Morane-Saulnier AI - Photos & Vidéos

Morane-Saulnier IA
Pays	France
Type	Entraîneur de chasse
Premier vol	1917
Construit	1210

Lla Morane-Saulnier IA (également type IA) était un Français avion de chasse à aile parasol produit par Morane-Saulnier pendant la Première Guerre mondiale.

Source: Morane-Saulnier AI sur Wiki

Morane-Saulnier MS Type AI Walk Around
Photographe	Inconnu
Localisation	Inconnu
Photos	25

Morane-Saulnier MS Type AI 01

Morane-Saulnier MS Type AI 02

Morane-Saulnier MS Type AI 03

Morane-Saulnier MS Type AI 05

Morane-Saulnier MS Type AI 04

Morane-Saulnier MS Type AI 06

Morane-Saulnier MS Type AI 07

Morane-Saulnier MS Type AI 08

Morane-Saulnier MS Type AI 09

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General Characteristics

The Morane-Saulnier MS Type AI was a French single-seat fighter monoplane used during the latter stages of World War I. Designed to be a high-performance, fast, and agile fighter, it was one of the first aircraft to use a cantilever parasol wing (a wing mounted above the fuselage by struts) that lacked external bracing wires, a common feature of earlier Morane-Saulnier designs. This clean design offered the pilot excellent visibility and high speed for the era. Although its operational service with French units was brief due to structural issues, the aircraft proved highly successful in the training role and was used extensively by the US Army Air Service (USAAS) as the **MS-29** advanced trainer.

Property	Typical Value (MS.27AI / MS.29)
Rôle	Single-Seat Fighter, Advanced Trainer
National Origin	France
Fabricant	Morane-Saulnier
First Flight	1917
Service Entry	Early 1918
No. Built	~1,210 (including trainer variants)
Crew	1 (Pilot)
Length	6.48 m (21 ft 3 in)
Envergure	8.50 m (27 ft 11 in)
Max Takeoff Weight	710 kg (1,565 lb)

Powerplant and Performance

Engine: 1 x Le Rhône 9R 9-cylinder air-cooled rotary engine.
Power Output: 130 kW (180 hp).
Maximum Speed: 225 km/h (140 mph) at 2,000 m.
Climb Rate: Could reach 2,000 m (6,560 ft) in 4 minutes 20 seconds.
Service Ceiling: 7,000 m (23,000 ft).
Design Note: The fuselage was primarily constructed of wood, using a clean, monocoque structure (or close to it) to minimize drag.
Visibility: The parasol wing provided excellent upwards and forward visibility for a WWI fighter.

Armament and Operational History

Fixed Armament (Fighter Variants, MS.27AI/29AI):
- 1 or 2 x 7.7 mm (.303 in) Vickers machine guns, synchronized to fire through the propeller arc.
Fixed Armament (Trainer Variant, MS.29): Often unarmed, or occasionally fitted with a single gun for air-to-air gunnery training.
Service Limitation: The Type AI was withdrawn quickly from frontline French service due to a number of structural failures and crashes, often attributed to the high stress imposed on the wing structure during aggressive maneuvers.
Trainer Success: Despite its failure as a frontline fighter, its speed and agility made it an ideal **advanced trainer**. The USAAS purchased large quantities of the unarmed MS.29 trainer variant, where it performed long and reliable service at various flight schools.