Morane-Saulnier MS.505 Criquet
Morane-Saulnier · France · first flew 1945 · light aircraft
The Morane-Saulnier MS.505 Criquet is a French-built development of the German Fieseler Fi 156 Storch, produced post-war by Morane-Saulnier using the Storch's tooling and design. It retained the Storch's exceptional short-field performance with a French engine installation.
Recognition (WEFT)
| W — Wings | High-mounted, straight |
|---|---|
| E — Engines | 1 × piston, nose-mounted |
| F — Fuselage | 9.9 m fuselage |
| T — Tail | Conventional |
WEFT is AircraftIQ's four-point recognition method — how it works.
Spot it by:
- French-built Fieseler Storch derivative
- High-wing STOL liaison aircraft
- Large slotted wings for extreme low-speed flight
Virtually identical to the Fieseler Storch, with its distinctive long-legged undercarriage, heavily glazed cabin, and large slotted high-lift wings that give it an unmistakeable spindly appearance.
Specifications
- The Morane-Saulnier MS.505 Criquet has a length of 9.9 m (32 ft).
- It has a wingspan of 14.25 m (47 ft).
- Its maximum speed is 175 km/h (109 mph).
- Typical crew: 2.
Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.
History
After the liberation of France, Morane-Saulnier took over the Puteaux factory where Storches had been built under occupation and continued production with Renault, Salmson, or Argus engines. The Criquet served the French military in liaison, observation, and medevac roles throughout the wars in Indochina and Algeria. It was highly valued for its ability to land in tiny clearings.
Variants
Several engine variants existed, including the MS.500 with the Argus engine, MS.502 with Salmson, and MS.505 with the Renault 6Q. The MS.506 used a Lycoming flat-four engine.
Where you'll see it
Used extensively by the French Armée de l'Air and Aéronavale in the late 1940s through 1960s, seeing active service in French Indochina and Algeria. Some examples served with civilian operators as agricultural and survey aircraft.
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