Morane-Saulnier G
Morane-Saulnier · France · first flew 1912 · light aircraft
The Morane-Saulnier Type G was a pioneering French racing and sporting monoplane of 1912, setting speed records and establishing Morane-Saulnier's reputation for fast, uncompromising designs.
Recognition (WEFT)
| W — Wings | Mid-mounted, tapered |
|---|---|
| E — Engines | 1 × piston, nose-mounted |
| F — Fuselage | 6.88 m fuselage |
| T — Tail | Conventional |
WEFT is AircraftIQ's four-point recognition method — how it works.
Spot it by:
- Pioneer-era shoulder-wing monoplane with wire bracing
- Rotary engine with a circular cowl ring at the nose
- Open single-seat cockpit with the pilot exposed to the slipstream
Archetypal early monoplane: shoulder-mounted wing with marked anhedral and extensive wire bracing to a central cabane structure. The large-diameter rotary engine dominates the nose. The fuselage tapers sharply to a small cruciform tail. The pilot sits in an open cut-out with minimal protection.
Specifications
- The Morane-Saulnier G has a length of 6.88 m (23 ft).
- It has a wingspan of 9.5 m (31 ft).
- Its maximum speed is 138 km/h (86 mph).
- Typical crew: 1.
Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.
History
Designed by Léon Morane and Raymond Saulnier, the Type G was one of a series of shoulder-wing monoplanes that pushed the boundaries of early aviation performance. Roland Garros and other notable aviators flew the type, and it proved competitive in the Gordon Bennett races. Its configuration directly influenced the military monoplanes that Morane-Saulnier produced during World War I.
Variants
The Type G was part of a family that included the broadly similar Types H and L; the Type L became a significant WWI observation and fighter aircraft.
Where you'll see it
Flown by prominent pre-war aviators in racing and record attempts; a small number were acquired by military services for evaluation.
Related aircraft
- Morane-Saulnier BB
- Morane-Saulnier LA
- Morane-Saulnier Type P
- Morane-Saulnier AI
- Avro Type F
- Deperdussin TT
- Fokker A.I
- Short S.38
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