J.Davilla, A.Soltan French Aircraft of the First World War (Flying Machines)

Morane-Saulnier Type U

  The Type U was a proposed development of the Type V. The Type U was to have a shoulder-mounted wing and control was to have been by ailerons rather than wing warping. The wing was rigidly braced by a complex mesh of struts and wires underneath it. The spinner, undercarriage, and tail were similar to the preceding Type V. One unusual feature was a streamlined windshield, remarkably long and narrow. It is not known if the Type U was built. Given the Aviation Militaire’s decision to concentrate on production ol the Nieuport 11 and the RFC's plan to withdraw all Morane fighters from squadron service, it would seem unlikely that either service would have been interested in an airplane which was nothing more than an improved Type V.


Morane-Saulnier Type U Single-Seat Fighter with 110-hp Lc Rhone 9C (Provisional Specifications)
   Span 8.24 tn, length 5.81 5 m; height 2.1 30 m; wing area 10.962 sq. m
   Empty weight 380 kg; loaded weight 530 kg
   Maximum speed: 187 km/h; climb to 1.000 in in 2 minutes 55 seconds; climb to 2,000 in in 6 minutes: climb to 3,000 m in 10 minutes; climb to 4,000 m in 16 minutes 10 seconds; climb to 5,000 m in 27 minutes 30 seconds
   Armament: one 0.303 Vickers machine gun
   Project only



Morane-Saulnier Type AC

  The Type AC was a monoplane with a shoulder-mounted wing with external bracing. It used ailerons rather than wing warping for lateral control. The fuselage was fully faired with a circular cross-section and the triangular fin and all-moving tailplanes of the Type P. Armament consisted of a single 7.7-mm Vickers machine gun mounted on the fuselage centerline. There was a large headrest for the pilot. The engine was either a 110-hp Le Rhone 9J or a 120-hp Le Rhone 9Jb.
  The Aviation Militaire evaluated the aircraft in late 1916 and appears to have been satisfied with it. Thirty were ordered and given the designation MoS.23. This small batch was parceled out to numerous fighter escadrilles and no squadron was ever formed entirely on Type ACs. N 76, for example, is known to have used several Type ACs. The aircraft remained in service until at least the spring of 1917. It would appear that the Aviation Militaire had by this time decided to re-equip its fighter escadrilles with SPAD 7s and no further Type ACs were purchased.
  The RFC purchased two Type ACs. In January 1917 both were sent to the British Air Supplies Depot in Paris for evaluation. After testing, they were disassembled and returned to No.1 Reserve Squadron at Gosport at the end ol January. They were never used operationally by the British.


Morane-Saulnier Type AC Single-Seat Fighter with 110-hp Le Rhone 9J
   Span 9.8 m; length 7.05 m: height 2.73 m; wing area 15 sq. m
   Empty weight 435 kg; loaded weight 658 kg
   Maximum speed: 178 km/h at ground level: 174 km/h al 2.000 m; 171 km/h at 3,000 m:; climb to 2000 m in 5 min. 55 sec: climb to 3,000 m in 10 minutes 15 seconds; ceiling 5,600 m; endurance 2.5 hours
   Armament: one synchronized 7.7-mm Vickers machine gun
   Approximately 30 built