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{{Short description|French aircraft manufacturer (1911–1966)}}
{{refimprove|date=November 2023}}
{{Infobox company
| name = Morane-Saulnier
| logo = Morane-Saulnier Logo.jpg
| image = 
| image_caption =
| former_name = 
| type = 
| industry = [[Aerospace]]
| fate = bought out by [[Potez]] on 7 January 1962
| predecessor = 
| successor = ''Société d'exploitation des Établissements Morane-Saulnier'' ('''SEEMS''') and [[DAHER-SOCATA|SOCATA]]
| founded = {{Start date and age|1911}}
| founders = [[Raymond Saulnier (aircraft manufacturer)|Raymond Saulnier]] and [[Robert and Léon Morane]]
| defunct = 
| hq_location_city = 
| hq_location_country = France
| area_served = <!-- or: | areas_served = -->
| key_people = 
| products = Aircraft
| owner = <!-- or: | owners = -->
| num_employees = 
| num_employees_year = <!-- Year of num_employees data (if known) -->
| parent = 
}}
[[File:morane.saulnier.rallye.minerva.arp.jpg|thumb|1970 Morane-Saulnier Rallye Minerva MS.894A]]
[[File:Morane-Saulnier MS.317.JPG|thumb|Morane-Saulnier MS.317]]

'''Aéroplanes Morane-Saulnier''' was a French aircraft manufacturing company formed in October 1911 by [[Raymond Saulnier (aircraft manufacturer)|Raymond Saulnier]] and the [[Robert and Léon Morane|Morane brothers]], Léon and Robert.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Apter |first1=Jeff |title=Socata’s Centenary Could See It Join The Jet Age {{!}} AIN |url=https://www.ainonline.com/aviation-news/business-aviation/2011-10-12/socatas-centenary-could-see-it-join-jet-age |website=Aviation International News |access-date=30 November 2023 |date=13 October 2011}}</ref> The company was taken over and diversified in the 1960s.

==History==
===Model development===
Morane-Saulnier's first product was the [[Morane-Borel monoplane]], a development of a [[monoplane]] design produced by the  Morane company (sometimes called Type A) in partnership with Gabriel Borel). Using a wing-warping mechanism for control, this was the type in which [[Jules Védrines]] won the Paris-Madrid race on 26 May 1911.

[[File:Leon_Morane.jpg |left|thumb|Léon Morane]]
[[File:Weymanndepart2.jpeg|left|thumb|1910:Robert and Léon Morane before takeoff in two-seat [[Bleriot XI]]. Both were nearly killed when the machine crashed shortly after. The brothers decided to start their own company afterward.]]

Morane-Saulnier's first commercially successful design was the [[Morane-Saulnier G]], a wire-braced shoulder-wing monoplane with wing warping.  This led to the development of a series of aircraft and was very successful in racing and setting records. The Type G was a 2-seater, and was reduced slightly in size to produce the [[Morane-Saulnier H]], a single-seater, and was given a faired fuselage to produce the [[Morane-Saulnier N]] single-seat fighter. The [[Morane-Saulnier H]] was modified so that its wings were mounted parasol fashion, above the fuselage to afford the observer a better view, creating the [[Morane-Saulnier L]]. The L was then fitted with a faired fuselage as on the N and ailerons to make the [[Morane-Saulnier LA]], which was then completely redesigned (though looking very similar) to make the [[Morane-Saulnier P]] which would be the basis for a whole family of aircraft developed in the 1920s. The Type N was developed into the larger and more powerful [[Morane-Saulnier I]] and the very similar [[Morane-Saulnier V]], but these were not successful, being too powerful and having inadequate controls. The V was then redesigned to create the [[Morane-Saulnier AC]] which substituted ailerons for wing warping and had a strut-braced wing. The AC was not particularly successful, in part because of poor field of view a shoulder-mounted wing produced, so the [[Morane-Saulnier AI]] was developed, in which the wing was raised  above the fuselage. The AI lost out in the competition to the SPAD XIII but was built in limited numbers in case there was a problem with the SPAD; as it turned out it was the AI that suffered structural problems.

In parallel to the L the [[Morane-Saulnier BB]] was developed for the RFC, which was a Type P built as a biplane. Because the type 'BB' when pronounced in French sounds like Bebe (or baby), this became the type's nickname. Most of these types had no fixed fin, or [[horizontal stabilizer]], with the result that they were not only very sensitive on the controls, but also could not even be flown hands off. One early pilot noted that if one left the aircraft to its own devices it would end up going upside down in the opposite direction. Despite this, many were used as trainers, including a great many that had their wings stripped so they couldn't fly, creating what was known as a Penguin.

