Morane-Saulnier AF

The Morane-Saulnier AF, also known as the Morane-Saulnier Type AF and the MoS 28 was a French fighter prototype of the 1910s.

Development

Although the fuselage was based on the Morane-Saulnier Type AC, this aircraft was different from it. The first single-seat biplane fighter developed by Morane-Saulnier, the AF was delivered to the Aviation Militaire in late 1917 for testing.

Operational history

First flying on 23 June of that year, the AF showed excellent handling and good performance. However, it was deemed inferior to the SPAD S.XIII which was already in quantity production. Morane-Saulnier adapted the design to a floatplane, as described below.

Variants

• Morane-Saulnier AFH
  • In November 1917 a floatplane version of the AF was readied for testing. Equipped with a single central pontoon-like float, some flight testing was carried out but the aircraft was never adopted.

Specifications (AF)

Data from War Planes of the First World War: Volume Five Fighters^[1]

General characteristics

• Crew: 1
• Length: 5.15 m (16 ft 11 in)
• Wingspan: 7.47 m (24 ft 6 in)
• Height: 2.35 m (7 ft 8½ in)
• Wing area: 15.31 m² (164.8 ft²)
• Empty weight: 421 kg (928 lb)
• Gross weight: 649 kg (1431 lb)
• Powerplant: 1 × Gnome Monosoupape 9Nb rotary engine, 112 kW (150 hp) each

Performance

• Maximum speed: 207 km/h (129 mph)
• Rate of climb: 8.3^[2] m/s (1,640 ft/min)

Armament

• 1 x 7.7 mm (0.303 in) Vickers gun

References

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Morane-Saulnier.

Notes

Bibliography

• Bruce, J.M. (1972). War Planes of the First World War: Volume Five Fighters. London: Macdonald. ISBN 0-356-03779-7. 
• Green, William; Gordon Swanborough. The Complete Book of Fighters. Godalming, UK: Salamander Books. p. 415.