Nieuport 21

The Nieuport 21 was a French single-seat, single-engine fighter aircraft used during World War I. The aircraft was used by the French, Russian, British and American air forces. After the war, the Nieuport 21 was a popular civil aircraft.

Design and development
The Nieuport 21 was designed by Gustave Delage and it made its maiden flight in 1916. While it had a similar airframe to the Nieuport 17, it was equipped with a less powerful Le Rhône 9C engine as it was originally intended as a long range escort fighter. As the engine was fitted with a horseshoe shaped cowling, the Nieuport 21 was often mistaken for the smaller Nieuport 11, which had a similar cowling.

Operational history
The Nieuport 21 served briefly as a front line fighter before its lack of power caused it to be relegated to training duties. Nieuport 21s were sold to the United States for use strictly as trainers, and Russia. They were also used in limited numbers by the RNAS. The Nieuport 21 was license manufactured in Russia by A/O Duks. A small number were used by a number of air arms in the early post war period, including the Finnish Air Force (the Whites) which had captured a Russian aircraft in Tampere in 1918 which was used until 1923. The French Navy used one example for carrier trials in 1919 and 1920.

Operators

 * Argentine Navy
 * Brazilian Air Force
 * Estonian Air Force - Postwar
 * Armee de l'Air
 * French Navy
 * Finnish Air Force
 * Portuguese Air Force
 * Imperial Russian Air Force
 * 🇷🇸 Serbia
 * Soviet Air Force - ex-Imperial Russian Air Service.
 * Royal Thai Air Force
 * Ukrainian Air Force
 * Royal Flying Corps
 * Royal Naval Air Service
 * Five aircraft only.
 * United States Army Air Service
 * Soviet Air Force - ex-Imperial Russian Air Service.
 * Royal Thai Air Force
 * Ukrainian Air Force
 * Royal Flying Corps
 * Royal Naval Air Service
 * Five aircraft only.
 * United States Army Air Service
 * Royal Naval Air Service
 * Five aircraft only.
 * United States Army Air Service
 * United States Army Air Service