Nieuport 28C-1
Restoration Home Page
Fuselage & Wings

Cockpit

Engine
Restoring The Skin
All Photos

The Nieuport 28C.l was developed in 1917. The primary significance of the Nieuport 28 for the national aeronautical collection is that it was the first type to carry American colors into combat in organized American units, under American command, in support of American troops, as well as the first type to score an aerial victory with such an American unit.

The French Nieuport 28 aircraft flew with the 27th, 94th, 95th and 147th American squadrons during WWI. The Museum's artifact is a factory constructed Nieuport made shortly after the war. It has been restored in the colors of James Meissner's 94th Aero Squadron airplane.

More Information: Nieuport 28C-1

Restoration Projects
Garber Home Page
National Air and Space Museum Home Page

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Nieuport Restoration Status (May, 2000)
March 2000
k JPEG
64k JPEG 		March 2000

Reproductions not available. 		May 2000

Reproductions not available.
This sequence of images shows the final steps in the Nieuport 28C-1 restoration. The left image was taken March 7, 2000 as the fuselage skin was completed. The center image was captured by the Garber Web Cam on March 29, 2000 shortly after the fuselage and wings were hand painted. The right image, taken on May 1, 2000, shows the completely assembled Nieuport 28C-1.
   


123k JPEG
©2000 Smithsonian Institution
#W2000CM0031

Fight or Buy Bonds

James Meissner's Nieuport flew with a half-sheet copy of Howard Chandler Christy's "Fight or Buy Bonds" poster attached to its lower wing. Only a few American fighter aircraft were outfitted with such advertisements. The flying poster campaign was one of many fundraising projects the U.S. Government sponsored to raise money for the Third Liberty Loan. While movie stars rallied crowds from the ground, the nation's newest celebrities - its flying aces - generated enthusiasm from on high to help convince the American public to buy over 4 billion dollars worth of bonds.
The poster pictured here, attached to the lower wing of the newly restored Nieuport 28C-1, is a reproduction made from an original poster in the National Air and Space Museum Archives Collection.
   


123k JPEG
©1998 Smithsonian Institution
#W1998CM00011

A Piece of History

This is a piece of the plywood skin from the rudder of the Nieuport 28. Clearly visible is writing in pencil in the hand of Cole Palen, owner of the Old Rheinbeck Aerodrome in New York, when he restored this Nieuport 28 to flying condition for his airshows.