Wibault 1
| Company type | Prototype fighter aircraft |
|---|---|
| Industry | Aviation |
| Founded | 1918 |
| Founder | Wibault (implied) |
| Headquarters | France |
| Products | Fighter aircraft |
The Wibault Wib 1—also known as the Wib C1 or Wib 1 C1—was a French prototype single-seat, single-engine World War I fighter aircraft. It conducted its initial flights close to the conclusion of the conflict but was ultimately not chosen for mass production.
Design and development
The Wib 1 presented a streamlined design as a single-bay biplane featuring wings of constant, square-ended chord without sweep, arranged with slight stagger. These wings were supported by parallel interplane struts and bracing wires. Only the lower wings were equipped with short-span, wide chord ailerons. Constructed with metal frames covered in fabric, the wings shared this material approach with the remainder of the metal airframe. To enhance pilot visibility from the open cockpit, a rounded cut-out was incorporated into the trailing edge of the upper wing. The fuselage exhibited a rounded shape, combining light alloy panels at the front with fabric covering toward the rear. The approximately elliptical, braced tailplane was mounted atop the fuselage and carried split elevators featuring curved trailing edges. A short vertical fin supported a broad chord rudder that extended down to the keel between the elevators; both surfaces had smoothly rounded contours.
Its powerplant was a water-cooled Hispano-Suiza 8B V8 engine, enclosed within a sleek cowling behind a large domed spinner that drove a two-blade propeller. Armament consisted of two synchronized Vickers machine guns firing through the propeller arc. The fixed conventional undercarriage included main wheels mounted on a rigid axle, upheld by faired V-struts, complemented by a tailskid.
The prototype took to the air for the first time in early November 1918. The designation C1 identified it as a single-seat fighter according to French military classification standards. Official trials conducted on 12 February 1919 revealed that despite its relatively modest engine power, it achieved high speed thanks to its lightweight construction and aerodynamic efficiency. Nevertheless, compared to its rival—the Nieuport 29, powered by a Hispano-Suiza 8 F engine—the Wib 1 exhibited inferior climb performance and heavier control forces. Ultimately, the Nieuport was selected for production, leading to the discontinuation of further development on the Wib 1.