Aircrafttotal Encyclopedia


Morane-Saulnier D-3801 (GC LaFayette)
Role	Fighter
Manufacturer	Morane-Saulnier
First flight	8 August 1935 (M.S.405)
Introduction	1938
Status	Retired
Primary users	French Air Force Finnish Air Force Swiss Air Force Turkish Air Force
Number built	1,176

The Morane-Saulnier M.S.406 is a French fighter aircraft developed and manufactured by Morane-Saulnier starting in 1938. It was France's most numerous fighter during the Second World War and one of only two French designs to exceed 1,000 in number. At the beginning of the war, it was one of only two French-built aircraft capable of 400 km/h (250 mph) – the other being the Potez 630

During May 1938, the 2nd Escadrille of the 7th Groupe de Chasse at Reims conducted operational testing of the type using a handful of pre-production M.S.406 aircraft. In spite of some accidents experienced, pilots were commonly pleased with the type's performance; in response to the accidents, improvements such as the strengthening of the undercarriage and the cabin hood were implemented during mid-1939. In spite of complaints regarding the forward fuselage exterior covering and motor attachments, no corrective actions were implemented to address these concerns..

Operational history

Into flight

Morane Saulnier aircraft company

Aéroplanes Morane-Saulnier was a French aircraft manufacturing company formed in October 1911
Morane-Saulnier MS.406 "Bretagne"

General characteristics

Crew: 1
Length: 8.17 m (26 ft 10 in)
Wingspan: 10.61 m (34 ft 10 in)
Height: 3.25 m (10 ft 8 in)
Wing area: 16 m² (170 sq ft)

Service name
- Empty weight: 1,895 kg (4,178 lb)
- Gross weight: 2,540 kg (5,600 lb)
- Powerplant: 1 × Hispano-Suiza 12Y-31 V-12 liquid-cooled piston engine

Specifications

Maximum speed: 452 km/h (281 mph, 244 kn) at 2,000 m (6,600 ft)

483 km/h (300 mph;) at 4,000 m

Stall speed: 160 km/h without flaps

Range: 1,100 km at 66% power
Combat range: 720 km
Endurance: 2 hours 20 minutes 30 seconds (average combat mission)
Service ceiling: 9,400 m (30,800 ft)

Armament

- Guns:

Special Links Aéroplanes Morane-Saulnier was a French aircraft manufacturing company
formed in October 1911

Links to Youtube & Others

MS.733A MS.733 gunnery trainers modified for counter-insurgency role; it served from 1955 to 1959. It was replaced by the T-28S Fennec The COIN upgrade included a SFOM 83 reflector sight (suspended from the cockpit roof), two x 7.5mm MAC 1934/M39 machine guns in the wings (with 500 rounds each), and two under-wing hardpoints. Typical hardpoint loadout used paired Matra Type 14 rocket rails, which held four (stacked 2 x 2) SERAM 28 kg (62 lb) T10 heavy rockets and had a smaller hardpoint between the rocket rails rated for a 50 kg (110 lb) bomb.

Morane Saulnier
MS.406 "Bretagne"

Morane-Saulnier Alcyon (en: Kingfisher) is a two or three-seat basic training monoplane aircraft.

Youtube Link

Morane-Saulnier Alcyon (en: Kingfisher) is a two or three-seat basic training monoplane aircraft.

Morane-Saulnier
Morane-Saulnier MS.406 Bretagne