Nieuport-Delage NiD 690

Last updated
NiD 690
RoleColonial policing aircraft
National origin France
Manufacturer Nieuport-Astra
First flightJune 1934
Number built2

The Neiuport-Delage NiD 690 was a French all-metal, single-engined colonial policing aircraft, built for a competitive government contract. Its unusual rear fuselage gave a wide field of downward machine gun fire. Only two examples were built.

Contents

Design and development

In 1930, the French government set out several programmes for colonial aircraft to police their overseas territories. Covering single and multi-engine designs, all were to be all-metal and powered by the 220 kW (300 hp) Lorraine 9Na Algol radial engines, these contracts required two prototypes of each type, each shown to be capable of flight. Nieuport-Astra offered two types, the three-engined Nieuport-Delage NiD 590 and the smaller, single-engined NiD 690, which had much in common. Both had the angular appearance of the earlier single-engined NiD 540 airliner. The Nid 590 also had very similar dimensions to the NiD 540 but both newer designs differed from the earlier one in their novel rear fuselage structure.

The NiD 690 was a high wing, cantilever monoplane, with wings which were trapezoidal in plan. Its Algol engine was in the nose within a narrow-chord, Townend ring type cowling and behind it the forward and central metal-covered fuselage was, apart from the roof, flat-sided and rectangular in section. The pilots' enclosed cockpit was under the wing leading edge with all-around glazing of the multi-panel type and with lower side windows for better downward vision. Colonial aircraft were expected to fill a variety of roles, including transport, bombing, reconnaissance, observation, policing and medical, so needed a large and reconfigurable internal space. [1] Since policing involved observation of and intervention in ground events, clear views and wide fields of machine gun fire were required. As on the NiD 590, [2] Nieuport provided a long cabin behind the cockpit with windows on each side under the mid-wing and the trailing edge; towards the rear of the cabin its walls came closer together until they met the rear fuselage, which was T-shaped in section and built from three longerons, with T-shaped bulkheads and metal covering. Long wall openings towards the rear of the cabin allowed a gunner at its narrow convergence to fire backwards and downward as well as to the sides. [1]

The tail of the NiD 690 was conventional and angular, with its trapezoidal tailplane and narrow, rectangular elevators mounted at the top of the fuselage. Its fin was triangular and the rudder was almost rectangular. It had a conventional, fixed undercarriage with each mainwheel on a V-strut hinged from the lower fuselage longeron and a long, vertical shock absorber strut to the wing. [1]

The prototype made its first flight in June 1934 but in CEMA (the Centre d'Essais de Matériels Aériens at Villacoublay) trials it was judged overweight for the available power. The second prototype flew three months later, with its fuselage lengthened by 80 mm (3.1 in) and an extended elevator to rectify directional instabilities. Both NiD 690s had been retired by the end of 1934; [1] the SPCA 80 was the only other single-engined competitor on the 1930 programme and it, too, was rejected for production.

Specifications

Data from Nieuport 1909-1950, p.211-2 [1]

General characteristics

Performance

Related Research Articles

Nieuport

Nieuport, later Nieuport-Delage, was a French aeroplane company that primarily built racing aircraft before World War I and fighter aircraft during World War I and between the wars.

Nieuport-Delage NiD 52

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.

Nieuport-Delage NiD 62

The Nieuport-Delage NiD.62 was a French sesquiplane fighter from the early 1930s. This machine was a descendant of a long line of Nieuport-Delage fighters that were designed and built during the years immediately after World War I. The NiD.62 was built in 1931 as a fighter for the Armée de l'Air. It served until the late 1930s, when it was replaced by more modern monoplane fighters. By the time of the outbreak of World War II in September 1939, all of the NiD.62s had been withdrawn from front-line fighter escadrilles but were used as trainers in French flight schools. A few aircraft were employed as target tugs. After the French German Armistice and German occupation of North and West part of France in June 1940, the German Luftwaffe had no interest in the NiD.62s and they were scrapped. None survived the war.

Nieuport-Delage NiD 42

The Nieuport-Delage NiD 42 was a fighter aircraft built in France in the early 1920s, the first in a family of designs that would form the backbone of the French fighter force over the next decade.

