Morane-Saulnier Alcyon
Morane-Saulnier · France · first flew 1949 · light aircraft
The Morane-Saulnier Alcyon is a French two or three-seat basic training monoplane designed and built by Morane-Saulnier.
Recognition (WEFT)
| W — Wings | Low-mounted, tapered |
|---|---|
| E — Engines | 1 × piston, nose-mounted |
| F — Fuselage | 9.32 m fuselage |
| T — Tail | Conventional |
WEFT is AircraftIQ's four-point recognition method — how it works.
Spot it by:
- Low-wing cantilever monoplane trainer
- Inverted inline engine in the nose
- Two or three seats
A low-wing trainer with a long inline-engined nose, and a trainer able to carry two or three people.
Specifications
- The Morane-Saulnier Alcyon has a length of 9.32 m (31 ft).
- It has a wingspan of 11.28 m (37 ft).
- Its maximum speed is 260 km/h (162 mph).
- Typical crew: 2-3.
Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.
History
The prototype MS.730 first flew on 11 August 1949 with a 180 hp Mathis 8G.20 engine. It was re-engined as the MS.731 and flew again in November 1949 with an Argus As 10.
Variants
The MS.732 prototypes had retractable main wheels. The production MS.733 had a 240 hp Potez 6D 02 engine, and the MS.733A was a gunnery trainer modified for counter-insurgency use in Algeria.
Where you'll see it
Five pre-production and 200 production aircraft were delivered to the French Navy, the French Air Force and the Cambodian Air Force. Several civilian flying schools including Air France used it, and a number have been restored to fly.
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