Many French and British aces of WWI began their flying careers flying the Nieuport 17. The highly maneuverable "Superbebe" was a larger, improved version of the Nieuport 11. Like its predecessor, it was initially equipped with a Lewis machine gun but was later upgraded to a synchronized Vicker's machine gun.

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It was a slightly larger development of the earlier Nieuport 11, and had a more powerful engine, larger wings, and a more refined structure in general. At first, it was equipped with a 110 hp (82 kW) Le Rhône 9J engine, though later versions were upgraded to a 130 hp (97 kW) engine. It had outstanding maneuverability, and an excellent rate of climb. Unfortunately, the narrow lower wing, which marked it as a "sesquiplane" design, with literally "one-and-a-half wings" was weak due to its single spar construction had a disconcerting tendency to disintegrate in flight.

Initially the Nieuport 17 retained the above wing mounted Lewis gun of the "11", but, at least in French service, this was generally replaced by a synchronised Vickers gun. In the Royal Flying Corps, the wing mounted Lewis was usually retained, by now on the improved Foster mounting, a curved metal rail which allowed the pilot to bring the gun down in order to change drums or clear jams. A few individual aircraft carried both guns - but in practice this reduced performance unacceptably.

The type reached the French front in March 1916, and quickly began to replace the Nieuport 11 in French service. It was also ordered by the Royal Flying Corps and Royal Naval Air Service, as it was superior to any British fighter at that time. Worthy of note is the fact that during part of 1916, the Nieuport 17 equipped every fighter squadron of the Aviation Militaire. The Germans supplied captured examples to several of their aircraft manufacturers for them to copy. This resulted in the Siemens-Schuckert D.I which, apart from the engine installation, was a close copy and actually went into production, although in the event it was not used operationally on the Western Front.

By early 1917, the Nieuport was outclassed in most respects by the latest German fighters. Newer models (the Nieuport 24 and the 27) were brought out in an attempt to retain the type's ascendency. However, the SPAD S.VII had already replaced the Nieuport fighters in many French squadrons by mid-1917.

Many Allied air aces flew Nieuport fighters, including Canadian ace W.A. Bishop, who received a Victoria Cross while flying it, and most famously of all, Albert Ball.

Like the other Nieuport types, the 17 was used as an advanced trainer for prospective fighter pilots after its operational days were over.

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