"Courage is doing what you are afraid to do. There can be no courage unless you are scared."
- Eddie Rickenbacker

The Nieuport 28 (N.28C-1) was a French biplane fighter aircraft flown during World War I, built by Nieuport and designed by Gustave Delage. Owing its lineage to the successful line of sesquiplane fighters that included the Nieuport 17, the Nieuport 28 continued a similar design philosophy of a lightweight and highly maneuverable aircraft.

The SPAD XIII was standardized by the Aronautique Militaire as the equipment of its own escadrilles de chasse (fighter squadrons) for 1918. The SPAD was also the first choice of the United States Air Service - however a shortage of SPADs led to the available production Nieuport 28s equipping four American squadrons between March and August 1918. It thus became the first aircraft to see operational service with an American fighter squadron.

Nieuport 28s saw considerable post-war service: in particular 50 "returned" to America, and as well as army and naval service these found civilian use, especially in Hollywood films.

Pictured here is a 1:72 scale replica of a french-built U.S. Air Service Nieuport 28C. 1 Biplane Fighter that was piloted by 1st Lt. James Meissner, who was attached to the 94th Aero Squadron. Sold Out!

Dimensions:
Length: 4-inches
Wingspan: 5-inches

Release Date: November 2014

Historical Account: "Armand" - Major James Armand Meissner (1896-1936) was a World War I flying ace credited with eight aerial victories and awarded two Distinguished Service Crosses.

Meissner completed his aeronautic combat training in Tours and was commissioned a 1st lieutenant on November 20th, 1917, after which he reported to the 94th Pursuit Squadron commanded by Major John Huffer. Among his colleagues in the unit were Eddie Rickenbacker and members of the Lafayette Escadrille.

Piloting a French-made Nieuport 28, Meissner scored his first aerial kill over the Fort De La Rappe on May 2nd, 1918; he was fortunate to survive, given the fabric was shredding off his top wing even as he scored. At any rate, the feat earned the Distinguished Service Cross and the Croix de Guerre. He shot a second plane down near Jaulny on May 30th, colliding with an Albatros fighter in the process. He then racked up two more kills - one of which he shared with Douglas Campbell - before being made commander of the 147th Pursuit Squadron in July. Now flying a SPAD S.XIII fighter, he scored four more kills, one of which was an observation balloon, and another of which was shared with Ralph O'Neill.