Latécoère 490 French reconnaissance aircraft prototype of 1931

The Latécoère 490 was a two-seat, single-engined parasol winged aircraft, designed to a French photographic reconnaissance specification of 1928. Only two prototypes were built.

Nieuport-Delage NiD-120

The Nieuport-Delage NiD 120 series was a series of French single-seat parasol monoplane fighter aircraft of the 1930s. It was built in a number of versions, fitted with various types of engines, with six aircraft designated NiD 123 being sold to Peru.

The Bernard 160 was a three engine, multi-role monoplane designed in the early 1930s to meet a French government call for aircraft suited to policing and medical duties in its African colonies. Two prototypes were built and tested, but no further orders were placed.

Potez 37 French reconnaissance aircraft of the 1930s

The Potez 37 was a two-seat, long range reconnaissance aircraft built to compete for a French government contract. It flew in mid-1930 but did not win the competition, so only two were completed.

Nieuport-Delage NiD 48 French fighter aircraft

The Nieuport-Delage NiD 48 was a French single-engine parasol wing light fighter aircraft, designed and built in the 1920s. Its performance was not markedly better than that of the much heavier Nieuport-Delage NiD 62 then going into production, so only two were flown.

Lorraine-Hanriot LH.70

The Lorraine-Hanriot LH.70 or S.A.B. LH.70 was a French trimotor designed to a 1930 government programme for a colonial policing aircraft. Only two were built.

The Romano R.16 was a three engine, high wing monoplane designed for policing and other rôles in France's African colonies.

Dewoitine D.430

The Dewoitine D.430 was a three-engine, high-wing monoplane designed for policing and other roles in France's colonies. It did not go into production.

Nieuport-Delage NiD 590 French monoplane designed for policing

The Nieuport-Delage NiD 590 was a three engine, high wing monoplane designed for policing and other roles in France's colonies, which did not go into production or enter service.

The Caudron C.570 was a French twin-engine aircraft designed and built by Caudron in the mid-1930s. It was designed to function in multiple roles; as a bomber, passenger transport, paratroop aircraft, cargo aircraft and air ambulance.

Wibault 260 French reconnaissance aircraft prototype of around 1930

The Wibault 260 R.2 was a contender for a French government contract for a long range, two seat reconnaissance aircraft, issued in 1928. There were eight prototypes in the 1931-2 contest and the Wibault was not selected for production.

Nieuport-Delage NiD 580

The Nieuport-Delage NiD 580 R.2 was a contender for a French government contract for a long range, two seat reconnaissance aircraft, issued in 1928. There were eight prototypes in the 1931-2 contest and the NiD 580 was not selected for production.

Amiot 130

The SECM-Amiot 130 R.2 was a contender for a French government contract for a long range, two seat reconnaissance aircraft, issued in 1928. There were eight prototypes in the 1931–32 contest and the Amiot 130 was not selected for production.

Nieuport-Delage NiD 740

The Nieuport-Delage NiD 740 was a French trimotor monoplane designed to carry night mail. Two were built in 1930.

Nieuport-Delage NiD 540

The Nieuport-Delage NiD 540 was a high wing, eight seat, single engine airliner, built in France and first flown in 1930. It did not reach production.

Nieuport-Delage NiD 940

The Nieuport-Delage NiD 940 was a French, tailless, pusher configuration touring aircraft first flown in 1934. It suffered from longitudinal instabilities and despite modifications and a more powerful engine, it did not receive its Certificate of Airworthiness.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 Rosenthal, Léonard.; Marchand, Alain; Borget, Michel; Bénichou, Michel (1997). Nieuport 1909 -1950. Vol. 38 Docavia. Clichy Cedex Leicester: Lariviere. pp. 209–12. ISBN   2 907051 11 3.
  2. W.L. Kopoindó (November 1932). "NACA Aircraft Circulars no. 173: Nieuport-Delage 590 Military Airpllane" (PDF). Translation of Revue de la Société Générale Aéronautique, October 1932, pp. 11-17. NACA.
  3. Bruno Parmentier (5 January 1997). "Nieuport-Delage NiD-690" . Retrieved 30 May 2016.

Further reading