Morane-Saulnier Type AI

Great hopes were placed in the Morane-Saulnier Type AI after early testing in August 1917 showed it had excellent performance. It had superb sight lines for the pilot and it was very maneuverable. Optimism turned into an order for 1100-1200 Type AIs. Beginning in early 1918 escadrilles started to exchange their Nieuport 24s and 27s. The single-gun variant was designated the MoS.27 C1 and the twin-gun version, the MoS.29 C1.

Success was not to last and AI escadrilles had their planes replaced by SPAD 13s by early summer. The trouble may have been faulty or fire-prone Gnome engines or rumors of structural weakness in the wings and bracing. In any case, this promising plane, ordered in such large numbers, was relegated to the scrap heap after a remarkably brief career.

Card Links

 * MS156 corrected
 * MS158
 * French generic
 * French generic

Aircraft Chart

1:144 Scale

 * Shapeways:
 * MoS.27: Reduced Aircraft Factory
 * MoS.29: Kampfflieger, Reduced Aircraft Factory

1:285/6mm/1:288 Scale

 * Shapeways: Kampfflieger, Reduced Aircraft Factory

1:350 Scale

 * Shapeways: Kampfflieger