Morane-Saulnier I

Type I
Role	Fighter
National origin	France
Manufacturer	Morane-Saulnier
First flight	March 1916
Primary user	Royal Flying Corps
Number built	4
Developed from	Morane-Saulnier N

The Morane-Saulnier I, also known as the Morane-Saulnier Type I was a French fighter of the 1910s. Essentially a modified Morane-Saulnier N, the Royal Flying Corps possessed a number of them in World War I.

Development

Largely on the advice of Lord Trenchard, the Royal Flying Corps placed an order in 1916 for a more powerful version of the popular Morane-Saulnier N. Morane-Saulnier responded by fitting a 110 hp Le Rhône engine to a Type N, creating what they called the Type I. An order was placed initially for one aircraft, expanding to thirteen by March 1916.

Operational history

However, only four aircraft were ever delivered to the RFC by July 1916, the aircraft having first flown in March of that year under RFC trials. No further production took place because the Morane-Saulnier V afforded more favourable characteristics. However, these Type Is were delivered to the front as combat aircraft and used as late as October 1916.

Variants

Morane-Saulnier I: company designation
MS.6: official French government STAe designation for the I

Operators

United Kingdom

Royal Flying Corps

Specifications

Data from The Aeroplanes of the Royal Flying Corps (Military Wing) ^[1]

General characteristics

Crew: 1
Length: 5.82 m (19 ft 1 in)
Wingspan: 8.24 m (27 ft 0 in)
Height: 2.50 m (8 ft 2 in)
Wing area: 11.00 m² (118.4 sq ft)
Empty weight: 334 kg (736 lb)
Gross weight: 510 kg (1,124 lb)
Powerplant: 1 × Le Rhône 9J nine-cylinder rotary engine , 82 kW (110 hp)

Performance

Maximum speed: 168 km/h (104 mph, 90 kn)
Endurance: 1 hour 20 minutes
Service ceiling: 4,700 m (15,420 ft)

Armament

1 x 0.303 in (7.7mm) Vickers machine gun

References

Citations

↑ Bruce 1982, p. 302.

Bibliography

Bruce, J.M. (1982). The Aeroplanes of the Royal Flying Corps (Military Wing). London: Putnam. ISBN 0-370-30084-X.
Bruce, Jack. "The Bullets and the Guns". Air Enthusiast. Nine, February–May 1979. pp. 61–75. ISSN 0143-5450
Davilla, Dr. James J.; Soltan, Arthur (1997). French Aircraft of the First World War. Mountain View, CA: Flying Machines Press. ISBN 978-1891268090.
Green, William; Gordon Swanborough. The Complete Book of Fighters. Godalming, UK: Salamander Books. p. 414.

Morane-Saulnier aircraft
Designation letters	A B C F G GA GB H I J K L LA LH M N Nm O P Q S T TRK U V WR X Y AC AE AF AFH AI AN/ANB/ANR/ANL/ANS AR AS AT AU AV BB BH
Numerical sequence	MoS.1 MoS.2 MoS.3 MoS.4 MoS.5 MoS.6 MoS.7 MoS.8 MoS.9 MoS.10 MoS.11 MoS.12 MoS.13 MoS.14 MoS.15 MoS.16 MoS.17 MoS.18 MoS.19 MoS.20 MoS.21 MoS.22 MoS.23 MoS.24 MoS.25 MoS.26 MoS.27 MoS.28 MoS.29 MoS.30 MoS.31 MoS.32 MoS.33 MoS.34 MoS.35 MoS.36 MoS.37 MoS.38 MoS.39 MoS.40 MoS.41 MoS.42 MoS.43 MoS.44 MoS.45 MoS.46 MoS.47 MoS.48 MoS.49 MoS.50 MoS.51 MoS.52 MoS.53 MoS.56 MoS.60 MoS.120 MoS.121 MoS.129 MoS.130 MoS.131 MoS.132 MoS.133 MoS.134 MoS.136 MoS.137 MoS.138 MoS.139 MoS.140 MoS.141 MoS.147 MoS.148 MoS.149 MS.152 MS.160 MS.180 MS.181 MS.185 MS.200 MS.221 MS.222 MS.223 MS.224 MS.225 MS.226 MS.227 MS.229 MS.230 MS.250 MS.251 MS.260 MS.275 MS.278 MS.300 MS.301 MS.302 MS.315 MS.316 MS.317 MS.325 MS.340 MS.341 MS.342 MS.343 MS.345 MS.350 MS.405 MS.406 MS.408 MS.410 MS.411 MS.430 MS.433 MS.435 MS.450 MS.470 MS.472 MS.474 MS.470 MS.475 MS.476 MS.477 MS.479 MS.500 MS.501 MS.502 MS.504 MS.505 MS.506 MS.560 MS.570 MS.603 MS.630 MS.631 MS.700 MS.701 MS.703 MS.704 MS.730 MS.731 MS.732 MS.733 MS.755 MS.760 MS.785 MS.860 MS.880 MS.1001 MS.1500
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