Circa Reproductions Nieuport

{{Infobox aircraft | name = Circa Reproductions Nieuport | logo = | logo_size = | image = | alt = | caption = | long_caption = | other_names = | aircraft_type = [[homebuilt aircraft|Homebuilt]] [[warbird]] replica | aim = | outcome = | related = | national_origin = [[Canada]] | manufacturer = [[Circa Reproductions]] | design_group = | designer = Graham Lee | builder = | issuer = | status = | owners = | primary_user = | more_users = | service = | major_applications = | proposals = | prototypes = | number_built = over 325 (Nieuport 11 as of 2003) | construction_number = | civil_registration = | military_serial = | radio_code = | requirement = | aircraft_carried = | flights = | total_hours = | total_distance = | construction_date = | introduction = | retired = | first_flight = July 1984 | initiated = | in_service = | last_flight = | expected = | developed_from = | variants = | developed_into = | preservation = | fate = | predecessors = | successors = | concluded = }}

The '''Circa Reproductions Nieuports''' are a family of [[Canada|Canadian]] 7/8 scale [[World War I]] [[sesquiplane]] aircraft replicas designed by Graham Lee of [[Lamont, Alberta]] for [[homebuilt aircraft|amateur construction]] from plans sold by Lee's company [[Circa Reproductions]]. [[Leading Edge Air Foils]] of [[Peyton, Colorado]] at one time also made construction kits available. Lee's Nieuports were among the earliest First World War replicas available and paved the way for later companies to produce plans and kits for a great variety of [[warbird]]s.<ref name="Aerocrafter">Purdy, Don: ''AeroCrafter - Homebuilt Aircraft Sourcebook'', page 194. BAI Communications. {{ISBN|0-9636409-4-1}}</ref><ref name="KitplanesJan1999">Kitplanes Staff: ''1999 Plans Aircraft Directory'', Kitplanes, Volume 16, Number 1, January 1999, page 56. Primedia Publications. IPM 0462012</ref><ref name="KitplanesJan2003">Downey, Julia: ''2003 Plans Aircraft Directory'', Kitplanes, Volume 20, Number 1, January 2003, page 18. Primedia Publications. ISSN 0891-1851</ref><ref name="Cliche">Cliche, Andre: ''Ultralight Aircraft Shopper's Guide'' 8th Edition, page B-43 Cybair Limited Publishing, 2001. {{ISBN|0-9680628-1-4}}</ref><ref name="Raisner">Raisner, William: ''LEAF catalog'', pages 409-412. Leading Edge Airfoils, 1995.</ref><ref name="WDLA11">Bayerl, Robby; Martin Berkemeier; et al: ''World Directory of Leisure Aviation 2011-12'', page 97. WDLA UK, Lancaster UK, 2011. ISSN 1368-485X</ref>

The aircraft's design was attributed to "the result of many years of affection for WWI type aircraft and a "too limited" flying budget."<ref name="Raisner"/>

==Design and development== The Nieuport 11 was the first design in the family and is a 7/8 (87%) scale version of the original French [[Nieuport 11]] ''Bebe'' [[Fighter aircraft|fighter]]. The prototype, registered as a Canadian [[basic ultralight]] as C-IRCA, first flew in July 1984.<ref name="KitplanesJan2003"/><ref name="Cliche"/><ref name="WDLA11"/>

The Nieuport 11 is constructed from [[6061-T6 aluminum]] tubing, supported with [[2024-T3 aluminum]] gussets, held together with [[blind rivet]]s. At one point welded steel tube fuselages were also available. The wings, tail and [[fuselage]] are then covered with doped [[aircraft fabric]]. Landing gear is [[conventional landing gear|conventional]], with {{convert|24|in|cm|0|abbr=on}} spoked mainwheels with [[Bungee cord|bungee]] suspension. The original design calls for a [[tailskid]], the same as the World War One original aircraft, but since the skid is impractical on hard surfaced runways, a [[tailwheel]] is optional. The engine [[cowling]] is a horseshoe shaped semi-circular design.<ref name="Aerocrafter"/><ref name="Cliche"/><ref name="WDLA11"/>

Recommended engines for the aircraft include the {{convert|40|hp|kW|0|abbr=on}} [[Rotax 447]], the {{convert|50|hp|kW|0|abbr=on}} [[Rotax 503]], [[Volkswagen air-cooled engine]]s and various [[Hirth]] engines. The designer estimated that the Nieuport 11 would take 400 hours to construct.<ref name="KitplanesJan2003" /><ref name="Cliche"/><ref name="Raisner"/><ref name="WDLA11"/>

The aircraft have been described as being "very easy to fly, even by novice pilots."<ref name="Cliche"/>

By 2015 over 1200 sets of plans had been sold.<ref name="WDLA15">Tacke, Willi; Marino Boric; et al: ''World Directory of Light Aviation 2015-16'', page 104. Flying Pages Europe SARL, 2015. {{ISSN|1368-485X}}</ref>

