Morane-Saulnier Type AI

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Morane-Saulnier AI
Role Fighter
Manufacturer Morane-Saulnier
Designer Robert and Léon Morane and Raimond Saulnier[1]
First flight Aug 1917 [2]
Introduction Feb 1918
Retired May 1918
Primary user France
Number built 1050-1200 [2][3] or 1210[1]
Wingspan 8.48 m (27 ft 10 in) [4][5]-8.64 m (28 ft 4 in)[3]
Engine 150hp Gnome Monosoupape 9Nb rotary [note 1]
Armament 1-2×fixed, sync. Vickers
Crew 1
Max Speed 192 km/h (119 mph)[4]
to 220 km/h (137 mph)[6][5]
to 225 km/h (140 mph)[7][3]
Climb 1,000 m (3,280 ft) in 2:00[7]
2,000 m (6,560 ft) in 4:25[7]-4:55[4]
3,000 m (9,840 ft) in 7:25[7]-8:05[4]
5,000 m (16,400 ft) in <16:00[3]
Ceiling 7,000 m (23,000 ft)[6][4][5]
Endurance 1:45[7] to 2:30[6][5]

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. [2]

For more information, see Wikipedia:Morane-Saulnier AI.

Timeline [2]

Game Data

Wings of Glory

Unofficial Stats
Availability Maneuver Damage Dmg Points Max Alt. Climb
17Q4-18Q2 N A or B 13 15 2 or 1

Plane and Crew Cards

Card Links

Blue Max/Canvas Eagles

Aircraft Chart

Miniatures and Models

1:144 Scale

1:285/6mm/1:288 Scale

1:350 Scale

Resources

Orthographic Drawings

  • MoS.27

    MoS.27

  • MoS.29

    MoS.29

References

Notes
  1. ↑ After the 150hp engine was found to be unreliable and the planes were removed from front-line service, 120hp Le Rhône engines were substituted.[3]
Citations
  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 Angelucci, p.56.
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 Davilla, p.337.
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 Ferry'14, p.132.
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 4.4 Lamberton, pp.216-217.
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 5.3 Angelucci, p.45.
  6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 Munson, p.78.
  7. ↑ 7.0 7.1 7.2 7.3 7.4 Davilla, p.339.
Bibliography
  • Enzo Angelucci, ed. The Rand McNally Encyclopedia of Military Aircraft, 1914-1980. New York: The Military Press, 1983 edition. ISBN 0-517-41021-4.
  • Dr. James J. Davilla and Arthur M. Soltan. French Aircraft of the First World War. Flying Machines Press, 1997. ISBN 0-9637110-4-0.
  • W.M. Lamberton and E.F. Cheesman, Fighter Aircraft of the 1914-1918 War. Great Britain: Harleyford Publications Limited, 1960.
  • Kenneth Munson, Fighters 1914-19, Attack and Training Aircraft. New York: MacMillan Publishing Co., Inc., 1976. ISBN 0713707607
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