Keywords: Le rhone.jpg Le Rhone Model J Own Photo taken July 21 2007 at the Smithsonian's w Steven F Udvar-Hazy Center FranksValli From the placard Le Rhone Model J The Societe des Moteurs Gnome et Rhone built the Le Rhone Model J to power a variety of combat aircraft during World War I including the Nieuport 23 Hanriot HD 1 SPAD A 2 Nieuport Triplane and Sopwith Triplane The Model J is most famous for its connection to the Nieuport 17 the French fighter flown by aces Rene Fonck William Bishop Charles Nungesser Albert Ball and Georges Guynemer The engine's success prompted the Germans to try to salvage and duplicate Le Rhones from downed French and British fighters Many salvaged Le Rhones and their German-built copies saw service in such fighters as the Fokker Dr 1 Triplane Transferred from the U S War Department Type rotary 9 cylinders radial air cooled Power rating 82 kW 110 hp at 1 300 rpm Displacement 12 1 L 920 cu in Weight 147 kg 323 lb Manufacturer Societe des Moteurs Gnome et Rhone Paris France A19300001000 Le Rhône 9J |