Roland Garros’ Morane Saulnier Type L
Although not well known, the two seat Morane Saulnier Type L parasol played a large role in WWI aviation between 1914 and 1916. Some 600 were produced by France and used it extensively in the unglamorous reconnaissance role. But it was also the first operational tractor airplane to be armed with a fixed machine gun firing through the propeller arc.
The design dated from August 1913 and first 50 Type L parasols were ordered by Turkey rather than by the France. The Aviation Militaire permitted this but required these were to be powered only by a Gnome 50hp engine as all 80hp engines were reserved for French aircraft. They had prototype’s wing span of 33ft, 5 1/2in. When full production was begun, the Type L had a wingspan of 36ft, 9in, wing cutouts to accommodate the observer in the rear seat, a lengthened nose section and other differences.
With war imminent and mobilization ordered, the Turkish Moranes were impressed, apparently re-engined with the 80 hp LeRohone 9c, and used to equip two reconnaissance Escadrilles, MS23 and MS26. One of the MS26 pilots was Roland Garros, who was a prewar celebrity air race pilot.
The story goes that Garros secured a machine gun and enlisted designer Raymond Saulnier and his personal mechanic Jules Hue to figure a way to enable it to fire forward through the Type L’s propeller arc. Saulnier had been experimenting with a synchronizing interrupter gear, but it was proving erratic. So between Saulnier and Hue they designed a bullet deflector wedge fitted to the propeller which would prevent a bullet from piercing the prop.
From photographs it is apparent that Garros was able to equip one of the MS26 impressed Turkish Type L aircraft with the deflector propeller and a Hotchkiss machine gun. This he used to shoot down his first German aircraft on April 1, 1915. He shot down two more on April 15 and April 18. But on April 18 he was also brought down behind German lines by engine trouble. He was able to land uninjured but was captured and the secret of being able to fire directly through the propeller arc was in German hands.
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The model, textures. panel and air files are by Captain Kurt. The pilot figures were developed from Wolfi's freeware Japanese pilot .fsc source file. The prop spinning texture is by Kelticheart.
Gauges are by Martin Klein.
Sounds are from the Nieuport 17 by Gary Aumaugher.
Although not well known, the two seat Morane Saulnier Type L parasol played a large role in WWI aviation between 1914 and 1916. Some 600 were produced by France and used it extensively in the unglamorous reconnaissance role. But it was also the first operational tractor airplane to be armed with a fixed machine gun firing through the propeller arc.
The design dated from August 1913 and first 50 Type L parasols were ordered by Turkey rather than by the France. The Aviation Militaire permitted this but required these were to be powered only by a Gnome 50hp engine as all 80hp engines were reserved for French aircraft. They had prototype’s wing span of 33ft, 5 1/2in. When full production was begun, the Type L had a wingspan of 36ft, 9in, wing cutouts to accommodate the observer in the rear seat, a lengthened nose section and other differences.
With war imminent and mobilization ordered, the Turkish Moranes were impressed, apparently re-engined with the 80 hp LeRohone 9c, and used to equip two reconnaissance Escadrilles, MS23 and MS26. One of the MS26 pilots was Roland Garros, who was a prewar celebrity air race pilot.
The story goes that Garros secured a machine gun and enlisted designer Raymond Saulnier and his personal mechanic Jules Hue to figure a way to enable it to fire forward through the Type L’s propeller arc. Saulnier had been experimenting with a synchronizing interrupter gear, but it was proving erratic. So between Saulnier and Hue they designed a bullet deflector wedge fitted to the propeller which would prevent a bullet from piercing the prop.
From photographs it is apparent that Garros was able to equip one of the MS26 impressed Turkish Type L aircraft with the deflector propeller and a Hotchkiss machine gun. This he used to shoot down his first German aircraft on April 1, 1915. He shot down two more on April 15 and April 18. But on April 18 he was also brought down behind German lines by engine trouble. He was able to land uninjured but was captured and the secret of being able to fire directly through the propeller arc was in German hands.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The model, textures. panel and air files are by Captain Kurt. The pilot figures were developed from Wolfi's freeware Japanese pilot .fsc source file. The prop spinning texture is by Kelticheart.
Gauges are by Martin Klein.
Sounds are from the Nieuport 17 by Gary Aumaugher.
