Morane-Saulnier M.S.325
| {{Infobox aircraft begin
|name= M.S.325 |image= File:Morane MS325.jpg |caption=Morane-Saulnier M.S.325 }}{{Infobox aircraft type |type=Fighter |national origin=France |manufacturer=Morane-Saulnier |designer= |first flight=1933 |introduced= |retired=1934 |status= |primary user=French Air Force (intended) |more users= |produced= |number built= 1 |unit cost= |variants with their own articles= }} |
The Morane-Saulnier M.S.325 was a French Air Force fighter aircraft built by Morane-Saulnier in 1933 to meet the requirements of 1930 fighter aircraft specification. The design was unsuccessful and was abandoned in 1934.
Design and development
In 1930, when the Jockey legier Chasse, or Plan Caquot light weight fighter program was judged a failure, the Service Technique de l' Aeronautique issued the C1 (monoplace de chasse) requirement. C1 (upgraded on 26 January 1931) called for a single-seat fighter powered by a supercharged engine with a cylinder capacity of between {{convert|26|and|30|L|cuin|abbr=on|2}}. Ultimately no fewer than 10 designs and 12 prototypes were offered, all designed around the {{convert|26|L|cuin|abbr=on|2}} Hispano-Suiza 12Xbrs developing {{convert|650|hp|kW|abbr=on|disp=flip}} at {{convert|4500|m|ft|abbr=on}}, with proven reliability and a relatively small frontal area. The Morane-Saulnier submissions included the M.S.275 which retained the classic parasol monoplane configuration of preceding Morane-Saulnier fighters. In the more innovative M.S.325, a low wing, duralumin-skinned all-metal configuration was employed.
The M.S.325 was relatively modest in its concept still featuring an open cockpit (originally the tail surfaces were fabric covered) and fixed-gear with the semi-elliptical two-spar wings braced by exterior struts. The wings had two jettisonable wing root fuel tanks with a pair of {{convert|7.7|mm|in|abbr=on|3}} Châtellerault machine guns mounted one above each of the widely spaced landing gear legs. More unusual was that the incidence of the starboard wing greater than that of the port wing to counter torque; the engine was also canted slightly to port to counter the resultant yaw.
Operational history
M.S.325 C3 No. 01 (Works no. 4120) was flown for the first time by company Chief Test Pilot Michael Détroyat early in 1933 from the factory site at Villacoublay. The first test results were not satisfactory as tail buffeting was encountered leading to modifications that included lowering the tailplane and adding wing root fairings.
Although testing proceeded, the M.S.325 continued to be hampered by handling problems. In measuring up to other C1 competitors, the M.S.325 was relegated to an "also-ran" status and the Dewoitine D.500 became the chosen design.
Development based around a Hispano-Suiza 12Xers engine with a {{convert|20|mm|in|abbr=on|3}} cannon was proposed but eventually, the M.S.325 design was abandoned in favour of the more promising M.S.405 C.1 with only partial performance tests completed.
Specifications (M.S.325)
File:Morane Saulnier MS.325 3-view L'Aerophile February 1933.jpg
{{Aircraft specs
|ref=Flying Review International {{cite journal |last1=Green |first1=William |title=Facts by Request |journal=Flying Review International |date=November 1968 |volume=24 |issue=3 |page=71}}
|prime units?=met
|crew=1
|length m=8.25
|length note=
|span m=11.8
|span note=
|height m=3.7
|height note=
|wing area sqm=19.73
|wing area note=
|aspect ratio=
|airfoil=
|empty weight kg=1354
|empty weight note=
|gross weight kg=1789
|gross weight note=
|max takeoff weight kg=
|max takeoff weight note=
|fuel capacity=
|more general=
|eng1 number=1
|eng1 name=Hispano-Suiza 12Xbrs
|eng1 type=V-12 liquid-cooled piston engine
|eng1 hp=650
|eng1 note=
|prop blade number=2
|prop name=fixed-pitch propeller
|prop dia m=
|prop dia note=
|max speed kmh=365
|max speed note=at {{cvt|4500|m}}
|cruise speed kmh=
|cruise speed note=
|stall speed kmh=
|stall speed note=
|never exceed speed kmh=
|never exceed speed note=
|range km=
|range note=
|combat range km=
|combat range note=
|ferry range km=
|ferry range note=
|endurance=
|ceiling m=12000
|ceiling note=(estimated)
|g limits=
|roll rate=
|climb rate ms=
|climb rate note=
|time to altitude=
|wing loading kg/m2=
|wing loading note=
|fuel consumption kg/km=
|power/mass=
|more performance=
|guns=2× {{convert|7.7|mm|in|abbr=on|3}} MAC 1934 machine guns
}}
References
{{reflist}}
Further reading
{{commons category|Morane-Saulnier M.S.325}}
- Brindley, John. F. French Fighters of World War Two. Windsor, UK: Hylton Lacy Publishers Ltd., 1971. {{ISBN|0-85064-015-6}}.
- Green, William. War Planes of the Second World War, Volume One: Fighters. London: Macdonald & Co.(Publishers) Ltd., 1960 (tenth impression 1972). {{ISBN|0-356-01445-2}}.
- {{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}}
- Pelletier, Alain. French Fighters of World War II. Carrollton, Texas: Squadron/Signal Publications, Inc., 2002. {{ISBN|0-89747-440-6}}.
{{Morane-Saulnier aircraft}}