Morane-Saulnier T

Morane-Saulnier T
Role Bomber
National origin France
Manufacturer Morane-Saulnier
First flight July 1914

The Morane-Saulnier T was ca bomber aircraft developed in France in 1915 and produced in small numbers during World War I.[1][2]

Design and development

The Morane-Saulnier T was a large, five-bay biplane of conventional configuration, with unstaggered wings of equal span. The conical rear fuselage and large triangular vertical stabilizer were reminiscent of a scaled-up version of some Morane-Saulnier's smaller designs. The engines were mounted tractor-fashion in streamlined nacelles supported by struts in the interplane gap and the propellers on the Type T were often fitted with large spinners. The landing gear consisted of two main units, each of which had two wheels joined by a long axle, plus a tailskid and an auxiliary nosewheel. Three open cockpits in tandem were provided: one in the nose for a gunner, and others for the pilot and a second gunner placed further back.[2]

Although initially designed as a bomber, the French Army ordered the type T in 1916 hoping to use it either as a bomber escort[2] or reconnaissance aircraft.[1][3] Only one example of the Type S was built, while an order was placed for 100 Type T aircraft, although only 60 or so of these were built before production was cancelled.[2]

Variants

Morane-Saulnier T
company designation for 80 hp (60 kW) Le Rhône 9C powered version
MS.25 
official French government STAe designation for the T

Specifications

Data from Jane's Fighting Aircraft of World War I[3]

General characteristics

  • Crew: 3
  • Wingspan: 17.65 m (57 ft 11 in)
  • Powerplant: 2 × Le Rhône 9C 9 cylinder air-cooled rotary piston engines, 60 kW (80 hp) each
  • Propellers: 2-bladed fixed pitch propellers

Performance

  • Maximum speed: 156 km/h (97 mph; 84 kn)
  • Service ceiling: 4,500 m (14,800 ft)

Armament

  • Bombs: 640 kg (1,410 lb)

References

  1. 1 2 Taylor, Michael J. H. (1989). Jane's Encyclopedia of Aviation. London: Studio Editions. p. 685. ISBN 1-85170-324-1.
  2. 1 2 3 4 "The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Aircraft". IX. London: Aerospace Publishing (Orbis). 1981: 2540. OCLC 774502891.
  3. 1 2 John W.R. Taylor (1990). "forward". Jane's Fighting Aircraft of World War I. By Whittaker, W. E. De. B. New York, N.Y.: Military Press. p. 117. ISBN 978-0517033760.

Further reading

  • Davilla, Dr. James J.; Soltan, Arthur (1997). French Aircraft of the First World War. Mountain View, CA: Flying Machines Press. ISBN 978-1891268090.
  • Passieux, JN. "Morane-Saulnier T". jn.passieux.free.fr (in French). Paris. Retrieved 27 September 2018.
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