Is there any interest in a model of this plane?

[Captain Kurt]

The Morane Saulnier Type L. I'm debating whether to model this plane. Since it was a very early WWI type I don't know if anyone would find a use for it, or not.

Yea or nay?

[_486_Col_Wolf]

Kind of reminds me of the monoplane "deathtrap" from the movie "The Blue Max".

[huub vink]

C_K did it have any armament, or is it from the period they shot with revolvers and guns at each other? In that case I foresee some problems with a proper dp file.....

edit: I already found it it was armed with a single machine gun and as the French didn't have synchronisation gear yet, it had deflectors at the prop.

Cheers,
Huub

[voyager]

My vote is Yea! It's WW1.

[Ravenna]

An early bird yes, but this little parasol aircraft ( I'm assuming you are thinking of the LA version) served with the Aviation Militaire, the RFC, the RNAS and the Imperial Russian Air Service. Reginald Warneford was awarded a VC for shooting down a Zeppelin flying a Morane for the RNAS.

I would say go for it. The flight dynamics alone would be interesting.

Are you looking at the variant with ailerons?

[kdriver]

Roland Garros had success with this aircraft's deflector plates which he helped design as an interim measure until the interrupter gear was perfected.

I think the Type L is worth doing. It was also the predecessor of the Type AI which was too late for frontline service.

[Roxane-21]

There will always be great interest in WW1 planes, even early birds like the Morane Type L.

[Rami]

Captain Kurt,

Was it the "L" or "N" model that Roland Garros shot down his first German plane in? Very cool idea!

[Ravenna]

It was the L variant used by Garros. The following month (April) he force landed behind German lines and was captured.

[Captain Kurt]

Yes, Garros flew an early production Type L parasol which he armed with a Hotchkiss MG.



Sub Lt. Warneford flew a later production Type L. He didn't shoot down the Zeppelin - he bombed it from above!



Note the differences - principally the different nose lengths, the different undercarriage legs, and whether the pilot controls were in the front or the rear seat. I don't believe either had ailerons - wing warp control instead.

[demile]

yes bring it on

[Captain Kurt]

OK It looks like I need to add it my list then. I'll still have to figure out which version to make but given we all like to be fighter pilots it will probably be the early version of Roland Garros.

I will need to finish my current project first though.

[Ravenna]

Yes, you are right Kurt. Flt. Sub Lt. Warneford used 20lb bombs to down the Zeppelin. This pic shows his markings and I think shows a lack of ailerons.

Sturtivant and Page's book "Royal Navy Aircraft Serials and Units 1911-1919" says the L model delivered to the RNAS came from the Morane factory complex. The RNAS order came to 29 aircraft.