Morane-Saulnier M.S.225
{{Infobox aircraft
|name=Morane-Saulnier M.S.225
|image=Morane-Saulnier MS.227.jpg
|caption=Morane-Saulnier M.S.227 with Hispano-Suiza engine
|type=Fighter
|manufacturer=Morane-Saulnier
|designer=
|first_flight=1932
|introduction=
|retired=
|status=
|primary_user=
|more_users=
|produced=
|number_built=75
|unit cost=
|variants=
}}
The Morane-Saulnier M.S.225 was a French fighter aircraft of the 1930s. It was produced in limited quantities to be used as a transitional aircraft between the last of the biplanes and the first monoplane fighters.
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Design and development
The M.S.225 was a parasol monoplane, with a wide fixed landing gear, and powered by a Gnome-Rhône 9Krsd radial engine. Having a circular fuselage the M.S.225 was much more robust than its immediate predecessor, the M.S.224.{{citation needed|date=September 2017}}
Created as a stop-gap before the introduction of more advanced aircraft still under development, the Morane-Saulnier M.S.225 was first shown in the form of a model at the Paris Air Show of 1932. After successful flight tests of the prototype, series production started at once.
Classified in the category C.1 (single-seat fighter), 75 aircraft were produced. A total of 53 aircraft were delivered to the Air Force in November 1933. The Aéronavale received the first of the 16 aircraft it had ordered in February 1934. Three were also sold to China.
Operational history
The M.S.225s of the Armée de l'Air served in the 7e Escadre de Chasse (7th Fighter Wing) at Dijon, and in two escadrilles of the 42e Escadre (42nd Wing), based at Rheims. They were withdrawn from front-line service between 1936 and 1937. The aircraft also flew with the Aéronavale l'Escadrille 3C1, established in Marignane, this formation later transferring to the Air Force at the beginning of 1936, where it became Le Groupe de Chasse II/8.Taylor and Alexander 1969, pp. 110–111.
The Air Force Aerobatic Squadron based at Étampes used five modified M.S.225s, with a larger vertical stabilizer, while the last unit of the Air Force to operate this aircraft was the flying school based at Salon-de-Provence.
At the outbreak of World War II, only 20 M.S.225s were still in flying condition, the majority of them being scrapped in mid-1940.
Variants
;M.S.225
:Production variant with a Gnome-Rhone 9Krs engine, 75 built.{{cite web |last1=parmentier |first1=Bruno |title=Morane-Saulnier MS-225 |url=https://www.aviafrance.com/aviafrance1.php?ID=853&ID_CONSTRUCTEUR=931&ANNEE=0&ID_MISSION=0&MOTCLEF= |website=Aviafrance |accessdate=13 December 2019 |date=5 May 2019 |language=French}}
;M.S.226
:Variant fitted with an arrestor hook in 1933 for aircraft carrier operations, powered by a Gnome & Rhône 9Kdr.{{cite web |last1=parmentier |first1=Bruno |title=Morane-Saulnier MS-226 |url=https://www.aviafrance.com/aviafrance1.php?ID=7361&ID_CONSTRUCTEUR=931&ANNEE=0&ID_MISSION=0&MOTCLEF= |website=Aviafrance |accessdate=13 December 2019 |date=16 December 1999 |language=French}}
;M.S.226bis
:Variant of the 226 with folding wings first flown in 1934.
;M.S.227
:Variant used as test bench for the 515 kW (690 hp) Hispano-Suiza 12Xcrs engine, with a four-bladed propeller.{{cite web |last1=parmentier |first1=Bruno |title=Morane-Saulnier MS-227 |url=https://www.aviafrance.com/aviafrance1.php?ID=7002&ID_CONSTRUCTEUR=931&ANNEE=0&ID_MISSION=0&MOTCLEF= |website=Aviafrance |accessdate=13 December 2019 |date=16 October 1999 |language=French}}
;M.S.275
:First flying in 1934, this version had a modified aerofoil and empennage, and was powered by a 515 kW (690 hp) Gnome-Rhône 9Krse; did not enter production.{{cite web |last1=parmentier |first1=Bruno |title=Morane-Saulnier MS-275 |url=https://www.aviafrance.com/aviafrance1.php?ID=1544&ID_CONSTRUCTEUR=931&ANNEE=0&ID_MISSION=0&MOTCLEF= |website=Aviafrance |accessdate=13 December 2019 |date=19 June 1998 |language=French}}
;M.S.278
:Conversion of the M.S.225 equipped with a 388 kW (520 hp) Clerget 14Fcs diesel engine.Orbis 1985, p. 2555.
Operators
Specifications (M.S.225)
{{Aircraft specs
|ref=The Complete Book of FightersGreen and Swanborough 1994, pp. 416–417.
|prime units?=met
|crew=1
|length m=7.25
|length note=
|span m=10.56
|span note=
|height m=3.26
|height note=
|wing area sqm=17.2
|wing area note=
|aspect ratio=
|airfoil=
|empty weight kg=1154
|empty weight note=
|gross weight kg=1590
|gross weight note=
|max takeoff weight kg=
|max takeoff weight note=
|fuel capacity=
|more general=
|eng1 number=1
|eng1 name=Gnome-Rhône 9Kdrs
|eng1 type=9-cylinder, air-cooled, geared and supercharged, radial piston engine
|eng1 kw=373
|eng1 note=
|prop blade number=2
|prop name=fixed-pitch wooden propeller
|prop dia m=
|prop dia note=
|max speed kmh=334
|max speed note=at {{cvt|3850|m|0}}
|cruise speed kmh=
|cruise speed note=
|stall speed kmh=
|stall speed note=
|never exceed speed kmh=
|never exceed speed note=
|range km=700
|range note=
|combat range km=
|combat range note=
|ferry range km=
|ferry range note=
|endurance=
|ceiling m=10000
|ceiling note=Angelucci 1983, p. 117.
