Morane-Saulnier type N
The high quality of the monoplanes of the manufacturers Deperdussin and Morane-Saulnier was already known before the First World War. The first Morane-Saulnier of the type N was presented by the pilot Roland Garros in Austria in 1914 and was in service until the summer of 1916. There seems to be uncertainty about how many aeroplanes of this type were actually built. Some sources mention 49, others 200 or even 600. The lower number is more probable because the developments in aviation were so rapid at that time that the models were often already out-dated when they reached the front.
The type N was the first French aircraft that was explicitly constructed as a fighter but due to its oversized spinner it still possessed a resemblance to its precursors that were constructed as racing aeroplanes. Because of the shape of the bulky propeller the machine was named with several nicknames like "Casserole" or "Bullet". Initially the armament merely consisted of pistols. But as soon as the Hotchkiss machine gun with steel deflectors was available the type N was equipped in series with the machine gun firing forward through the propeller arc form March 1915 on. This made it the first French fighter that deserved this designation. Because there did not yet exist a technical means for synchronizing the propeller and the machine gun steel deflector plates were attached on the propeller blades in order to protect the blades against stray bullets. Nevertheless many failures with disastrous consequences for the engine and the propeller occurred. Although the type N had a higher speed and a better manoeuvrability than its precursor models it was not very popular with the pilots because it was difficult to handle. It was in service in France, Great Britain and Russia.
The type N was built with a rather modern shape with a round cross-section and a tension pole over the fuselage in front of the open pilot's seat as well as another tension pole behind the first one under the fuselage. The whole fuselage was fabric covered. The wing assembly was constructed with a braced midwing configuration and comprised straight leading and trailing edges. The ends were chamfered forward and were fabric covered, too. The tail assembly was cantilevered and had a normal configuration with a parted elevator and a downward protruding rudder. The landing gear was formed with a continuous axle and couldn't be retracted. The type N had a tail skid with springs.
From January 1915 on each French army was allocated an "Escadrille de Chasse" that was provided for the protection of the reconnaissance aircraft and for the escort for the bombers. This made France the first nation that started with organised air combat. These squadrons were equipped with the Morane-Saulnier N firing through the propeller arc as well as with the two-seated high-wing monoplanes of the type Morane-Saulnier L in which the observer also operated a machine gun.
From 1916 on an improved and slightly larger AC-version with a more powerful Le-Rhone engine made its appearance.
Technical data
Morane-Saulnier type N
| Type | single-seated fighter |
| Power plant |
one air-cooled rotary engine Le-Rhone 9J (9-cylinder) with 110 HP (80.9 kW) (alternatively with a 80 HP (59 kW) Gnome rotary engine) |
| Year of construction | 1914 |
Perfomance
| Maximum speed in 2.000 m altitude | 165 | km/h |
| Rate of climb | climbs to 2.000 m height in 6 min 20 | sec |
| Ceiling | 4,000 | m |
| Operational range | 185 | km |
| Endurance | 90 | min |
Weight
| Empty weight | 288 | kg |
| Take-off weight | 444 | kg |
Dimensions
| Length | 5.83 | m |
| Height | 2.50 | m |
| Span | 8.15 | m |
| Wing area | 11 | m2 |
| Crew | 1 person | |
| Useful load/armament |
one fixed Hotchkiss 8 mm machine gun (or St.-Etienne machine gun) on top of the fuselage or one 7.7 mm machine gun of the Vickers or Lewis type |
Stock Quotes
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