Morane-Saulnier M.S.406
Morane-Saulnier · France · first flew 1935 · fighter
The Morane-Saulnier M.S.406 was the principal French single-seat fighter at the start of World War Two, equipping more Armée de l'Air squadrons than any other type during the Battle of France. Although outclassed by the Messerschmitt Bf 109, it gave a creditable account of itself.
Recognition (WEFT)
| W — Wings | Low-mounted, tapered |
|---|---|
| E — Engines | 1 × piston, nose-mounted |
| F — Fuselage | Distinctive radiator bath under the nose and fabric-covered rear fuselage |
| T — Tail | Conventional |
WEFT is AircraftIQ's four-point recognition method — how it works.
Spot it by:
- France's most numerous fighter at the outbreak of WWII
- Low-wing monoplane with a prominent air-cooled engine and retractable undercarriage
- Distinctive radiator bath under the nose and fabric-covered rear fuselage
Recognisable by its blunt-nosed liquid-cooled engine with a ventral radiator bath, fabric-covered aft fuselage, and rounded wing tips; the fixed-pitch wooden propeller is a common identification feature on French-operated examples.
Specifications
- The Morane-Saulnier M.S.406 has a length of 8.15 m (27 ft).
- It has a wingspan of 10.65 m (35 ft).
- Its maximum speed is 452 km/h (281 mph).
- Typical crew: 1.
Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.
History
Designed in the mid-1930s and first flown in 1935, the M.S.406 entered service in 1938 and bore the brunt of the air fighting over France in May–June 1940. After the French armistice, surviving aircraft were used by Vichy France, Finland (which bought 30 and modified them extensively), and Croatia.
Variants
The Finnish Air Force significantly upgraded their aircraft with Soviet Klimov engines, creating the highly effective Mörkö-Morane; a small number of Croatian aircraft were also modified.
Where you'll see it
Served extensively with France, Finland, and minor Axis-aligned air forces; Finnish examples remained in use until 1948.
Related aircraft
- Morane-Saulnier M.S.225
- Morane-Saulnier M.S.325
- Morane-Saulnier MS.230
- Morane-Saulnier Vanneau
- Arado Ar 80
- Blohm & Voss Ha 137
- Breda Ba.65
- Curtiss P-36 Hawk
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