Picture - A NiD 52 of the Spanish Air Force

Role: Fighter
National origin: France
Manufacturer: Nieuport-Delage
First flight: 1927
Introduction: 1929
Primary user: Spain
Number built: 135
Developed from: Nieuport-Delage NiD 42

The Nieuport-Delage NiD 52 was a French fighter aircraft of the 1920s. A single engined sesquiplane, it served with the Spanish Air Force, being operated by both sides of the Spanish Civil War.

Development and design

In 1924 Nieuport produced a design for a single seat sesquiplane fighter of mixed construction, the Nieuport-Delage NiD 42, which was ordered in small numbers for the French air force, entering service in 1927. Nieuport developed three refined versions in 1927, the all metal NiD-52 and NiD-72 and the mixed construction Nieuport-Delage NiD 62. Like the NiD 42 on which it was based, the NiD 62 was powered by a Hispano-Suiza 12H V12 engine, but the wooden monocoque rear fuselage was replaced by an equivalent made of duralumin and the wooden wing ribs by light alloy, while retaining a fabric covering. Both the main and secondary wings were of reduced area compared to the NiD-42, and an enlarged tail fitted in an attempt to improve the aircraft's handling. Armament remained two 7.7 mm Vickers machine guns.

The prototype NiD 52 flew in late 1927, with the NiD 72, which was similar to the NiD 52 but had duralumin skinning on the wing and had a further reduced wing area, and the NiD 62 flying in January 1928. Although France preferred the cheaper NiD 62, purchasing it in large numbers, the NiD 52 won a competition for a new fighter for Spain in 1928, purchasing a licence for the construction of 125 aircraft to be built by Hispano-Suiza in their factory at Guadalajara. The similar NiD 72 was ordered in small numbers by Belgium and Brazil.

Operational history

Spain

The Spanish Air Force started to take deliveries of NiD 52s in 1930, production continuing until 1933, equipping three fighter units, Groupo 11, Groupo 1 and Groupo 13. The Nieuport fighter (known as the "Hispano-Nieuport" was unpopular in Spanish service, being described as heavy and unresponsive, while it was slower than expected, with Spanish aircraft only able to reach 225 km/h (140 mph) compared with the 260 km/h (162 mph) claimed by Nieuport. Losses to accidents were heavy, with only 56 remaining when the Spanish Civil War broke out on 18 July 1936.

The majority of the surviving Hispano-Nieuports remained in government hands when the civil war broke out, with only eight falling into nationalist hands, being supplemented by three Republican aircraft that mistakenly landed in Nationalist territory on 21 July. The Republican forces were strengthened by Hispano-Suiza building a further 10 aircraft from spares in August-September 1936.

Until more modern fighters could be obtained, the elderly Hispano-Nieuport was an important part of each sides fighter strength, with Republican and Nationalist NiD 52s facing each other in combat several times in the early months of the war, which resulted in at least one case of one Republican unit of NiD 52s attacking another, resulting in the loss of a Hispano-Nieuport. The Republican NiDs soon found themslves outclassed by more modern Fiat CR.32 and Heinkel He 51 fighters operated by the Italian Aviazione Legionaria the German Condor Legion supporting the Nationalists, with it being claimed that three NiD 52s could just about hold their own against a single Fiat CR.32. Despite this, most losses were from accidents, not from combat, particularly when being flown by foreign Volunteer pilots, not used to the difficult handling of the Hispano-Nieuport.

The NiD 52 was withdrawn from the front line during the winter of 1936-37, being relegated to training and coastal partol, although they were briefly pressed back into combat following the Battle of Guadalajara, being used to attack the retreating Italians. No NiD 52s survived the war.

Brazil

When the Constitutionalist Revolution began in Brazil on 9 July 1932, Brazil had two NiD 72s still servicable, both of which served with the Legalista forces loyal to President Getxlio Vargas. On 21 August 1932, however, Captain Adherbal de Costa Oliveria defected to the Constitucionalist rebels. Both NiD 72s were heavily used until the end of the uprising.

Variants

Nieuport-Delage NiD 52 Single-seat fighter aircraft. Nieuport-Delage NiD 72 Improved version of the NiD 52. Three aircraft were delivered to Belgium in 1929, four modified aircraft were delivered to Brazil in 1931. Nieuport-Delage NiD 82 This prototype was powered at first by a 600 hp (447 kW) Hispano-Suiza 12Lb engine. Later it was fitted with a 500 hp (373 kW) Lorraine 12Ha Petrel engine.

Operators

Belgium Brazil Spain

Specifications (NiD 52)

Data from The Complete Book of Fighters

General characteristics

Crew: 1
Length: 7.64 m (25 ft 0 in)
Wingspan: 12.00 m (39 ft 4 in)
Height: 3.00 m (9 ft 10? in)
Wing area: 27.8m (299 ft)
Empty weight: 1,360 kg (2,998 lb)
Loaded weight: 1,800 kg (3,968lb)
Powerplant: 1x Hispano-Suiza 12Hb 12 cylinder liquid cooled V-12 engine, 373 kW (500 hp)

Performance

Maximum speed: 260 km/h (141 knots, 162 mph) at 1,800 m (5,900 ft)
Range: 400 km (216 NM, 248 mi)
Wing loading: kg/m (lb/ft)
Climb to 5,000 m (16,400 ft): 13.5 min

Armament

Guns: 2 x 7.7 mm machine guns

Bibliography

Donald, David (editor). The Encyclopedia of World Aircraft. Aerospace Publishing. 1997. ISBN 1-85605-375-X.
Flores Jr, Jackson. "The Brazilian Air War". Air Enthusiast, Thirty-five, January-April 1988. Bromley, UK: FineScroll. pp. 64-73. ISSN 0143-5450.
Green, William and Gordon Swanborough. "A Gallic Rarity...The 'One-and-a-Half' Nieuport-Delage". Air International, February 1990, Vol 38 No 2. Bromley, UK:Tri-Service Press. pp. 75-83, 92-93, 97. ISSN 0306-5634.
Green, William and Swanborough, Gordon. The Complete Book of Fighters. New York: Smithmark, 1994. ISBN 0-8317-3939-8.

Living Warbirds: The best warbirds DVD series.

Source: WikiPedia