Morane Saulnier AI

Development and design

The AI was developed as a refinement of the Morane-Saulnier Type N concept, and was intended to replace the Nieuport 17 and SPAD VII in French service, in competition with the SPAD XIII, which it was built as a back-up for. Its Gnome Monosoupape 9N 160 CV rotary engine was mounted in a circular open-front cowling. The strut braced parasol wing was swept back. The spars and ribs of the circular section fuselage were wood, wire-braced and covered in fabric, and faired out with wood stringers. The production aircraft were given service designations based on whether they had 1 gun (designated MoS 27) or 2 guns (designated MoS 29).

Operational history

A number of escadrilles were created to operate the AI, but by mid-May 1918, most of the aircraft were replaced by the SPAD XIII. After structural problems had been revolved, the aircraft were then relegated to use as advanced trainers, with new purpose built examples being designated as MoS 30. Many were used post-war after having been surplussed off, as aerobatic aircraft, including one which was flown by Charles Nungesser.

Fifty-one MoS 30s were purchased by the American Expeditionary Force as pursuit trainers.

Variants

MoS 27

Production fighter variant with one 0.303in (7.7mm) Vickers machine gun and powered by a Gnome Monosoupape 9NI rotary engine.

MoS 29

Production fighter variant with two 0.303in (7.7mm) Vickers machine guns and powered by a Gnome Monosoupape 9NI rotary engine.

MoS 30

Production 2-seater advanced trainer with either a 89kW (120hp) le Rhone 9Jb or a 101kW (135hp) le Rhone 9Jby rotary engine.

MoS 30bis

Variant of the MoS 30 with a de-rated le Rhone 9Jby engine 67kW (90hp).

Operators

In addition to military operators, the Morane-Saulnier AI was popular with French aerobatic pilots and a number carried civil registrations.

 Belgium

Belgian Air Force

 Czechoslovakia

Czechoslovakian Air Force - operated a single MoS.30.

 France

French Air Force

Escadrille MS 156

Escadrille MS 158

Escadrille MS 161

 Japan

Imperial Japanese Army Air Service - Evaluated a single MoS.30 in 1922.

 Peru

Peruvian Air Force

 Soviet Union

Soviet Air Force - Four aircraft, used for tests and trials.

  Switzerland

Swiss Air Force operated at least one aircraft.

 United States

American Expeditionary Force - operated 51 MoS.30 trainers.

Survivors

Three AIs are flown from La Ferté-Alais.

The Fantasy of Flight collection in Polk City, Florida has an AI that was sold to the United States Army Air Service in 1918 for testing at McCook Field in Ohio until being sold off for private use. It later joined the Tallmantz Collection which was then acquired by Fantasy of Flight in 1985 and restored in the late 1980s.

Another AI, formerly flown by Charles Nungesser is in the Old Rhinebeck Aerodrome collection, and was flown in the weekend airshows there.

Specifications (MoS 27 C.1, 150 hp Monosoupape)

Data from War Planes of the First World War: Volume Five Fighters

General characteristics

Crew: 1

Length: 5.65 m (18 ft 6⅜ in)

Wingspan: 8.51 m (27 ft 11 in)

Height: 2.40 m (7 ft 10¼ in)

Wing area: 13.39 m² (144.1 ft²)

Empty weight: 421 kg (926 lb)

Gross weight: 649 kg (1,428 lb)

Powerplant: 1 × Gnome Monosoupape 9N, 112 kW (150 hp) each

Performance

Maximum speed: 225 km/h (140 mph)

Endurance: 1 hours  45 min

Service ceiling: 7,000 m (22,965 ft)

Rate of climb: 8.3 m/s (500 ft/min)

Armament

1 7.7mm (0.303-in) Vickers machine gun forward of cockpit