Morane-Saulnier WR

 

Apparently, there it seems to have been two (or even three) airplanes which received the WR denomination. The first was a modification of the Type G (though some sources claim it was the Type H) which, was a regular machine fitted with floatplanes. 

It was supposedly designed for the Imperial Russian Navy, but that's not entirely supported as it was most likely a Russian variant with a greenhouse fitted on the sides of the fuselage, ahead of the wing and it wasn't a seaplane. For more information about this one, check our previous post about the Russian Type Gs here. 

Anyway, the type took part in the 1913 Schneider Trophy for seaplane race in Monaco. This WR incorporated wing-warping for lateral control and had balanced all-flying elevators and balanced rudder without the fin. It was powered by an 80 hp Le-Rhône engine. It seems that the Swedish Thulin B also received this modification.

The second Type WR was an armoured airplane designed to meet a 1913 requirement for a two-seat armoured reconnaissance airplane. It was stated that it had to be powered by an 80 hp Gnome engine and the machine should cost at maximum 37.000 French Francs (that's 5,640.00 € - $6414,96). It's not known if any of these machines went beyond the drawing board.

Sources:

1. Flying Machines Press - French Aircraft of the First World War

2. http://www.andonio.it/model/morane_wr/MS-WR.pdf

Morane-Saulnier G. Part Three. More users

 

The Morane-Saulnier G was a French two-seat racing and sport aircraft that was produced before the outbreak of World War I. It was employed by various countries, among them, the following ones:

• Ottoman Empire: The Ottoman Empire ordered 40 Type G just before the beginning of the war. They were never delivered. However, that wasn't an impediment for us to draw an hypothetical-looking airplane.
• Switzerland: One Type G was obtained by the Sweizerische Fliegertruppe (Swiss Army Air Corps) in 1914. It was given the serial number 24 and was employed to train pilots in aerial combat. It served in that role until 1919 and was eventually scrapped in the 1930s.
• Spain: Three Type G were bought by the Spanish Count of Artal in 1913. He donated the machines to the Aeronáutica Militar (Military Aeronautics) where they were found to be lighter and more maneuverable than the Nieuport IV which was in service before. Two Type Gs were assigned to Escuadrilla de Tetuán (Tetuán Squadron) which were used to support the Spanish military presence in Northern Morocco. They were later assigned to Escuela Nacional de Aviación (National Aviation School) in Getafe, close to Madrid, where they served until September 1919.
• Sweden: Thulins Aeroplansfabrik produced a total of three copies of the Type G under license in Stockholm. Two were made for the Danish Army Air Service and a third one was delivered to the Flygkompaniet (Swedish Army Aviation Service) where it was given the serial 5, though it was later changed to 405.

Sources:

1. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Morane-Saulnier_G

2. Flying Machines Press -  French Aircraft of the First World War

3. https://aeropinakes.com/wordpress/1913/02/10/el-regalo-del-conde-de-artal/ (translated)

Morane-Saulnier G, part two. Various Users

 

The Morane-Saulnier G was a two-seat sport monoplane with shoulder mounted wings. It was produced in France just before the outbreak of World War 1. Both crew-members sat in an elongated cockpit located in the center of the fuselage between the wings. This position was later found to be unsatisfactory as it seriously limited downwards vision. Every Type G was powered by a single engine, but those powered by a 60-hp Le Rhône were designated internally as Type GA and those powered by a 80-hp Gnome engine were designated as Type GB. A total of ninety-four Type Gs were ordered by the Aéronautique Militaire (Military Aeronautics - French Army Air Corps) and they were given the official designation of Morane-Saulnier MoS.2. 

The Type G was also developed in two variants, one of them served as a testbed for the Garros-Hue version of the Morane-Saulnier bullet deflector device. The second one was a pure fighter variant with a fully faired fuselage, fixed vertical fin, reinforced landing gear struts, removal of the observer's position an 8-mm Hotchkiss machine gun placed on the nose, bullet deflectors and the same engine that powered the Type H: an 80-hp Le Rhône 9C. It was built in summer 1915. At least one Type G aircraft was fitted with the Type H wings. However, these were not adopted because both Morane-Saulnier Type L and Type N (which were more effective in the fighter role) were entering service. Various trainer sub-variants with de-rated Anzani engines were also made.

The Type G saw service with various countries:

• Argentina: The Argentinean aviation pioneer Jorge Newbery had a Morane-Saulnier G as his personal aircraft. Apparently, in 1912, he donated at least two Type Gs to the Argentine Army. 
• Cuba: The Morane-Saulnier G constituted the second airplane in the Cuban Army Air Corps which was founded in 1913. Jaime Gonzalez, a Cuban pilot who had a Type G as his personal aircraft, was promoted by the Cuban House of Representatives as Captain in order to have him as an instructor. 
• Denmark: The Haerens Flyvertropper (Danish Army Air Service) bought two Type G (though some sources state they were Type H) in 1915. These were Swedish license-built Thulin B. In Danish service they were assigned the names of M.S.1 "Hugin" and M.S.2 "Munin". Initially they were both powered by 50-hp Gnomes. Munin was written off service in 1917 and Hugin served until 1919 with his engine being replaced by am 80-hp Gnome in 1917.
• United Kingdom: One Type G was pushed into British Military Service just at the outbreak of the Great War. It received the serial number 482 and was assigned to No.1 Reserve Aeroplane Squadron of the Royal Flying Corps (RFC). Later it was re-assigned to the No.60Squadron. Twelve additional aircraft were ordered, a combination of Type G and Type Hs in 1915.
  Apparently the Royal Naval Air Service (RNAS) had also two Type Gs in strength. These were labelled with the serials 941 and 1242. The 941 was an impressed aircraft and served in Eastchurch airfield and was later assigned to No.2 Squadron. The second was license-built by Graham-White Aviation Co. and was delivered to Eastchurch in December 1914 and later sent to Hendon airfield.
  We couldn't find graphic information about the Type G serving with both the RFC and the RNAS, so the drawings should be considered as speculative.
• France: According to some French documents of the time both MS 23 and MS 26 were almost entirely composed of Type L, however, some few Type Gs may served alongside the recon plane. In any case, the placement of the cockpit and the inadequate downwards field of view of the Type G got the types quickly replaced by the better Type L. 
  Most of the Type Gs were assigned to trainer units which were powered by the de-rated Anzani engines and had the denomination of Morane-Saulnier 16E1 with the letter "E" meaning standing for "École" ("School" in French).
• Mexico: Back in 1912 the Mexican Government sent five army officers to the Moissant International Aviation School at Long Island, in New Jersey. These men returned to Mexico bringing with them two Morane-Saulnier monoplanes, most probably of the G Type. Those five officers, together with foreign mercenaries, formed the "Escuadrilla de Ébano" (Ebony Squadron) in 1915 which was assigned to the Nort-Eastern Army and saw action during the Mexican Revolution in Tamaulipas, Veracruz and Yucatan.

Sources:

1. Flying Machines Press  - French Aircraft of the First World War

2. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Morane-Saulnier_G

3. http://www.urrib2000.narod.ru/Mil1-1-e.html

4.https://www.facebook.com/ArchivoGeneraldelaNacionArgentina/photos/-monoplano-morane-saulnier-del-ingeniero-jorge-newbery-1914ar-agn-agas01-rg-13-3/3340549655970227/