapered to the rear where an almost delta shaped tailplane was mounted at mid height carrying horn balanced elevators The fin was much less broad with a straight edged balanced rudder extending down between the elevators below the lower fuselage where there was a small dorsal fin 2 nbsp Cockpit viewThe Nie 31 was intended to carry twin 7 7 mm 0 303 in Vickers machine guns A flight test programme conducted through 1919 showed that the Nie 31 had excellent performance especially given the low engine power but Nieuport did not proceed with its development as a fighter 2 however the Nieuport Delage Sesquiplan was a direct evolution of this design but powered with a Hispano Suiza 8 water cooled V8 engine and was built specifically for racing Specifications editData from The Complete Book of Fighters An Illustrated Encyclopedia of Every Fighter Built and Flown 2 General characteristicsCrew One Length 6 60 m 21 ft 8 in Wingspan 8 60 m 28 ft 3 in Height 2 40 m 7 ft 10 in Wing area 18 0 m2 194 sq ft Empty weight 500 kg 1 102 lb Gross weight 780 kg 1 720 lb Powerplant 1 Le Rhone 9R nine cylinder rotary engine 130 kW 180 hp Propellers 2 bladed fixed pitchPerformance Maximum speed 230 km h 140 mph 120 kn Endurance 2 hours Service ceiling 6 000 m 20 000 ft 1 Armament 2 fixed 7 7 mm 0 303 in Vickers machine guns in noseSee also edit1919 in aviationReferences edit a b Les Avions Nieuport Delage PDF p 31 Retrieved 3 April 2013 a b c d e Green amp Swanborough p 437Bibliography edit nbsp Wikimedia Commons has media related to Nieuport 31 Davilla Dr James J amp Soltan Arthur M 1997 French Aircraft of the First World War Stratford Connecticut Flying Machines Press ISBN 0 9637110 4 0 Green William amp Swanborough Gordon 2001 1994 The Complete Book of Fighters An Illustrated Encyclopedia of Every Fighter Built and Flown Revised and Updated ed London Salamander Books ISBN 1 84065 269 1 Owers Colin A 2020 French Warplanes of WWI A Centennial Perspective on Great War Airplanes Gret War Aviation Centennial Series 43 Vol 1 Fighters n p Aeronaut Books ISBN 978 1 935881 93 3 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Nieuport 31 amp oldid 1176366476, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
