Morane-Saulnier BB

Type BB, Type BH

National origin: France
Manufacturer: Morane-Saulnier
First flight: 1915
Primary user: Royal Flying Corps
Number built: 94

The Morane-Saulnier BB was a military observation aircraft produced in France during World War I for use by Britain's Royal Flying Corps. It was a conventional single-bay biplane design with seating for the pilot and observer in tandem, open cockpits. The original order called for 150 aircraft powered by 110-hp Le Rhx´ne engines, but shortages meant that most of the 94 aircraft eventually built were delivered with the 80 hp Le Rhx´nes instead. A water-cooled Hispano-Suiza engine was trialled as an alternative in the Type BH, but this remained experimental only.

The type equipped a number of RFC and RNAS squadrons both in its original observation role and, equipped with a forward-firing Lewis gun mounted on the top wing, as a fighter.

Operators

United Kingdom

Royal Flying Corps
No. 1 Squadron RFC
No. 3 Squadron RFC
No. 12 Squadron RFC
No. 60 Squadron RFC
Royal Naval Air Service
No. 1 Squadron RNAS
No. 3 Squadron RNAS
No. 4 Squadron RNAS

Spain Russia

Specifications (BB)

Data from Parmentier

General characteristics

Crew: Two, pilot and observer
Length: 7.00 m (23 ft 0 in)
Wingspan: 8.65 m (28 ft 5 in)
Height: 2.54 m (8 ft 4 in)
Wing area: 23.0 m² (247 ft²)
Gross weight: 750 kg (1,650 lb)
Powerplant: 1 x— Le Rhx´ne, 82 kW (110 hp)

Performance

Maximum speed: 147 km/h (92 mph)
Service ceiling: 4,000 m (13,000 ft)

Armament

1 x— flexible, rearward-firing .303 Lewis gun for observer

The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Aircraft. London: Aerospace Publishing.
Bruce, J.M. (1982). The Aeroplanes of the Royal Flying Corps (Military Wing). London: Putnam. ISBN 0 370 30084 x.
Taylor, Michael J. H. (1989). Jane's Encyclopedia of Aviation. London: Studio Editions.
Parmentier, Bruno. "Morane-Saulnier BB". Aviafrance - Un six¨cle d'aviation franx§aise. http://www.aviafrance.com/1387.htm. Retrieved 2008-11-07.

Morane-Saulnier BB Pictures and Morane-Saulnier BB for Sale.

Living Warbirds: The best warbirds DVD series.

Source: WikiPedia