Escadrille N.3 combo

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"The Nieuport 11 was designed by a company team led by Gustav Delage in late 1915 as a small single seat derivative of the larger Nieuport 10. The aircraft was designed with the top wing larger than lower one, permitting excellent maneuvrability as well as sufficient strenght. The powerplant was a 80 hp Le Rhone 9C rotary engine. Because an adequate synchronisation system was't available at the time, the Lewis machine gun was fixed on a special mounting on top of the upper wing, which allowed forward firing above the propeller arc. Altogether, these ideas produced a very modern fighter aircraft, which was able to oppose the still dangerous German Fokker E.III monoplanes. The Nieuport 11 saw operational service for the first time on January 5, 1916. When the Battle of Verdun began on February 21, 1916, nine Nieuport 11 escadriles were available on that front to achieve air superiority. Among these escadrilles, Escadrille N 3 became be one of the most successful and well known. It was formed from the base of the Escadrille MS 3, when it was equiped by various types of Nieuport scouts in the Winter of 1915/1916. N 3 was formed into the Groupe de Cachy together with other three squadrons, N 26, N 73 and N 103. The Groupe de Cachy provided air cover of the G.A.R. (4th, 5th and 6th Armees). All the group's squadrons used various stork emblems on their aircraft, and the Groupe was later known as"Les Cigognes". In May of 1916, N 3 received a couple of the new Nieuport 16s. These aircraft had the same airframe as the Ni 11, powered by a more powerfull Le Rhône 9J engine(110 hp). The aircarft had generally a better performance than the former 11, but it was more difficult to fly due to the heavy nose and high wing load.. Ni 16 was also fitted with Le Prieur rocket launchers on the wing struts.
Technical data - Nieuport 11 with 80 hp Le Rhône 9C rotary engine: span 7.52 m, length 5.50 m, wing area 13.3 sq.m, empty weight 320 kg, loaded weight 480 kg, max.speed 162 km/h at 2000 m, climb to 2000 m in 8.50 minutes, range 250 km, endurance 2.5 hours.

The Nieuport 11 was a revolutionary made design and succesfull fighter, but it was seen very soon, that the aircraft is underpowered. Immediate, when the new 110 k Le Rhône 9J engine was available, it was addapted to the Ni 11 airframe, but the new Nieuport 16 was dificult to fly for higher wing load. The final result was Nieuport 17, quite new design done around Le Rhône 9J engine. New aircraft had bigger wing area, and new, more streamlined fuselage airframe. Escadrille N 3 replaced their Nieuports 11 and 16s by new early Nieuport 17s in May 1916. At that time, N 3 was under command of the Cdt.Felix Brocard and became an elite squadron, a club of the aces. Most of them were the Officers of the Legion 'Honneur, with many other decorations, and, of course, with a lot of publicity. The top ace among them was Georges Guynemer, who achieved total 53 victories and another 35 probables. Rene Dorme achieved 23 victories (and some of the 70 probables), before his death in action in May 25. 1917. Cpt. Alfred Heurtaux, a former Hussar, was another ace. He was the Inspector of the Fighter Aviation in WW II, and President of the French Aces Association after WW II. Andre Chainant, another N 3 ace with 10 victories with Nieuports, also survived the war. Albert Deullin had 11 of his 20 victories on the Nieuport. There are more famous names in N 3, Albert Auger, Louis Bocquet, Mathieu Tenant de la Tour, Paul Terascon, Jules Vedrines. Some of them were killed in action, some of them became the commanders of the other fighter units. All of them were skilled pilots and soldiers making their unit famous. N 3 fought over Verdun until end of that hecatombic battle. The Groupe became the Groupement de Combat de la Somme, and in November 1916 was formed to Groupe de Combat 12. At that time its Ni 17s were replaced by SPAD VIIs.

This kit has elements of two decal sheets to make up a complete set.
Technical data - Nieuport 17 with 110 hp Le Rhone 9J rotary engine: span 8.16 m, length 5.80 m, wing area 14.75 sq.m, empty weight 375 kg, loaded weight 560 kg, max.speed 160 km/h at 2000 m, climb to 2000 m in 6.50 minutes, range 250 km, endurance 1 hour 43 min. , ceiling 5.300 m, armament a synchronisated 7.7 mm Vickers gun.

Price: $40.00

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