Engineering:Morane-Saulnier I

Short description: French WW1 fighter aircraft

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)

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

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. pp. 414. 

Further reading

• Lacaze, Henri; Lherbert, Claude (2013) (in fr). Morane Saulnier: ses avions, ses projets. Outreau, France: Lela Presse. ISBN 978-2-914017-70-1.