Nieuport 28

The Nieuport 28 was a French biplane fighter of the First World War, built by Nieuport and designed by Gustave Delage. It descended from the successful line of sesquiplane fighters that included the Nieuport 17 and kept the same philosophy of a light and highly manoeuvrable aircraft. By the time it was ready the Aeronautique Militaire had chosen the SPAD XIII for its 1918 fighter squadrons, and the SPAD was also the first choice for the planned American pursuit squadrons. A shortage of SPADs led instead to the Nieuport 28 being issued to four American squadrons between March and August 1918, which made it the first aircraft to see operational service with an American fighter squadron. Fifty aircraft from a later production run were shipped to America after the war, where they served in army and naval roles and also found civilian use, especially in Hollywood films.