Nieuport-Saulnier Corsaire

The Corsaire is a single engine piston driven fighter aircraft formerly of the Marine Nationale.

Development
Development of the Corsaire was initiated with the conclusion of the 1930 admiralty study into the 1929 battle off Airgialla, and the realization that Marine Nationale naval capability was predicated on control of the air. The battle in question saw Tiperyn land based bombers wreck havoc on the Marine Nationale battle group due to inadequate air cover, and led to the commission requirement for a fast fighter with heavy armament and high endurance in order to prevent heavy bomber attacks on surface action groups.

Design
The Corsaire was the first low wing all metal monoplane fighter to enter service with the Marine Nationale. Design goals of the 1930 commission were met, and the Corsaire entered service in 1936. The Corsaire C1 did not have self sealing fuel tanks, though the later C2 and C3 did. Initial armament was two 20mm cannon with 200 rounds per gun, mounted in the fuselage. The cannons were synchronized to fire through the propeller arc in order to provide the best accuracy to engage heavy bombers at long range. The use of a cannon over a machine gun was stipulated by the 1930 commission due to the failings of rifle caliber machine guns to take down Tiperyn bombers. The C2 variant would add another pair of 20mm cannons to the wings with 150 rounds per gun as well. Because of this additional weight the C2 variant was found to have significantly reduced turn and roll performance, as well as climb and speed despite an uprated engine. The final version, the C3, would see these guns removed and a new linkless feed for the fuselage guns allowing an increase in ammunition to 220 rounds per gun.

The C1 was powered by a 14 cylinder radial engine with a single stage supercharger producing 1,050 horsepower. The C2 would introduce a dual stage supercharger and increase the power to 1,200 horsepower. The final C3 version would see an increase to 1,800 horsepower.

Variants

 * Corsaire C - Chasse.

Former
 Chezzetcook
 * L'Aéronavale

Specifications
{{aircraft specifications
 * plane or copter? = plane
 * jet or prop? = prop


 * crew        = 1
 * capacity    =
 * payload main =
 * payload alt =
 * payload more =
 * length main =
 * length alt  =
 * span main   =  (Folded)
 * span alt    =  ( Folded)
 * height main =
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 * area main   = m{{sup|2}}
 * area alt    = ft{{sup|2}}
 * airfoil     =
 * aspect ratio =
 * empty weight main =  kg
 * empty weight alt  =  lb
 * useful load main  =
 * useful load alt   =
 * loaded weight main = kg
 * loaded weight alt =  lb
 * max takeoff weight main = kg
 * max takeoff weight alt =  lb
 * more general           = Fuel capacity:


 * engine (jet)   =
 * type of jet    =
 * number of jets =
 * thrust main    =
 * thrust alt     =
 * thrust original =
 * afterburning thrust main =
 * afterburning thrust alt =


 * max speed main   =
 * At altitude:
 * max speed alt    =
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 * cruise speed main =
 * cruise speed alt =
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 * stall speed main =
 * stall speed alt  =
 * stall speed more =
 * never exceed speed main =
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 * range main       =
 * range alt        =
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 * combat radius main=
 * combat radius alt =
 * combat radius more=
 * ferry range main =
 * ferry range alt  =
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 * endurance        =
 * ceiling main     =
 * ceiling alt      =
 * ceiling more     =
 * climb rate main  =
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 * sink rate main   =
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 * loading main     =
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 * armament = **Guns:
 * Harpoints: 4 hardpoints (1 under each wing, 1 wet under fuselage).