Morane-Saulnier Vanneau

Vanneau

National origin: France
Manufacturer: Morane-Saulnier
First flight: 1944
Introduced: 1946
Primary user: French Air Force
Number built: 500+

The Morane-Saulnier Vanneau (en: plover) is a two-seat basic trainer built in France by Morane-Saulnier and ordered by the French Air Force.

Development

Designed in Vichy France the MS.470 prototype first flew on 22 December 1944, successful testing led to an order from the French Air Force of a revised variant the MS.472. The Vanneau was a low-wing cantilever monoplane with a pilot and student in tandem under a long glazed canopy. It had a retractable tailwheel landing gear and the prototype was powered by a 700hp (522kW) Gnome-Rhone 14M radial engine. The production MS.472 was powered by a 690hp (515kW) Hispano-Suiza 12X piston engine and first flew on 12 December 1945 with deliveries to the French Air Force starting in December 1946. From December 1947 the French Navy received 70 of the MS.474 variant modified for carrier operations. A re-engined version the MS.475 was produced from 1950 which had minor differences but was powered by a 850hp (634kW) Hispano-Suiza 12Y-45 V12 engine. One MS.475 was modified as the MS.476 with an increase in wing surface area and another MS.475 was fitted with a Renault 12S-02 engine as the MS.477 in 1950. A proposed variant was the MS.478 which was to be fitted with a Isotta Fraschini Delta engine but was not built. One MS.472 was re-engined with a 830hp (611kW) SNECMA 14X Super Mars engine in 1952 but development was later stopped. The Vanneau remained in service with the French Air Force and Navy into the late 1960s.

Variants

MS.470
Prototype powered by 700hp (522kW) Gnome-Rhone 14M radial engine, one built.
MS.472 Vanneau II
Production variant for the French Air Force powered by 690hp (515kW) Hispano-Suiza 12X piston engine, three prototypes and 230 production aircraft.
MS.474 Vanneau IV
Carrier-capable production variant for the French Navy, 70 built.
MS.475 Vanneau V
Improved version for the French Air Force powered by 850hp (634kW) Hispano-Suiza 12Y-45 V12 engine, 200 built.
MS.476
One MS.475 modified with increased wing surface.
MS.477
One MS.475 powered by a Renault 12S-02 engine.
MS.478
Projected Isotta Fraschini Delta powered variant, not built.
MS.479
Developed variant powered by a 830hp (611kW) SNECMA 14X Super Mars, one built.

Operators

France

French Air Force
French Navy

Specifications (MS.475 Vanneau V)

Data from

General characteristics

Crew: 2
Length: 9.05 m (29 ft 8¼ in)
Wingspan: 10.65 m (34 ft 11¼ in)
Height: 3.62 m (11 ft 10½ in)
Wing area: 17.30 m² (186.22 ft²)
Empty weight: 2351 kg (5183 lb)
Gross weight: 3125 kg (6889 lb)
Powerplant: 1 x— Hispano-Suiza 12Y-45 V-12 piston engine, 641 kW (860 hp)

Performance

Maximum speed: 445 km/h (277 mph)
Range: 1500 km (932 miles)
Service ceiling: 8500 m (27,885 ft)

Armament

2 x MAC 1934 7.5mm (0.295in) wing-mounted machine-guns
2 x racks for light bombs

Taylor, Michael J. H. (1989). Jane's Encyclopedia of Aviation. London: Studio Editions.
The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Aircraft (Part Work 1982-1985). Orbis Publishing.

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

Living Warbirds: The best warbirds DVD series.

Source: WikiPedia