Morane-Saulnier AN

Type AN

Morane-Saulnier ANL
Role	Fighter
National origin	France
Manufacturer	Morane-Saulnier
First flight	27 October 1918

The Morane-Saulnier AN or MoS.31 C.2 was a French two seat fighter prototype of the 1910s that resulted in the development of several other unsuccessful Morane-Saulnier prototypes.

Development

Morane-Saulnier ANL French First World War two seat fighter prototype with Liberty 400hp engine (rear quarter)

Completed in late 1918, the AN was a two-seat fighter designed to use an unorthodox Bugatti U-16 engine. Large and with equal span wings, it was a two-bay biplane with a monocoque fuselage.

First tested in late October 1918, the AN was bested by the SEA 4 and Breguet 17 it was competing against particularly in terms of rate of climb, however it showed sufficient promise that a number of variants were developed. It was ordered into production but never entered service as the SEA and Breguet were already entering service and the end of the First World War curtained production requirements.

Variants

Morane-Saulnier AN - prototype with 450 hp Bugatti U-16 engine and radiator in leading edge of wing.
Morane-Saulnier ANB - modification of prototype with Lamblin radiator.
Morane-Saulnier ANL - First flown in 1919, the ANL had a 400 hp Liberty L-12 engine.
Morane-Saulnier ANR - Also flown in 1919, the ANR had a 450 hp Renault 12Kb engine as well as a rear-mounted Vickers gun.
Morane-Saulnier ANS - Again making its début in 1919, the ANS was the final incarnation of the AN series. Equipped with a 530 hp Salmson 18Z 18-cylinder radial. Showed promise at testing, however no further production took place.
MoS.31 C.2 Military designation for AN and ANB.
MoS.32 C.2 Military designation for ANL.
MoS.33 C.2 Military designation for ANR.
MoS.34 C.2 Military designation for ANS.

Specifications (AN)

Morane Saulnier AN drawing

General characteristics

Crew: 1
Length: 8.34 m (27 ft 5 in)
Wingspan: 11.73 m (38 ft 6 in)
Height: 2.77 m (9 ft 1 in)
Wing area: 41.00 m² (441.33 ft²)
Gross weight: 1770 kg (3902 lb)
Powerplant: 1 × Bugatti U-16 16-cylinder water-cooled, 336 kW (450 hp) each

Performance

Maximum speed: 225 km/h (140 mph)

Armament

1 x forward-firing .303 Vickers gun
2 x rear-mounted .303 Lewis guns

References

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Morane-Saulnier AN.

Bibliography

Davilla, Dr. James J.; Soltan, Arthur (1997). French Aircraft of the First World War. Mountain View, CA: Flying Machines Press. ISBN 978-1891268090.
Green, William; Gordon Swanborough. The Complete Book of Fighters. Godalming, UK: Salamander Books. p. 415.

Aircraft produced by Morane-Saulnier

Designation Letters	A B C F G GA GB H I L LA M N Nm O P S T TRK U V WR Y AC AE AF AFH AI AN/ANB/ANR/ANL/ANS AR AS BB BH

Numerical Sequence	MoS.1 MoS.2 MoS.3 MoS.4 MoS.5 MoS.6 MoS.7 MoS.8 MoS.9 MoS.10 MoS.13 MoS.21 MoS.22 MoS.23 MoS.25 MoS.26 MoS.27 MoS.28 MoS.29 MoS.30 MoS.31 MoS.32 MoS.33 MoS.34 MoS.35 MoS.42 MoS.43 MoS.50 MoS.51 MoS.53 MoS.121 MoS.129 MoS.130 MoS.131 MoS.132 MoS.133 MoS.134 MoS.136 MoS.137 MoS.138 MoS.139 MoS.140 MoS.141 MoS.147 MoS.148 MoS.149 MoS.152 MS.180 MS.181 MoS.185 MS.200 MS.221 MS.222 MS.223 MS.224 MS.225 MS.226 MS.227 MS.229 MS.230 MS.250 MS.251 MS.275 MS.278 MS.300 MS.301 MS.302 MS.315 MS.316 MS.317 MS.325 MS.340 MS.341 MS.342 MS.343 MS.345 MS.350 MS.405 MS.406 MS.408 MS.410 MS.411 MS.430 MS.433 MS.435 MS.450 MS.470 MS.472 MS.474 MS.470 MS.475 MS.476 MS.477 MS.479 MS.500 MS.501 MS.502 MS.504 MS.505 MS.506 MS.560 MS.570 MS.603 MS.700 MS.701 MS.703 MS.704 MS.730 MS.731 MS.732 MS.733 MS.755 MS.760 MS.880 MS.1500

Names & Nicknames	Alcyon Borel Bullet Criquet Epervier Fleuret Monococque Paris Pétrel Rallye Vanneau

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