==Operational history== The Nieuport 11 won ''Grand Champion Light Plane'' at [[EAA AirVenture Oshkosh|Oshkosh]] in 1989 and the Nieuport 12 won ''Reserve Grand Champion'' at Oshkosh in 1990.<ref name="Raisner"/>

==Variants== ;Nieuport 11 :Single seat 7/8 scale reproduction of the [[Nieuport 11]] fighter of 1916. First flown in July 1984. Kits were available in ''ultralight'' and ''experimental'' versions to meet United States [[FAR 103 Ultralight Vehicles]] and [[Homebuilt aircraft|Experimental amateur-built]] regulations respectively. The ultralight version uses lighter tubing, engine and wheels to save weight.<ref name="KitplanesJan1999"/><ref name="KitplanesJan2003" /><ref name="Cliche"/><ref name="Raisner"/> ;Nieuport 12 :Two seat 7/8 scale reproduction of the [[Nieuport 12]] WWI observation aircraft, first flown in 1989. The designer estimates construction time at 1400 hours. Aircraft has {{convert|1000|lb|kg|0|abbr=on}} gross weight. Recommended engines include the {{convert|64|hp|kW|0|abbr=on}} [[Rotax 582]], {{convert|65|hp|kW|0|abbr=on}} [[Continental A65]], {{convert|65|hp|kW|0|abbr=on}} [[Lycoming O-145]] or {{convert|60|hp|kW|0|abbr=on}} [[Volkswagen air-cooled engine]].<ref name="Aerocrafter"/><ref name="KitplanesJan2003"/><ref name="Raisner"/> ;Nieuport 17 :Single seat 7/8 scale reproduction of the [[Nieuport 17]] WWI fighter aircraft. This variant is similar to the Nieuport 11, but with a {{convert|2|ft|cm|0|abbr=on}} greater [[wingspan]] and a completely circular engine cowling. The designer estimates construction time at 400 hours.<ref name="Raisner"/>

==Specifications (Nieuport 11 Bebe) == [[File:Nieuport-Macchi 11000 (Ni 11) French First World War single seat fighter colourized drawing.jpg|thumb|right|Three view drawing of the Nieuport 11]] {{Aircraft specs |ref=Raisner<ref name="Raisner"/> |prime units?=imp  |genhide= |crew=one |capacity= |length m= |length ft=16 |length in=0 |length note= |upper span m= |upper span ft=21 |upper span in=6 |upper span note= |lower span m= |lower span ft= |lower span in= |lower span note= |height m= |height ft= |height in= |height note= |wing area sqm= |wing area sqft=114 |wing area note= |aspect ratio= |airfoil= |empty weight kg= |empty weight lb=265 |empty weight note= |gross weight kg= |gross weight lb=550 |gross weight note= |max takeoff weight kg= |max takeoff weight lb= |max takeoff weight note= |fuel capacity=10 US Gallons (37.9 litres) |more general=  |eng1 number=1 |eng1 name=[[Rotax 503]] |eng1 type=twin cylinder, [[two-stroke]] aircraft engine |eng1 kw= |eng1 hp=50 |prop blade number=2 |prop name=wooden fixed pitch |prop dia m= |prop dia ft= |prop dia in= |prop note=

|perfhide= |max speed kmh= |max speed mph=83 |max speed kts= |max speed note= |max speed mach= |cruise speed kmh= |cruise speed mph=65 |cruise speed kts= |cruise speed note= |stall speed kmh= |stall speed mph=27 |stall speed kts= |stall speed note= |never exceed speed kmh= |never exceed speed mph= |never exceed speed kts= |never exceed speed note= |minimum control speed kmh= |minimum control speed mph= |minimum control speed kts= |minimum control speed note= |range km= |range miles=165 |range nmi= |range note= |combat range km= |combat range miles= |combat range nmi= |combat range note= |endurance= |ceiling m= |ceiling ft=15000 |ceiling note= |g limits= |roll rate= |glide ratio= |climb rate ms= |climb rate ftmin=750 |climb rate note= |time to altitude= |sink rate ms= |sink rate ftmin= |sink rate note= |lift to drag= |wing loading kg/m2= |wing loading lb/sqft=4.82 |wing loading note= |power/mass= |thrust/weight= |more performance=  |guns= One machine gun reproduction |bombs= |rockets= |missiles= |hardpoints= |hardpoint capacity= |hardpoint rockets= |hardpoint missiles= |hardpoint bombs= |hardpoint other= |other armament= |avionics=*none }}

==See also== *[[Airdrome Nieuport 11]] *[[Airdrome Nieuport 17]]

{{aircontent  |see also= |related= |similar aircraft= |lists= }}

==References== {{reflist}}

==External links== *{{Official website|http://nieuports.com/}}

[[Category:Homebuilt aircraft]] [[Category:Sesquiplanes]] [[Category:Leading Edge Air Foils aircraft]]