Mikael Carlson's Nieuport 28 maiden flight

[Holtzauge]

Looks awesome IMHO! Seems to fly really well by the looks of it too. Notice the nice energy retention in the zoom after beating up the airfield.

 

One would not have guessed this was the maiden flight seeing the way Mikael is putting it through its paces and nice to hear what a Gnome rotary sounds like when flying IRL.

 

In addition: Looks like the Nieuport 28 can actually turn without falling out of the sky! Imagine that!

 

 

 

[SYN_Vander]

Awesome! Would be nice to get some data out of those flights!

[Canvas25]

Work that rudder!

[Holtzauge]

In case anyone missed it, there is this video too. Just look at the way the cockpit is restored!

 

 

[No.23_Starling]

Does anyone know him or have contact details?

 

That turn looked so nimble. Would love to hear how it compares to his other birds. Doesn’t he fly a DVII too?

[Holtzauge]

16 minutes ago, US103_Rummell said:

Does anyone know him or have contact details?

 

That turn looked so nimble. Would love to hear how it compares to his other birds. Doesn’t he fly a DVII too?

 

I may be able to post something about how he thinks the Nieuport 28 compares to his own aircraft later. However, he has just flown it and I think he will want some more stick time before making any judgements, but I will for sure try asking him later. If I get anything I will post it here but don't hold your breath because it may be some time.

[BlitzPig_EL]

I see it has no armament.

 

That would make it more sporty than one ready for combat.

[Holtzauge]

Update: I found a reason to call Mikael Carlson today since we have previously been discussing the possibility to do trials with @Chill31's Levil BOM on the Nieuport 28 to collect speed, climb and turn rate data. Unfortunately, it looks like this is not going to happen since the Nieuport’s owner wants the aircraft shipped back to the US as soon as it’s ready so there simply will be no time to do it.

 

However, while we will probably not see any BOM-trial performance data, Mikael said he would give me an update on the handling characteristics once he has flown it a bit more. But he did say that he noticed one thing that stuck out already: The Nieuport 28 is like the Pfalz D.VIII in roll: Really stiff and high aileron control loads.

 

In addition, I asked him about the missing armament: Apparently there is a single Vickers MG which will be fitted later on. This was also according to Mikael what Douglas Campbell had on the original. As far as I gathered from him, the French delivered the 28’s without armament initially, and in the beginning they did just unarmed recon flights. Later, when the Vickers did became available, there were not that many to go around so they only fitted one on each aircraft, which is then consistent with the way the restored 28 was painted as I understand it.

 

Maybe they fitted a second Vickers when they repainted with US insignia later during WW1 though? Anybody knows? Anyway, the way it has been done now with the one-gun, French cockade in Campbell’s livery is historically correct as far as I gathered from Mikael.

 

Hopefully, I can post more on the flight characteristic later on, when Mikael has done the remaining test flights and finds time to fit me in his busy schedule.

Edited April 12, 2022 by Holtzauge

[Avimimus]

On 4/12/2022 at 12:49 PM, Holtzauge said:

In addition, I asked him about the missing armament: Apparently there is a single Vickers MG which will be fitted later on. This was also according to Mikael what Douglas Campbell had on the original. As far as I gathered from him, the French delivered the 28’s without armament initially, and in the beginning they did just unarmed recon flights. Later, when the Vickers did became available, there were not that many to go around so they only fitted one on each aircraft, which is then consistent with the way the restored 28 was painted as I understand it.

 

Interesting potential for weapon mods there!

[Garven]

On 4/12/2022 at 12:49 PM, Holtzauge said:

Maybe they fitted a second Vickers when they repainted with US insignia later during WW1 though? Anybody knows? Anyway, the way it has been done now with the one-gun, French cockade in Campbell’s livery is historically correct as far as I gathered from Mikael.

Think I remember reading both the 94th and 95th got the second gun mounted on their aircraft in June 1918.  For N6164 It appears that its latest date recorded is May 4th 1918 and its disposition is condemned.  Looks like it never had a second gun.