Morane-Borel monoplane

Morane-Borel monoplane

Picture - Emile Taddéoli in ~1911/13

Role: Sports plane
Manufacturer: Morane brothers and Gabriel Borel
First flight: 1911

The Morane-Borel monoplane (sometimes referred to with the retronym Morane-Saulnier Type A or simply the Morane monoplane) was an early French single-engine, single-seat aircraft. It was flown in several European air races.

Design

The Monoplane was a conventional design for its day, a mid-wing monoplane with fixed tailskid undercarriage. The wooden framework of the rear fuselage was left uncovered in some aircraft. Its powerplant was a 50 hp rotary engine driving a two-blade wooden propeller.

Operational history

The Monoplane achieved fame when Jules Védrines flew one to victory in the 1911 Paris-Madrid air race, the only competitor to finish the four-day course. Emile Taddéoli was another owner of a Morane monoplane.

A float-equipped version flew in the round-Britain Hydro-Aeroplane trial of 1912. This led to the development of a two-seater, of which eight were purchased by the Royal Navy and used as spotter aircraft until the outbreak of World War I.

Surviving examples

In 2007, a single example remains extant, undergoing conservation work at the Canada Aviation Museum

Operators

United Kingdom Royal Navy Brazil Brazilian Navy

Specifications

General characteristics

Crew: one pilot
Length: 6.28 m (20 ft 7 in)
Wingspan: 9.12 m (29 ft 11 in)
Empty weight: 280 kg (619 lb)
Gross weight: 430 kg (948 lb)
Powerplant: 1 x— Gnome et Rhx´ne rotary, 37 kW (50 hp)

Performance

Maximum speed: 110 km/h (69 mph)

Taylor, Michael J. H. (1989). Jane's Encyclopedia of Aviation. London: Studio Editions. pp. 193.
aviafrance.com

Morane-Borel monoplane Pictures and Morane-Borel monoplane for Sale.

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Source: WikiPedia