The Type L has the distinction of being the first fighter aircraft used during World War I when one was fitted with a machine gun firing through the propeller, which was fitted with metal plates to deflect any bullets that struck it. This was flown with success by [[Roland Garros (aviator)|Roland Garros]], who would later be considered to be the first French [[Flying Ace|Ace]]. A similar system was fitted to the Type N pending the arrival of other machine guns, which made the system workable. While flying his modified Type L, Garros crashed on the German side of the lines and the wreckage was examined by Fokker just prior to Fokker producing a similar system.

After the war, Morane-Saulnier produced a number of designs for training and [[general aviation]], but with the threat of war in the late thirties it once again turned to military aircraft. During the late 1920s and early 1930s, it produced a number of [[parasol wing]] fighters including the [[Morane-Saulnier M.S.230|M.S.230]] and [[Morane-Saulnier M.S.315|M.S.315]], but all were of limited performance and were relegated to training duties. Morane-Saulnier had much more success with its dramatically modernized [[Morane-Saulnier M.S.406|M.S.406]], which was the [[List of aircraft of the French Air Force during World War II|French Air Force]]'s most numerous fighter at the start of the war. The 406 was advanced only at the time of its introduction in 1935, and suffered terribly against the more modern [[Messerschmitt Bf 109]]s it faced in 1940.

During World War II, Morane-Saulnier was operated under German control and built a number of German types including the [[Fieseler Storch]], known after the war as the Morane-Saulnier MS.500 Criquet. Morane-Saulnier also produced a number of trainer and civilian aircraft models, the best known of which was the successful "Rallye" series of four-seat [[STOL]] semi-aerobatic tourers (see picture above).

Morane-Saulnier was purchased by [[Potez]] on 7 January 1962, and became '''SEEMS''', the ''Societe d'Exploitation des Etablissements Morane-Saulnier''.<ref>{{cite web |title=MORANE-SAULNIER DEVIENT UNE FILIALE DE SUD-AVIATION |url=https://www.lemonde.fr/archives/article/1965/03/04/morane-saulnier-devient-une-filiale-de-sud-aviation_2174709_1819218.html |website=Le Monde.fr |access-date=30 November 2023 |language=fr |date=4 March 1965}}</ref> In 1966 its civilian models were spun off to form [[DAHER-SOCATA|SOCATA]], the ''Societe de Construction d'Avions de Tourisme et d'Affaires'', which was eventually purchased by [[Aérospatiale]].<ref>Pierre Gaillard, Les Avions français de 1965-1990, Paris, éditions EPA, 1991 {{ISBN| 9782851203922}}</ref>

===Development of gun synchronisation===
{{Main|Synchronization gear}}

The company and Saulnier himself had a significant role in the development of the concept of synchronising machine gun fire through an aircraft's propeller.<ref>van Wyngarden, G (2006). Early German Aces of World War I, Osprey Publishing Ltd. p.7 {{ISBN|1-84176-997-5}}</ref>

