Morane-Saulnier MS-760

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MS-760 Paris

A MS-760 on the ramp of the Dryden Regional Airport (CYHD)
Type Trainer aircraft
Manufacturer Morane-Saulnier
Maiden flight 26 July, 1954
Introduced 9 February, 1959
Retired 1997 (France), 2007 (Argentina)
Primary users Aviation Navale
French Air Force
Argentine Air Force
Number built 165

The MS-760 Paris was a French Armée de l'Air (Air Force) trainer aircraft built by Morane-Saulnier. After World War II, France was in need of a jet trainer. Defeated in the French Navy’s 1953 contest by the Fouga Magister, the MS-755 Fleuret was resurrected as the MS-760 Paris IR – a four-seat, high-speed military communications aircraft and advanced trainer designed by René Gauthier. It was used extensively by the French, Dutch and other European military between 1959 and 1997. In 1955, a short-lived venture with Beech Aircraft to market the Paris as an Executive Business Jet in the US market was soon eclipsed by Learjet’s Model 23.



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[edit] Design and development

On July 26, 1954, the prototype MS-760A Paris took off on its maiden flight with Jean Cliquet at the helm. With its T-shaped vertical stabilizer, low wing, and two Turboméca Marboré 400 kg turbines internally mounted side-by-side in the aft fuselage, the Paris offered a platform characterized by inherent stability. The aircraft had four seats, two in the front and two in the back, and a retractable tricycle landing gear.

In 1961, production plants started rolling out the Paris II, fitted with two Marboré IV 480 kg engines, wingtip fuel tanks, air conditioning, and a bigger luggage compartment. On February 24, 1964, a six-passenger version, designated MS-760C Paris III, made its first flight, but it was never ordered. Production of the Paris II ceased, and production of the Paris III never started. Some 165 aircraft (Paris I and Paris II) were produced for the French Air Force (36 planes) and Navy (14 planes), and the air forces of Argentina, Brazil, and Paraguay.

[edit] Operational history

On July 18, 1956 the French government requisitioned 50 aircraft, including 14 for the Navy, from Tarbes-based manufacturer Morane-Saulnier. The first plane was delivered on February 9, 1959 to Naval Air Station (N.A.S.) Dugny-Le Bourget, before going to the C.E.P.A. (Aeronautical Practical Experiment Center) in 1959-60, for the flight tests necessary to develop training programs and materials. It was also purchased by several countries such as Brazil and Argentina; 48 planes were license-built by Fábrica Militar de Aviones in Argentina. The MS-760B Paris II, with various systems improvements and integral fuel tanks in the leading edges of the wing, first flew on December 12, 1960.

The 14 "Moranes" (the plane's nickname in the French Navy) were assigned to Flight 11.S from February 9, 1959 onwards. The last plane, No. 88, was delivered on July 27, 1961. In 1965, MS-760 No. 48 was briefly assigned to Flight 3.S based at N.A.S Hyères, which already flew the MD 312 Flamant, the MS-733 Alcyon, the MH.1521M Broussard, the S.O.30P Bretagne and the Br.1050 Alizé. Morane No.48 subsequently crashed on January 4, 1968 at Rennes. From 1970 onwards, all the 12 planes left were assigned to Flight 2.S based at N.A.S. Lann-Bihoué. In May 1972 they were sent to the S.R.L. On September 1, 1981 this unit became Flight 57.S (flight which had been shut down since the closing of N.A.S. Port-Lyautey, Morocco on January 15, 1962).

Their missions were Super Étendard and F-8 Crusader pilot IFR and all-weather training, advanced training for new pilots, proficiency training for other pilots and A.L.P.A. (admirals commanding the carriers and Naval Aviation). and 1st and 2nd Aerial Regions liaisons.

Eight MS-760 Paris were on the unit's flightline, next to three Dassault Falcon 10 MER. After 40 years of good and faithful service, the venerable workhorses were retired in October 1997 at N.A.S. Landivisiau. The last eight planes were numbers 32, 40, 41, 42, 47, 85, 87 and 88.

In 2007, after 48 years of continuous service, the Argentine Air Force retired their last Paris [1]

[edit] Operators

Flag of Argentina Argentina
Flag of Brazil Brazil
Flag of France France
Flag of the Netherlands Netherlands
Flag of Paraguay Paraguay

[edit] Survivors

  • No08 & N0 009 Dave Bennett a collector in Colorado
  • No31 and No33 are preserved at the Rochefort Museum of Naval Aviation Traditions.
  • No32 is owned by "Armor Aéro Passion" association
  • No40 by the Le Bourget Air and Space Museum
  • No42 by the Tristan Corbière Technical High School
  • No46 by the Savigny-les-Beaume museum
  • No85 by the " Les Ailes de l'Aéro " association
  • No87 and No88 were sold to private American owners

[edit] Specifications (MS-760B Paris II)

General characteristics

  • Crew: 1-2
  • Capacity: 4
  • Length: 34 ft 2 in (10.4 m)
  • Wingspan: 33 ft 3 in (10.1 m)
  • Height: 8 ft 6 in (2.6 m)
  • Wing area: 194 ft2 (18 m2)
  • Empty weight: 4841 lb (2196 kg)
  • Useful load: 3809 lb (1730 kg)
  • Max takeoff weight: 8650 lb (3920 kg)
  • Powerplant: 2× Turboméca Marboré IV (later, Marboré VI C) turbojet, 1058 lbf (4.7 kN)
  • Takeoff thrust (sea level): 1058 lbf (4.71 kN) each
  • Fuel capacity (useful): 486 gal (1840 l)

Performance

  • Landing distance: 4000 ft (1220 m); over 50-ft obstacle: 6200 ft (1890 m)
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