Morane-Saulnier MS.130 explained

The Morane-Saulnier MS.129 and its derivatives in the MS.130 series were a family of military trainer aircraft produced in France in the 1920s.^{[1] [2]}

Design and development

The MS.129 and 130 were conventional, parasol-wing monoplanes with open cockpits in tandem and fixed tailskid undercarriage. The initial version, the MS.129, was produced in small numbers for the Romanian Air Force and civil users, but the major production version was the MS.130, which equipped the French Navy and a number of foreign air arms.

The second MS.130 prototype won the 1929 Coupe Michelin, flown by Michel Detroyat with an average speed of 190 km/h (120 mph).^[3]

The MS.130 was further developed as the MS.230, and at least two MS.130s were later rebuilt to this new standard.^[4]

Variants

MS.129: initial production version with Hispano-Suiza 8Ab engine.^[5]

MS.130: major production version with Salmson 9AB engine; 146 built.^[6]

MS.130 Coupe Michelin:A single aircraft modified for competing in the Coupe Michelin 1929, which Michel Détroyat won at .

MS.131: MS.130 converted to use a Lorraine 7Me engine (1 converted for US military attaché in Paris)^[7]

MS.132: version with Salmson 7Ac engine for French Navy; 5 built.^[8]

MS.133: version with Gnome-Rhône 5Kc engine; 3 converted from MS.129, 1 converted from MS.130.

MS.134: conversion of MS.130 with Clerget 9B engine

The MS.135, MS.136, MS.137, MS.138, and MS.139 were of a different design derived from the MS.35, and not related to the MS.130.

Operators

• France
  • Aéronavale (MS.130)
  • Aéronautique Militaire (MS.130)
• Brazil (15 × MS.130)
  • Brazilian Air Force
  • Varig (MS.130)
• Belgium (2 × MS.130)
• China (MS.130)
• Guatemala (MS.130)
  • • Portuguese Air Force (1 x MS.130, 4 x MS.133)^[9]
• Romania (MS.129)
• Turkey (MS.130)

References

• Book: The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Aircraft . Aerospace Publishing. London .
• The Michelin Cup . . 8 July 1932 . 623 . 2008-11-14.
• Niccoli. Riccardo. Atlantic Sentinels: The Portuguese Air Force Since 1912 . Air Enthusiast. 73. January–February 1998. 20–35. 0143-5450.
• Book: Taylor, Michael J. H. . Jane's Encyclopedia of Aviation . 1989 . Studio Editions . London . 0-7106-0710-5 .

Further reading

• Book: Lacaze . Henri . Lherbert . Claude . Morane Saulnier: ses avions, ses projets . 2013 . Lela Presse . Outreau, France . 978-2-914017-70-1 . fr. amp. Morane Saulnier: Their Aircraft and Projects.

Notes and References

1. Taylor 1989, 685
2. The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Aircraft 2553
3. "The Michelin Cup", 223
4. The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Aircraft 2554
5. Web site: Parmentier . Bruno . Morane-Saulnier MS-129 . Aviafrance . 6 February 2019 . Paris . fr . 18 June 2012.
6. Web site: Parmentier . Bruno . Morane-Saulnier MS-130 . Aviafrance . 6 February 2019 . Paris . fr . 19 January 1997.
7. Web site: Parmentier . Bruno . Morane-Saulnier MS-130 Michelin Cup . Aviafrance . 6 February 2019 . Paris . fr.
8. Web site: Parmentier . Bruno . Morane-Saulnier MS-132 . Aviafrance . 6 February 2019 . Paris . fr . 26 November 2003.
9. Niccoli 1998, p.24.