The early pursuit for aerodynamic perfection-The Nieuport Delage
By Willie Bodenstein
Although not one of the most successful fighters, it did however introduce a number on innovations. Designed with typical French flair, the smooth rounded curves of the Delage NiD 52 were in contrast to most of the typical designs of the twenties. Skinned in duralumin with light alloy wing ribs and retaining fabric covering clearly showed the way forward in the quest for aerodynamic perfection.
Based on the 1920s mixed metal and wood ND 52, the duralumin NiD 5, a French fighter sesquiplane aircraft of the 1920s, it was powered by a Hispano-Suiza 12Hb V12 engine and was ordered in small numbers for the French Air Force. It also served with the Spanish Air Force, being operated by both sides of the Spanish Civil War.
The NiD 52 was withdrawn from the front line during the winter of 1936-37, being relegated to training and coastal patrol, although they were briefly pressed back into combat following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.
General characteristics
Crew: 1
Length: 7.64 m (25 ft ?0 3/4 in)
Wingspan: 12.00 m (39 ft ?4 1/2 in)
Height: 3.00 m (9 ft 10? in)
Wing area: 27.8m² (299 ft²)
Empty weight: 1,360 kg (2,998 lb)
Loaded weight: 1,800 kg (3,968 lb)
Powerplant: 1 × Hispano-Suiza 12Hb 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 [15] (216 nmi, 248 mi)
Service ceiling: 8,200 m (26,900 ft[16])
Climb to 5,000 m (16,400 ft): 13.5 min
Armament
Guns: 2 × 7.7 mm machine guns
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