Designed by Gustave Delage in 1914, the small Nieuport 11 biplane was affectionately known as the "Bébé" (Baby). Originally designed for racing, this light plane was fast and extremely maneuverable. Its only major problem was in the design of its wing struts. In a steep dive, the struts allowed the wings to twist, sometimes with disastrous results. Used by the British and French to counter the Fokker E.III, the Nieuport 11 was disadvantaged by its lack of a synchronized machine gun. It remained in service on the Western Front until 1916 and in Italy until the summer of 1917.
