What's with the -bis ?

I may be wrong here but I think it means new or improved.

Yup, that's it.

I belive it's French. Nieuport applied that suffux to various improved versions of its WWI fighters.

Regards,

"bis" I believe, means "again"

I'm not so sure about bis meaning "improved" in English. I've got a book that describes most of the suffixes the Russians used for their aircraft, and a suffux of "U", which means "ulushchenyi", or "improved", was used for upgraded or improved aircraft. But for some damned reason, the book never says what bis is used for. I think I need to get an "improved" book.

Iplanch is right, it means 'again' but in many cases, be it with aircraft as mentionned or AFVs (Char B1bis), it means 'second' (there was a proposal for a Char B1ter (third). As in second (or third) variant.

Well, suppose you have two adjacent houses in a street, let's say n° 100 and n°102 (or n°101 and n°103, if you prefer, but then you'll have to cross the street); suppose you destroy the house at n°100 and you build two new houses, then the first one will be n°100 and the second one n°100bis, that is more than 100 but not yet 102; in fact, there could be n°100ter, n°100 quater; by the way, bis, ter and so on is not french but merely latin. Let's leave french streets now. As far as I know, following I 15 was at least I 152 and I 153 (I believe it means "istrebitel" which is a fighter); you can see the analogy, more than a I 15, but not yet a I 16; I would say that these are variants and bis is an improved model. You can find much accurate informations on http://www.vvs.hobbyvista.com ( about russian fighters, not about french streets).

Thanks Torio, I always wondered about that. I got confused because in german (I know we are talking about a russian plane) bis means "from".

Thanks again for clearing it up!

I'm happy it helped you in some form, chap. As for french streets questions, I charge expert fees which are very very high, I'm sorry but it's a cruel world anyway. As for russian fighters, go see that site, you will be amazed.

One other translation is 'encore' (again) .

QUOTE: Originally posted by Torio [ As far as I know, following I 15 was at least I 152 and I 153 (I believe it means "istrebitel" which is a fighter);

Actually istrbitel (sort of pronounced Easter Beatle) is more accurately a Fighter/Bomber or close support airplane.