Aircrafttotal Encyclopedia


Morane-Saulnier D-3801 (GC LaFayette)
Role	Fighter
Manufacturer	Morane-Saulnier
First flight	8 August 1935 (M.S.405)
Introduction	1938
Status	Retired
Primary users	French Air Force Finnish Air Force Swiss Air Force Turkish Air Force
Number built	1,176

The Morane-Saulnier M.S.406 is a French fighter aircraft developed and manufactured by Morane-Saulnier starting in 1938. It was France's most numerous fighter during the Second World War and one of only two French designs to exceed 1,000 in number. At the beginning of the war, it was one of only two French-built aircraft capable of 400 km/h (250 mph) – the other being the Potez 630

During May 1938, the 2nd Escadrille of the 7th Groupe de Chasse at Reims conducted operational testing of the type using a handful of pre-production M.S.406 aircraft. In spite of some accidents experienced, pilots were commonly pleased with the type's performance; in response to the accidents, improvements such as the strengthening of the undercarriage and the cabin hood were implemented during mid-1939. In spite of complaints regarding the forward fuselage exterior covering and motor attachments, no corrective actions were implemented to address these concerns..

Operational history

Into flight

Morane Saulnier aircraft company

Aéroplanes Morane-Saulnier was a French aircraft manufacturing company formed in October 1911
Morane-Saulnier MS.406 "Bretagne"

General characteristics

Crew: 1
Length: 8.17 m (26 ft 10 in)
Wingspan: 10.61 m (34 ft 10 in)
Height: 3.25 m (10 ft 8 in)
Wing area: 16 m² (170 sq ft)

Service name
- Empty weight: 1,895 kg (4,178 lb)
- Gross weight: 2,540 kg (5,600 lb)
- Powerplant: 1 × Hispano-Suiza 12Y-31 V-12 liquid-cooled piston engine

Specifications

Maximum speed: 452 km/h (281 mph, 244 kn) at 2,000 m (6,600 ft)

483 km/h (300 mph;) at 4,000 m

Stall speed: 160 km/h without flaps

Range: 1,100 km at 66% power
Combat range: 720 km
Endurance: 2 hours 20 minutes 30 seconds (average combat mission)
Service ceiling: 9,400 m (30,800 ft)

Armament

- Guns:

Special Links Aéroplanes Morane-Saulnier was a French aircraft manufacturing company
formed in October 1911

Links to Youtube & Others

The Morane MS406 comes from the C1 program of July 1934 to replace the Dewoitine D500 and Loire 46. One of the main demands is a maximum speed of 400 km / h. This program offered two categories: light fighter and average fighter with a maximum weight of 2.5 tons. The C1 program underwent two evolutions, one of which carried the maximum speed requested at 450 km / h. Among the candidates, only two were selected: the Bloch MB152 and the Morane MS405. The prototype of this last took off for its first flight on August 8, 1935 with Michel Detroyat at the controls. The aircraft underwent tests for about a year and proved to be healthy at 491 km / h.

Morane Saulnier
MS.406 "Bretagne"

At the beginning of 1940, facing the supremacy of the Messerschmitt BF109E, an improved version of the Morane MS406 was born: the MS410.

Youtube Link

On May 10, 1940, the Morane MS406 equips 10 of the 22 groups of fighters. Losses in units equipped with MS406 are significant, and some missions entrusted to them without great results, such as ground strafing, are particularly deadly.

Morane-Saulnier
Morane-Saulnier MS.406 Bretagne
First flight 8 August 1935 (M.S.405) Introduction 1938

Morane-Saulnier
MS.406 "Bretagne"

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