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10 photos from Wikimedia Commons · credits & licences
- 1. Morane-Saulnier L in French markings: SDASM· Public domain
- 2. Morane-Saulnier L in RFC markings: SDASM· Public domain
- 3. Morane-Saulnier L in Soviet markings: SDASM· Public domain
- 4. 22.117.B Model-Morane-Saulnier L or officially MS.3: SDASM Archives· No restrictions
- 5. Airfield at Rosnay, Marne 21 Aug 1915 with various aircraft including a Nieuport 10 and a Morane-Saulnier L in front of canvas Bessonneau hangars (cropped): Albert Moreau· Licence Ouverte
- 6. Airfield at Rosnay, Marne 21 Aug 1915 with various aircraft including a Voisin III, a Morane-Saulnier L and a Nieuport 10 in front of canvas Bessonneau hangars: Albert Moreau· Licence Ouverte
- 7. Capotage d'un Morane (avion planté au sol à la verticale) - btv1b6933795h: Agence Rol. Agence photographique (commanditaire)· Public domain
- 8. Champ d'aviation d'Amiens. Monoplan Morane-Saulnier L 18-07-15 - Fonds Berthelé - 49Fi1871-38: PINAULT [ Auteur ]· Public domain
- 9. Georges Guynemer dans son Morane Saulnier, c'est dans cet avion qu'il remporta sa 1ère victoire le 19 juillet 1915 avec Charles Guerder, le mécanicien-mitrailleur qui descendit l'avion allemand - btv1b69455912: Agence Rol· Public domain
- 10. Germany - Captured French Plane - Morane Saulnier type LCCN2014700449: Bain News Service, publisher· Public domain
what is it?
The Morane-Saulnier L, or Morane-Saulnier Type L, or, officially, MoS-3, was a French parasol wing one- or two-seat scout aeroplane of the First World War. The Type L became one of the first successful fighter aircraft when it was fitted with a single machine gun that fired through the arc of the propeller, which was protected by armoured deflector wedges. Its immediate effectiveness in this role launched an arms race in fighter development, and the Type L was swiftly rendered obsolete.
How to recognise it: 1 piston engine with propeller · 11.2 m wingspan
base stats
Bars compare against all aircraft: 3,500 km/h, 20,000 km, 850 seats; size and number built on a log scale up to 640 t (An-225) and 45,000 built (Cessna 172).
fun facts
- First flew 113 years ago, in 1913.
- Wingspan of 11.2 m: about 2 cars parked nose to tail.
piston: A car-like piston engine turning a propeller: simple and cheap, the classic small plane.
spec sheet
- first flight
- 1913-08
- introduced
- 1914
- number built
- 600
- role
- scout
- makers
- Morane-Saulnier
- engines
- 1× Le Rhône 9C / Gnome rotary engine / rotary engine
- crew
- 2
- passengers
- 2
- length
- 6.9 m
- wingspan
- 11.2 m
- height
- 3.9 m
- max take-off weight
- 668 kg
- top speed
- 125 km/h
- range
- —
Specs are for the version in the Wikipedia article's specification section. Blank means the sources don't say.
Sources: Wikidata Q585825, Wikipedia: Morane-Saulnier L (CC BY-SA 4.0).Updated 2026-10-24.