Nieuport

Nieuport is the French spelling of Nieuwpoort, a town and port on the Belgian coast in West Flanders, located at the mouth of the Yser River near the North Sea. The town has a long maritime history as a fishing and trading center, with fortifications and a harbor that reflect its historical role. Today, Nieuwpoort is a seaside resort known for its beaches, marina, and related museums and leisure facilities.

In aviation, Nieuport refers to an early 20th-century French aircraft manufacturer best known for fighter and scout aircraft produced during World War I. Notable designs associated with the company include the Nieuport 11 Bébé, a successful low-wing sesquiplane used for repelling German attacks, the Nieuport 17, and the Nieuport 28, which saw service with Allied air forces. The designs were typically light, wood-and-fabric construction with maneuverable handling that appealed to pilots of the era.

In 1921 the Nieuport works merged with Delage to form Nieuport-Delage, marking a transition in the French aircraft industry and the continuation of some Nieuport designs under a new banner. The brand ultimately faded as aviation companies consolidated and restructured during the interwar period. The name Nieuport thus survives in historical references to both a Belgian coastal town and a prominent, if brief, chapter in early military aviation.