Nieuport 10

The model 10 was the first in the long and successful series of Nieuport “V-strutters”. It was used primarily for observation; however, many were converted to single seat fighters by covering the front cockpit and adding an upward firing Lewis machine gun to the center section of the top wing. When the Nieuport 11 appeared at the front, the model 10 was relegated to a training role. There were several variants of this basic design which were used not only by the French, but also by the Americans and Russians.

Our example is an original aircraft that was brought to the United States in 1924 by the famous French ace, Charles Nungesser. Prior to this he used it to train pilots at his own flying school outside Paris, and then brought it to Cuba for exhibition flying. Shortly thereafter he took the aircraft to Roosevelt Field on Long Island to film the first World War I aviation movie entitled, “The Sky Raider” in 1925.

In 1951 the National Air and Space Museum acquired the aircraft, and in 1986, NASM traded it to Old Rhinebeck for Cole Palen’s original Nieuport 28. Cole restored the aircraft, finished with Charles Nungesser’s personal wartime insignia of a black heart plus skull and crossbones, as a tribute to the great ace. The Nieuport flew at Old Rhinebeck from 1987 to 1990.

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