Morane-Saulnier Vanneau

The Morane-Saulnier Vanneau (en: plover) is a two-seat basic trainer built in France by Morane-Saulnier and ordered by the French Air Force.

Development
Designed in Vichy France the MS.470 prototype first flew on 22 December 1944, successful testing led to an order from the French Air Force of a revised variant the MS.472. The Vanneau was a low-wing cantilever monoplane with a pilot and student in tandem under a long glazed canopy. It had a retractable tailwheel landing gear and the prototype was powered by a 690 hp Hispano-Suiza 12X inline engine. The production MS.472 was powered by a 570 hp Gnome-Rhône 14M-05 14-cylinder radial engine and first flew on 12 December 1945, with deliveries to the French Air Force starting in December 1946. From December 1947 the French Navy received 70 of the MS.474 variant modified for carrier operations. A re-engined version the MS.475 was produced from 1950 which had minor differences but was powered by a 860 hp Hispano-Suiza 12Y-45 V-12 engine. One MS.475 was modified as the MS.476 with an increase in wing surface area and another MS.475 was fitted with a Renault 12S-02 engine as the MS.477 in 1950. A proposed variant was the MS.478 which was to be fitted with an Isotta Fraschini Delta engine but was not built. One MS.472 was re-engined with a 820 hp SNECMA 14X-04 radial engine in 1952 but development was later stopped. The Vanneau remained in service with the French Air Force and Navy into the late 1960s.

Variants

 * MS.470
 * Prototype powered by 690 hp Hispano-Suiza 12X inline engine, one built.


 * MS.472 Vanneau II
 * Production variant for the French Air Force powered by 570 hp Gnome-Rhône 14M-05 piston engine; three prototypes and 230 production aircraft built.


 * MS.474 Vanneau IV
 * Carrier-capable production variant for the French Navy, powered by a Gnome-Rhône 14M-04; 70 built.


 * MS.475 Vanneau V
 * Improved version for the French Air Force powered by 860 hp Hispano-Suiza 12Y-45 V12 engine; 201 built.


 * MS.476
 * One MS.475 modified with increased wing surface.


 * MS.477
 * One MS.475 powered by a 580 hp Renault 12S-02 inline engine.


 * MS.478
 * Projected Isotta Fraschini Delta inline powered variant, not built.


 * MS.479
 * Developed variant powered by a 820 hp SNECMA 14X-04 radial; one built.

Operators

 * French Air Force
 * French Navy
 * French Navy