|g limits=
|roll rate=
|climb rate ms=6.12
|climb rate note=
|time to altitude={{cvt|3000|m}} in 5 minutes 42 seconds
|wing loading kg/m2=
|wing loading note=
|disk loading kg/m2=
|disk loading note=
|fuel consumption kg/km=
|power/mass=
|more performance=
|guns= 2 × 7.7 mm (.303 in) Vickers machine guns mounted on the fuselage
}}
See also
{{aircontent|
|related=
|similar aircraft=
|sequence=
|lists=
- List of Interwar military aircraft
- List of aircraft of the French Air Force during World War II
- List of military aircraft of France
- List of fighter aircraft
|see also=
}}
References
{{Reflist}}
Bibliography
- {{cite journal |last1=Bruner|first1=Georges|title=Fighters a la Francaise, Part One|journal=Air Enthusiast |date=1977|issue=3 |pages=85–95 |issn=0143-5450}}
- {{cite journal |last1=Cortet|first1=Pierre|title=Issu, à l'origine, d'un régime "Jockey": Le Morane-Saulnier MS 225 C1|journal=Avions: Toute l'Aéronautique et son histoire |date=June 1999 |issue=75 |pages=28–35 |trans-title=Originally from a "Jockey" Diet: The Morane-Saulnier MS 225 C1|language=fr|issn=1243-8650}}
- {{cite journal |last1=Cortet|first1=Pierre|title=Issu, à l'origine, d'un régime "Jockey": Le Morane-Saulnier MS 225 C1|journal=Avions: Toute l'Aéronautique et son histoire |date=July 1999 |issue=76 |pages=32–38|language=fr |issn=1243-8650}}
- {{cite journal |last1=Cortet|first1=Pierre|title=Issu, à l'origine, d'un régime "Jockey": Le Morane-Saulnier MS 225 C1|journal=Avions: Toute l'Aéronautique et son histoire |date=September 1999 |issue=78 |pages=36–47|language=fr |issn=1243-8650}}
- {{cite journal |last1=Lecarme|first1=Jacques|title=J'ai piloté les Morane "Jockey"...|journal=Le Album de Fanatique de l'Aviation |date=January 1970|issue=7 |pages=22–23|issn=0757-4169 |language=fr |trans-title=I Flew the Morane "Jockey"}}
- {{cite journal |last1=Leyvastre|first1=Pierre|title=La chasse avait besoin de suralimentation lorsque naquit, le M.S.-225|journal=Le Album de Fanatique de l'Aviation |date=August–September 1969|issue=3 |pages=14–19|issn=0757-4169 |language=fr |trans-title=The Fighter That Needed Supercharging at Birth: the M.S.-225}}
- {{cite journal |last1=Leyvastre|first1=Pierre|title=Par navalisation du MS-225 on obtint en 1934, le Morane Saulnier MS 226|journal=Le Album de Fanatique de l'Aviation |date=October 1969|issue=4|pages=18–19|issn=0757-4169|language=fr |trans-title=By Navalizing the MS-225, We Obtained the Morane Saulnier 226 in 1934}}
- {{cite journal |last1=Leyvastre|first1=Pierre|title=M.S.-227, avion-canon; le banc d'essais d'une arme qui fit carrière |journal=Le Album de Fanatique de l'Aviation |date=January 1970|issue=7 |pages=20–22|issn=0757-4169 |language=fr |trans-title=M.S.-227 Cannon Aircraft: Career Weapons Bench-tester}}
- {{cite journal |last1=Morareau|first1=Lucien|title=Les Morane-Saulnier MS 225 & 226 de la Marine |journal=Avions: Toute l'Aéronautique et son histoire |date=December 1999 |issue=80 |pages=18–27 |trans-title=The Naval Morane-Saulnier MS 225 & 226s|language=fr |issn=1243-8650}}
- {{cite journal |last1=Soulard|first1=Stéphane|title=Courrier des Lecteurs|journal=Avions: Toute l'Aéronautique et son histoire |date=November 1999 |issue=80 |pages=2–3 |trans-title= Readers' Letters |language=fr |issn=1243-8650}}
Further reading
- Angelucci, Enzo. The Rand McNally Encyclopedia of Military Aircraft, 1914-1980. San Diego, California: The Military Press, 1983. {{ISBN|0-517-41021-4}}.
- Green, William and Gordon Swanborough. The Complete Book of Fighters. New York:Smithmark, 1994. {{ISBN|0-8317-3939-8}}.
- {{cite book |last1=Lacaze |first1=Henri |last2=Lherbert |first2=Claude |title=Morane Saulnier: ses avions, ses projets |date=2013 |publisher=Lela Presse |location=Outreau, France |isbn=978-2-914017-70-1 |language=fr|name-list-style=amp|trans-title=Morane Saulnier: Their Aircraft and Projects}}
- The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Aircraft (Part Work 1982-1985). London: Orbis Publishing, 1985.
- Taylor, John W. R. and Jean Alexander. Combat Aircraft of the World. New York: G.P. Putnam's Sons, 1969. {{ISBN|0-71810-564-8}}.
External links
{{commons category|Morane-Saulnier MS.225}}
- [http://www.aviafrance.com/853.htm Aviafrance] {{in lang|fr}}
- [http://www.cofe.ru/avia/M/M-174.htm Avia] {{in lang|ru}}
{{Morane-Saulnier aircraft}}
Category:1930s French fighter aircraft