| AI (MoS.27, MoS.29 & MoS.30) | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Role | fighter/trainer |
| National origin | France |
| Manufacturer | Morane-Saulnier |
| First flight | August 1917 |
| Introduction | February 1918 |
| Primary user | French Air Force |
| Number built | 1210 [1] |
| Developed from | Morane-Saulnier AC |
The Morane-Saulnier AI (also MoS.27, MoS.29 and MoS.30) is a French parasol-wing fighter aircraft that was produced by Morane-Saulnier during World War I. [note 1]
The AI evolved via the AC from the Morane-Saulnier Type N, but with a parasol wing. It had a rigidly braced wing with ailerons replacing the N's wing warping. It was intended to replace the Nieuport 17 and SPAD VII in French service, in competition against the SPAD XIII and Nieuport 28. It was ordered as a back-up for the SPAD XIII, in case the ongoing problems with its Hispano-Suiza continued to be unresolved.
Its Gnome Monosoupape 9N120 kW (160 hp) rotary engine was mounted in the nose, in a tight fitting circular open-front cowling. The strut braced constant chord two-spar parasol wing was slightly swept back, and fitted with horn-balanced ailerons. The spars and ribs of the circular section teardrop-shaped fuselage were wood, wire-braced and covered in fabric, and faired out with wood stringers. [2] Unlike most previous Morane-Saulnier designs, the AI's fuselage did not end in a horizontal knife edge, but rather came to a point which extended to the rear of the rudder and elevators.
Production aircraft were given service designations based on whether they had 1 Vickers machine gun (designated MoS 27), 2 Vickers guns (designated MoS 29) or none (designated MoS.30). [1] [3]
The AI was briefly operated by a number of escadrilles from February 1918, but by mid-May 1918, most had been withdrawn from operations, and replaced by SPAD XIIIs due to structural problems. [2] After that problem had been resolved, the aircraft were returned to service, but as advanced trainers, with new purpose-built examples being designated MoS 30 E.1. [3] Many were used post-war after having been sold off as surplus, as aerobatic aircraft, including one which was flown by Charles Nungesser for a tour across the US.
Fifty-one MoS 30 E.1s were purchased by the American Expeditionary Force as pursuit trainers. [3]
In addition one undesignated example was built with a wood monocoque fuselage, and fitted with a 130 kW (170 hp) Le Rhone 9R rotary and two 7.7 mm (0.303 in) Vickers machine guns.
Post-war, examples in civilian use were re-engined with the 100 kW (130 hp) Clerget 9Ba rotary engine in a shorter cowling.
In addition to military operators, the Morane-Saulnier AI was popular with French aerobatic pilots and a number carried civil registrations.
Belgium 
Czechoslovakia 
France 
Japan 
Soviet Union 
Switzerland 
United States 
Three AIs are flown from La Ferté-Alais. [1]
The Fantasy of Flight collection in Polk City, Florida has an AI tested by the United States Army Air Service in 1918 at McCook Field in Ohio until being sold off for private use. It subsequently joined the Tallmantz Collection which was then acquired by Fantasy of Flight in 1985 and restored in the late 1980s. [4]
Another AI, formerly flown by Charles Nungesser is at the Old Rhinebeck Aerodrome, and was flown in the weekend airshows there. [5]
Data from War Planes of the First World War: Volume Five Fighters [6]
General characteristics
Performance
Armament
Aircraft of comparable role, configuration, and era
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