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Type AF
Role	Biplane fighter
National origin	France
Manufacturer	Morane-Saulnier
First flight	23 June 1917
Number built	1
Developed from	Morane-Saulnier AC
Variants	Morane-Saulnier AI

The Morane-Saulnier AF, also known as the Morane-Saulnier Type AF and the MoS 28 was a French First World War single-seat biplane fighter prototype from 1917.

Development

Although the fuselage was similar to that of the contemporary Morane-Saulnier Type AI parasol monoplane and preceding Morane-Saulnier AC shoulder wing monoplane, this aircraft was designed as a biplane. It was Morane-Saulnier's first single-seat fighter biplane as the company normally specialized in monoplanes. The AF was first flown on 23 June 1917 and tested by the Aviation Militaire in late 1917 however it was passed over for production in favour of the SPAD XIII, Morane-Saulnier Type AI and Nieuport 28. In November 1917 a floatplane version of the AF was flight tested with a single central pontoon-like float, but was not adopted.

Variants

Morane-Saulnier AC - shoulder wing fighter
Morane-Saulnier AI - parasol wing fighter
Morane-Saulnier AF - biplane fighter
Morane-Saulnier AFH - floatplane version of biplane fighter

Specifications (AF)

Data from War Planes of the First World War: Volume Five Fighters^[1]

General characteristics

Crew: 1
Length: 5.15 m (16 ft 11 in)
Wingspan: 7.47 m (24 ft 6 in)
Height: 2.35 m (7 ft 8.5 in)
Wing area: 15.31 m² (164.8 sq ft)
Empty weight: 421 kg (928 lb)
Gross weight: 649 kg (1,431 lb)
Powerplant: 1 × Gnome Monosoupape 9Nb rotary engine , 112 kW (150 hp)

Performance

Maximum speed: 207 km/h (129 mph, 112 kn)
Rate of climb: 8.3 m/s (1,640 ft/min) ^[2]

Armament

1 x 7.7 mm (0.303 in) Vickers gun

Notes

^ Bruce 1972, p. 110.
^ 2 minutes to 1,000 m (3,280 ft)

Bibliography

Bruce, J.M. (1972). War Planes of the First World War: Volume Five Fighters. London: Macdonald. ISBN 0-356-03779-7.
Davilla, Dr. James J.; Soltan, Arthur (1997). French Aircraft of the First World War. Mountain View, CA: Flying Machines Press. ISBN 978-1891268090.
Green, William; Gordon Swanborough. The Complete Book of Fighters. Godalming, UK: Salamander Books. p. 415.