Flight, December 1926

The Paris Aero Show 1926

MORANE SAULNIER.

   THIS veteran firm of aircraft builders, which originated the parasol monoplane type - a type that enjoys today great popularity among French constructors, as will be seen from the exhibits of the Salon - will exhibit three machines.
   The first of these is the Morane-Saulnier type 35 E.P.2 elementary training aeroplane, with 80 h.p. Le Rhone engine (the letters E.P. stand for ecole primaire); the second is a type 129 E.T.2 (180 h.p. Hispano-Suiza) advanced training aeroplane (the letters E.T. meaning ecole de transition); the third machine is the type 132, with 120 h.p. Salmson aircooled engine, which is mainly intended for touring purposes, but may also be used for training work.
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Morane-Saulnier Type 129 E.T.2 Aeroplane

   The Morane-Saulnier type 129 E.T.2 advanced training aeroplane is a strut-braced parasol monoplane which incorporates a particularly complete system of safety features, among which may be mentioned a droppable petrol tank, fire extinguishers, back or seat type parachutes and a self-starter. Special attention has been paid, furthermore, to making the pupil feel comfortable on board ; for the purpose the seats are adjustable in height and the rudder bar may be adjusted for distance from the seat.
   Constructionally the 129 E.T.2 follows the practice of the 35 E.P.2, that is, the machine is timber-built throughout except for the wing spars which are duraluminium tubes, and the undercarriage struts which are steel tubes. The engine unit, which is mounted on duralumin tubes, is detachable by undoing a few bolts.
   The vast experience which the Morane-Saulnier firm has accumulated in the long years its training school has been in existence at Villacoublay may be said to have taken body in the type 129 E.T.2, a machine so proportioned as to let the pupil do all the mistakes he can so he may realize their gravity, but with a sufficient tendency to inherent stability so the machine will "forgive the mistake."

Morane-Saulnier Type 132 Touring Aeroplane.

   This machine is essentially an adaptation of the above described advanced training aeroplane to the requirements of grand tourisme, or distant touring. Both machines are constructionally identical, and have the same wing area (19-7 sq. m.), but the touring type is equipped with a 120 h.p. Salmson air-cooled radial engine instead of with a 180 h.p. Hispano-Suiza.
   The type 132 incorporates all the safety features and practical points which have been noted above in connection with the advanced training type of aeroplane.

   Specifications of Morane-Saulnier Aeroplanes.
   Type 129 E.T.2. 132
   Engine 180 h.p. Hispano. 120 h.p. Salmson.
   Span 10-70 m. 10-70 m.
   Length 7-04 m. 6-86 m.
   Height 2-71 m. 2-72 m.
   Wing chord 2-00 m. 2-00 m.
   Wing area 19-7 sq. m. 19-7 sq.m.
   Weight empty 740 kg. 655 kg.
   Weight loaded 1,045 kg. 930 kg.


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   The type 129 E.T. 2 can be said to represent the accumulated experience of the firm as far as school machines are concerned, the letters E.T. representing the words Ecole de Transition, the type being intended for intermediate school work, forming a stepping stone between the E.P. (Ecole Primaire) type and the more powerful machines. The third machine shown type 132 is intended mainly for touring, but can also be used as a school machine. As is usual with Morane-Saulnier aeroplanes, the workmanship and finish are excellent. Of special constructional features there are few which are not well known, but the rather neat arrangement of the shock absorbers inside the fuselage leg is worthy of mention, and is illustrated by a sketch.