Time Period: World War I
Country of Origin: France
Type: Monoplane, Fighter Aircraft
Manufacturer: Morane-Saulnier
Morane-Saulnier N Aircraft Overview
The Morane-Saulnier N, also known as the Morane-Saulnier Type N or simply the “Bullet“, was a World War I French fighter aircraft. It was designed by the Morane-Saulnier company and first flew in 1915.
The Morane-Saulnier N was a single-seat, single-engine biplane with a wooden frame and fabric covering. It was powered by an 80-horsepower Le Rhône 9C rotary engine, which gave it a top speed of around 110 miles per hour (180 kilometers per hour) and a ceiling of 15,000 feet (4,600 meters). It was armed with a single synchronized Vickers machine gun firing through the propeller arc.
The Morane-Saulnier N was one of the first true fighter aircraft of the First World War and was widely used by the French Air Service and other Allied air forces. Its light weight, speed, and maneuverability made it a formidable opponent for the German fighters of the time, and it was responsible for many victories in the early stages of the war. The aircraft’s design influenced many subsequent fighter aircraft of the period, including the famous SPAD series of fighters.
Morane-Saulnier N Specifications
- Crew: 1 pilot
- Length: 5.83 m (19 ft 2 in)
- Wingspan: 8.15 m (26 ft 9 in)
- Height: 2.25 m (7 ft 5 in)
- Wing Area: 11 m² (120 sq ft)
- Empty Weight: 288 kg (635 lb)
- Gross Weight: 444 kg (979 lb)
- Engine: 1 × Le Rhône 9C 9-cylinder air-cooled rotary engine, 60 kW (80 hp)
Morane-Saulnier N Performance
- Maximum Speed: 144 km/h (89 mph)
- Range: 225 km (140 mi)
- Endurance: 1 hour 30 minutes
- Service Ceiling: 4,000 m (13,000 ft)
- Climb Rate: 10 minutes to 2,000 m (6,562 ft)
Morane-Saulnier N Armament
- Guns: 1 x .303 in (7.7 mm) Vickers machine gun or .31 in (7.9 mm) Hotchkiss.