==Morane-Saulnier designs==
{{Columns-list|colwidth=20em|
* [[Morane-Borel monoplane]] (Also retrospectively "Type A")
* [[Morane-Saulnier B]]
* [[Morane-Saulnier G]]
* [[Morane-Saulnier H]]
* [[Morane-Saulnier L]]
* [[Morane-Saulnier L|Morane-Saulnier LA]]
* [[Morane-Saulnier N]]
* [[Morane-Saulnier I]] - Type N with more powerful engine
* [[Morane-Saulnier V]]
* [[Morane-Saulnier P]]
* [[Morane-Saulnier T]]
* [[Morane-Saulnier AC]]
* [[Morane-Saulnier AF]]
* [[Morane-Saulnier AI]] (variants MoS-27, MoS-28 MoS-29, MoS-30)
* [[Morane-Saulnier AN]]
* [[Morane-Saulnier AR]]
* [[Morane-Saulnier BB]]
* [[Morane-Saulnier MS.43]]
* [[Morane-Saulnier MoS-50]]
* [[Morane-Saulnier MoS-50|Morane-Saulnier MoS.53]]
* [[Morane-Saulnier MoS-121]]
* [[Morane-Saulnier MS.130|Morane-Saulnier MS.129]]
* [[Morane-Saulnier MS.130]]
* [[Morane-Saulnier MS.130]] ''Michelin Cup''
* [[Morane-Saulnier MS.130|Morane-Saulnier MS.132]]
* [[Morane-Saulnier MS.138]]
* [[Morane-Saulnier MS.138|Morane-Saulnier MS.139]]
* [[Morane-Saulnier MS.140]]
* [[Morane-Saulnier MS.147]]
* [[Morane-Saulnier MS.147|Morane-Saulnier MS.148]]
* [[Morane-Saulnier MS.147|Morane-Saulnier MS.149]]
* [[Morane-Saulnier MS.152]]
* [[Morane-Saulnier MS.180]]
* [[Morane-Saulnier MS.180|Morane-Saulnier MS.181]]
* [[Morane-Saulnier MS.180|Morane-Saulnier MS.185]]
* [[Morane-Saulnier MS.200]]<ref>{{cite web |title=Morane-Saulnier MS-200 |url=https://www.aviafrance.com/morane-saulnier-ms-200-aviation-france-9726.htm |website=www.aviafrance.com |date=2021-12-09 |access-date=29 November 2023}}</ref>
* [[Morane-Saulnier MS.221]]/MS.222/MS.223
* [[Morane-Saulnier MS.224]]
* [[Morane-Saulnier M.S.225]]/M.S.226/MS.227
* [[Morane-Saulnier MS.230]]
* [[Morane-Saulnier MS.230|Morane-Saulnier MS.231]]
* [[Morane-Saulnier MS.230|Morane-Saulnier MS.232]]
* [[Morane-Saulnier MS.230|Morane-Saulnier MS.233]]
* [[Morane-Saulnier MS.230|Morane-Saulnier MS.234]]
* MS.235, MS.236, MS.237 - MS.230 variants with different engines
* [[Morane-Saulnier M.S.225|Morane-Saulnier MS.275]]
* [[Morane-Saulnier MS.315]]
* [[Morane-Saulnier M.S.325]]
* [[Morane-Saulnier MS.341|Morane-Saulnier MS.340]]
* [[Morane-Saulnier MS.341]]
* [[Morane-Saulnier MS.341|Morane-Saulnier MS.342]]
* [[Morane-Saulnier MS.341|Morane-Saulnier MS.343]]
* [[Morane-Saulnier MS.341|Morane-Saulnier MS.345]]
* [[Morane-Saulnier MS.350]]
* [[Morane-Saulnier M.S.406|Morane-Saulnier MS.405]]
* [[Morane-Saulnier M.S.406]], MS.410, MS.411, MS.412, MS.430, MS.435, MS.450
* [[Morane-Saulnier Vanneau|Morane-Saulnier MS.470 Vanneau]]
* Morane-Saulnier MS.500 ''Criquet'', MS.502, MS.505 - production of [[Fieseler Fi 156 Storch]] under German occupation and post liberation
* [[Morane-Saulnier MS.560]]
* [[Morane-Saulnier MS.570]]
* [[Morane-Saulnier MS.570|Morane-Saulnier MS.571]]
* [[Morane Saulnier MS.603]]
* [[Morane-Saulnier MS.660]]
* [[Morane-Saulnier MS-700 Pétrel]]
* [[Morane-Saulnier MS-700 Pétrel|Morane-Saulnier MS.703]]
* [[Morane-Saulnier Alcyon]] (MS.730 MS.731, MS.732, MS.733, MS.7350)
* [[Morane-Saulnier MS.755 Fleuret]]
* [[Morane-Saulnier MS.760 Paris]]
* [[SOCATA Rallye family|Morane-Saulnier MS.880]] ''Rallye''
* [[SOCATA Rallye family|Morane-Saulnier MS.880b]] ''Rallye''
* [[SOCATA Rallye family|Morane-Saulnier MS.885]] ''Super Rallye''
* [[SOCATA Rallye family|Morane-Saulnier MS.893E]]
* [[Morane-Saulnier Epervier|Morane-Saulnier MS.1500]]
}}

==Gallery==
<gallery>
File:Emile_Taddéoli_monoplane.jpg|Morane-Saulnier Type A
File:Morane_D-3801_J-143.jpg|Morane-Saulnier 406
File:MORANE-SAULNIER MS.505 CRIQUET D-EGTY vl.jpg|Morane-Saulnier MS.505 Criquet, a French built [[Fieseler Fi 156 Storch]]
File:Morane.saulnier.rallye.minerva.arp.jpg|Morane-Saulnier [[SOCATA Rallye family|Socata Rallye]] Minerva MS.894A
</gallery>

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==Further reading==
{{Commons category}}
*{{cite book |last1=Lacaze |first1=Henri |last2=Lherbert |first2=Claude |title=Morane Saulnier: ses avions, ses projets |date=2013 |publisher=Lela Presse |location=Outreau, France |isbn=978-2-914017-70-1 |language=fr|name-list-style=amp|trans-title=Morane Saulnier: Their Aircraft and Projects}}

{{Morane-Saulnier aircraft}}
{{Socata}}
{{Defunct aircraft manufacturers of France}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Defunct aircraft manufacturers of France]]
[[Category:Manufacturing companies established in 1911]]
[[Category:Manufacturing companies disestablished in 1966]]
[[Category:French companies established in 1911]]
[[Category:1966 disestablishments in France]]
[[Category:Morane-Saulnier aircraft| ]]
[[Category:1962 mergers and acquisitions]]