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

Morane-Saulnier Type AF

  The limited success of the Type AC did not prevent the Morane-Saulnier firm from continuing to develop fighter aircraft. Its next design was the Type AF, which except for its biplane configuration bore a remarkable resemblance to the Type AC. Although its fuselage was shorter, the Type AF retained the single 7.7 mm Vickers machine gun of the Type AC. The fin and rudder were also similar to those of earlier Morane-Saulnier designs, but the horizontal tailplane was changed to feature fixed stabilizers with conventional elevators. The new wings had negative stagger, the top wing being slightly longer than the bottom. There was a single bay of N-shaped interplane struts with a marked outward rake. There were four horn-balanced ailerons; the gaps between the ailerons and wing were covered by hinge flaps similar to those used on the Nieuport fighters. The engine was a 150-hp Gnome Monosoupape 9Nb.
  The Type AF was given the STAe designation MoS.28 C1. Trials were initiated in June of 1917 and from 23 June to 12 July the aircraft accumulated 15 hours of flying time during 34 flights. Pilots had generally favorable comments on the aircraft's performance, and the Type AF's agility and pilot's field of view were singled out for praise. Despite these favorable comments, the Type AC was not selected for production, probably because the SPAD 7s and 13s were already in production.


Morane-Saulnier Type AF Single-Seat Fighter with 150-hp Gnome Monosoupape 9Nb
   Span 7.4-7 m; length 5.149 m; height 2.35 m; wing area 15.31 sq. m
   Empty weight 421 kg; loaded weight 649 kg
   Maximum speed:
   1,000 m 207 km/h
   2,000 m 205 km/h
   3,000 m 200.5 km/h
   4,000 m 194.5 km/h
   5,000 m 185 km/h
   Climb:
   1,000 m 2 minutes
   2,000 m 4 minutes 50 seconds
   3,000 m 8 minutes 10 seconds
   4,000 m 12 minutes 40 seconds
   5,000 m 20 minutes 30 seconds
   Armament: one synchronized 7.7-mm Vickers machine gun
   One built



Morane-Saulnier Type AFH

  The French did not build an aircraft carrier during the First World War, but they carried out a large number of tests attempting to develop aircraft to be launched from warship turrets. Types developed for this purpose included the Hanriot HD.2, HD.3, and the Morane Saulnier AFH.
  The designation AFH indicates that the aircraft was a naval version of the unsuccessful Type AF fighter, the H standing for Hydravion. Design work began in the summer of 1917 and construction was initiated in October of that year. The main change from the basic Type AF was the placement of a thick float almost completely covering the aircraft s wheels. Enough of the tires were left exposed to permit the AFH to make a conventional takeoff from the flight deck or turret ramp of the ship. The tail skid was replaced by a teardrop-shaped float faired into the lower fuselage and fin by a streamlined pylon. The lower rudder was enlarged. The floats permitted the aircraft to land in the water and be hoisted back on board the ship.
  It is not known if the aircraft was ever flown from a French ship, and no additional AFHs were built. While the Aviation Maritime continued to experiment with launching aircraft from warship turrets, it apparently had been decided that the Hanriot designs were adequate for this purpose.


Morane-Saulnier Type AFH Single-Seat Shipboard Fighter with 150-hp Gnome Monosoupape 9Nb
   Span and area identical to the Type AF, length 6.013 m; height 2.840 m
   Maximum speed: 196 km/h at sea level; climb to 5000 m in 22 minutes
   Armament: one synchronized 7.7-mm Vickers machine gun
   One built



Morane-Saulnier Fighter Projects

   1. A biplane powered by a 200-hp Gnome Monosoupape engine and of all monocoque construction. Further development was abandoned by 1 May 1918 because the engine proved to be unsatisfactory.
   2. A biplane powered by a 200-hp Gnome Monosoupape engine. The fuselage was of all monocoque construction and had fabric-covered wings. The failure of the Gnome engine also resulted in this project being abandoned on 1 May 1918.
   3. A biplane powered by a 300-hp Gnome Monosoupape engine and also of all monocoque construction. The engine was a twin-row development of the Gnome 9N but it, too, was a failure. The fighter, which had been built, was abandoned on 1 May 1918.
   4. A biplane powered by a 300-hp Gnome Monosoupape engine, with fabric-covered wings and a monocoque fuselage. It was abandoned when the engine proved unsuccessful.
   5. An all-monocoque single-seat fighter intended to use the 300-hp Hispano Suiza engine. Development was abandoned by 1 May 1918.
   6. A single- or two-seat fighter with a 200-hp Clerget HE engine. It may have been based on the Gnome Monosoupape designs mentioned above and, like them, was abandoned on 1 May 1918.
   7. A two-seat fighter with a 220-hp Le Rhone. This was probably also based on one of the preceding Gnome Monosoupape designs. Development was halted after 1 May 1918.