Morane-Saulnier M.S.225

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The Morane-Saulnier M.S.225 was a French fighter aircraft of the 1930's. It was produced in limited quantities to be used as a transitional aircraft between the last of the biplanes and the first monoplane fighters.

Contents

[edit] Development

Created as a stop-gap before the introduction of more advanced aircraft still under development, the Morane-Saulnier M.S.225 was first shown in the form of a model at the Paris Air Show of 1932. After successful flight tests of the prototype, series production started at once.

Classified in the category C.1 (single-seat fighter), seventy-five aircraft were produced. Fifty-three aircraft were delivered to the Air Force in November 1933. The Aéronavale received the first of the sixteen planes it had ordered in February 1934. Three were also sold to China.

[edit] Design

The M.S.225 was a parasol monoplane, with a wide fixed landing gear, and powered by a Gnome-Rhône 9Krsd radial engine. Having a circular fuselage the M.S.225 was much more robust than its immediate predecessor, the M.S.224.

[edit] Operational history

The M.S.225's of the Armée de l'Air served in the 7e Escadre de Chasse (7th Fighter Squadron) at Dijon, and in 2 escadrilles of the 42e Escadre (42nd Squadron), based at Rheims. They were withdrawn from front-line service between 1936 and 1937. The aircraft also flew with the Aéronavale l'Escadrille 3C1, established in Marignane, this formation later transferring to the Air Force at the beginning of 1936, where it became Le Groupe de Chasse 11/8.

The Air Force Aerobatic Squadron based at Étampes used five modified M.S.225's, with a larger vertical stabilizer, while the last unit of the Air Force to operate this aircraft was the flying school based at Salon-de-Provence.

On the outbreak of World War II, only twenty M.S.225's were still in flying condition, the majority of them being scrapped in mid-1940.

[edit] Variants

  • M.S.226 : Version fitted with an arrestor hook in 1933 for aircraft carrier operations.
  • M.S.226 bis : Version of the M.S.226 used as test bench for the 515 kW (690 hp) Hispano-Suiza 12XCrs engine, with a four-bladed propeller.
  • M.S.227  : First flying in 1934, this version had a modified aerofoil and empennage, and was powered by a 515 kW (690 hp) Gnome-Rhône 9Krse; maximum speed of 350 km/h to 4,000 m (1 prototype only).
  • M.S.278 : Conversion of the M.S.225 equipped with a 388 kW (520 hp) Clerget 14Fos diesel engine.

[edit] Specifications (M.S.225)

Data from [1]

General characteristics

  • Crew: one, pilot
  • Length: 7.24 m (23 ft 9 in)
  • Wingspan: 10.56 m (34 ft 8 in)
  • Height: 3.29 m (10 ft 9.5in)
  • Wing area: 17.20 m² (185 ft²)
  • Empty weight: 1,215 kg (2,673 lb)
  • Max takeoff weight: 1,580 kg (3,160 lb)
  • Powerplant: 1× Gnome-Rhône 9Kbrs 9-cylinder radial engine, 373 kW (500 hp)

Performance

Armament

[edit] References

  1. ^ Morane-Saulnier MS.225. Retrieved on 2007-06-27.

[edit] External links

[edit] See also

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