Thomas-Morse MB-9

Last updated
MB-9
General information
Type Fighter aircraft
National origin United States of America
Manufacturer Thomas-Morse Aircraft
Designer
B Douglas Thomas
Number built1 (MB-9)
History
First flight1922

The Thomas Morse MB-9 was an experimental American fighter aircraft of the 1920s. It was a single-engined, single-seat parasol winged monoplane, but was unsuccessful, being quickly abandoned.

Contents

Design and development

In 1921, B. Douglas Thomas, chief designer of Thomas-Morse Aircraft designed two closely related parasol monoplanes, a single-seat fighter, the MB-9 and a two-seat trainer, the MB-10. They were of all-metal construction, with corrugated duralumin skinning. [1]

First to be completed was the MB-10, which had tandem cockpits and was designed to be powered by a 200  hp (150  kW ) Wright or Lawrance radial engine. In the absence of the intended engine, it was fitted with a 110 hp (82 kW) Le Rhône 9Ja rotary engine to allow flight testing to start in late 1921. The MB-10's handling proved to be extremely poor, [1] while it also suffered severe vibration and was structurally weak. [2]

The MB-9 fighter was completed early in 1922, [3] differing principally from the MB-10 in the removal of the forward cockpit and the use of a 320 hp (240 kW) Wright Hispano H-3 V8 engine, cooled by a radiator situated (along with the oil tank) in a torpedo-shaped structure under the fuselage. [1] Planned armament was two machine guns; one .50 in (12.7 mm) and one .30 in (7.62 mm). [3]

While the MB.9 handled better than the MB.10, [1] it still suffered from the severe vibration and structural problems that plagued the trainer, [2] together with a weak undercarriage and cooling problems. [1] The development of both aircraft was quickly stopped, with the types not being sent for formal evaluation by the United States Army Air Service at McCook Field. [2]

Variants

MB-9
Single-seat fighter powered by 300 hp (239 kW) Wright Hispano H-3 engine. One built.
MB-10
Two seat primary trainer aircraft, powered by 110 hp (82 kW) Le Rhône rotary engine. One built.

Specifications (MB-9)

Data from The Complete Book of Fighters [3]

General characteristics

Performance

Armament

See also

Related development Thomas-Morse TM-22

References

Notes
  1. 1 2 3 4 5 Wegg 1990, p. 27.
  2. 1 2 3 Angelucci and Bowers 1987, p. 423.
  3. 1 2 3 Green and Swanborough 1994, p. 569.
Bibliography
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