Nieuport Delage NiD 640

Development

The NiD 640 was an all-wood high-wing cantilever monoplane powered by a nose-mounted radial engine. An enclosed cockpit for two-crew forward of the wing and a cabin for four passengers was aft. The NiD 640 was powered by 220 hp (164 kW) Wright J-5C radial engine and was followed by 12 production aircraft designated NiD 641 powered by a 240 hp (179 kW) Lorraine 7M Mizar radial engine. The NiD 640 was converted to an ambulance aircraft and later had a Mizar engine fitted to bring it up to 641 standard. One aircraft was powered by an Armstrong Siddeley Lynx Major engine and designated the NiD 642 but it did not find a buyer and was scrapped. Seven Ni-D 641 aircraft were flown by Société des Transports Aériens Rapides (STAR), a subsidiary of Nieport-Delage, on cargo and passenger services from Paris.

Variants

NiD 640

Prototype with a 220hp (164kW) Wright J-5C radial engine, one built later converted to a 641.

NiD 641

Production aircraft with a 240hp (179kW) Lorraine 7M Mizar radial engine, 12 built.

NiD 642

Powered by an Armstrong Siddeley Lynx Major engine, one built.

Operators

 Brazil

Varig

 France

Société des Transports Aériens Rapides

Spedifications (NiD 641)

Data from L'Aeronautique, July 1928

General characteristics

Crew: Two

Capacity: Four passengers, or mail in their place

Length: 9.45 m (31 ft 0 in)

Wingspan: 15.40 m (50 ft 6 in)

Wing area: 30 m² (320 sq ft)

Empty weight: 1,050 kg (2,315 lb)

Gross weight: 1,750 kg (3,858 lb)

Powerplant: 1 × Lorraine 7M Mizar 7-cylinder radial, 170 kW (230 hp)

Performance

Maximum speed: 205 km/h (127 mph; 111 kn) at ground level

Service ceiling: 5,500 m (18,000 ft) absolute

Time to altitude: 12.5 min to 2,000 m (6,600 ft)

Landing speed: 84–92 km/h (52–57 mph)