Morane-Saulnier MS.760 Paris [in english]

LIAISON, COMMUNICATION AND TRAINING FOUR-SEAT TWIN-ENGINED AIRCRAFT

HISTORY

Development and career

Unlucky contestant in the Aeronautique Navale's contest for a new jet trainer in the early 50s, the MS-755 Fleuret would eventually lead to the MS.760 Paris.

The first flight took place on July 26th 1954. The prototype MS.760A Paris I had a low wing and was powered by two Marbré 400kg engines, mounted side by side in the fuselage. It was recognizable by its T shaped vertical stabilizer and by its retractable tricycle landing gear. The aircraft had four seats, two in the front and two in the back. It was purchased by the French Air Force, Navy, and by several countries worldwide like Brazil and Argentina (48 planes were licence built at Cordoba in Argentina). In 1961 production plants started rolling out the MS.760 Paris II, fitted with two Marboré IV 480kg engines, wingtip fuel tanks, an air conditionned cockpit and a bigger luggage compartment.

On February 24th 1964, a six passenger version, designated MS.760C Paris III made its first flight, but was never ordered. Production of the Paris II ceased, and production of the Paris III never started. Some 165 aircraft (Paris I and Paris II) were produced for the French Air Force (36 planes) Navy (14 planes) and the air forces of Brazil, Argentina and Paraguay.

In the French Navy (1959-1997)

On July 18th 1956 the French government made a purchase of 50 aircraft, including 14 for the Navy, from manufacturer Morane-Saulnier based in Tarbes. The first plane was delivered on February 9th 1959 to flight 11.S at Naval Air Station (N.A.S.) Dugny-Le Bourget, before going to the C.E.P.A. (Aeronautical Practical Experiment Center) in 1959-60, to experience various tests necessary to elaborate an instructions manual.

In flights
The 14 " Moranes " (the planes nickname in the French Navy) were assigned to flight 11.S from February 9th 1959 onwards. The last plane, No88, was delivered on July 27th 1961.

MS.760 Paris of 2.S flight seen alongside a Br.1050 Alizé in summer 1971 at N.A.S. Lann-Bihoué. (©J.M. Guhl)

In 1965 MS.760 n°48 was briefly assigned to flight 3.S based at N.A.S Hyères, which already flew the MD.312 Flamant, the MS.733 Alcyon, the MH.1521M Broussard, the SO.30P Bretagne and the Br.1050 Alizé. The Morane subsequently crashed on January 4th 1968 at Rennes.
From 1970 onwards, all the 12 planes left were assigned to flight 2.S based at N.A.S. Lann-Bihoué. In May 1972 they were sent to the S.R.L. On September 1st 1981 this unit became flight 57.S (flight which had been shut down since the closing of N.A.S. Port-Lyautey on January 15th 1962).

Eight MS.760 Paris were on the unit's flightline, next to three Falcon 10 MER. After 40 years of good and faithful service, the venerable retired in October 1997 at N.A.S. Landivisiau. The last eight planes were numbers 32, 40, 41, 42, 47, 85, 87 and 88.

MS.760 Paris of 57.S flight. (©ARDHAN)

Their missions were :
-Super-Étendard and Crusader pilot IFR and all weather training.
-Advanced training for new pilots and proficiency training for other pilots.
-Liaisons for the 2nd Maritime Region.

Two planes(No31 and 33) are preserved at the Rochefort Museum of Naval Aviation Traditions. No32 is owned by " Armor Aéro Passion " association, No40 by the Le Bourget Air and Space Museum, No42 by the Tristan Corbière Technical High School, No46 by the Savigny-les-Beaume museum, No85 by the " Les Ailes de l'Aéro " association and No87 and No88 were sold to private American owners.

In sections
On February 1st 1969, flight 11.S became the Dugny Liaison and Support Section (S.S.D.). Almost all planes were flown by the S.S.D. until the 1970, when they were assigned to flight 2.S.

On May 1st 1972 eight MS.760s arrived at N.A.S. Landivisiau to form with four CM.175 Zephyrs the Landivisiau Jet Section (S.R.L.). Its missions were :
-IFR and all weather training for fleet pilots.
-Liaisons and support for squadrons.
-A.L.P.A. (Admiral commanding the carriers and Naval Aviation) and 1st and 2nd Aerial Regions laisons.

A box of four MS.760 Paris of the S.R.L. in formation over north Finistère in the middle of the 1970s. (©Marine Nationale)

*Year*	*MS.760 allotment to the S.R.L.*	*Year*	*MS.760 allotment to the S.R.L.*
1972	8 aircraft	1977	8 aircraft
1973	8 aircraft	1978	8 aircraft
1974	8 aircraft	1979	8 aircraft
1975	7 aircraft	1980	8 aircraft
1976	7 aircraft	1981	8 aircraft

On September 1st 1981, the section became flight 57.S.

MS.760 PARIS OF AÉRONAUTIQUE NAVALE

NumBER

StatuS

Units

Delivery date

12

Crashed at Hyères on 13/ 04/ 59

11.S/ C.E.P.A./ S.R.-42

09/ 02/ 59

31

Crashed at Bron in 07/ 71

11.S/ S.S.D./ 2.S

27/ 05/ 59

32

Out of service since 06/ 10/ 97

11.S/ S.S.D./ 2.S/ S.R.L./ 57.S

10/ 07/ 59

33

Out of service since 1973

11.S/ S.S.D./ 2.S

29/ 05/ 59

40

Out of service since 1997

11.S/ S.S.D./ 2.S/ S.R.L./ 57.S

16/ 09/ 59

41

Out of service since 1997

11.S/ S.S.D./ 2.S/ S.R.L./ 57.S

06/ 10/ 59

42

Out of service since 1997

11.S/ S.S.D./ 2.S/ S.R.L./ 57.S

21/ 10/ 59

46

Crashed at Istres on 30/ 10/ 92

11.S/ 2.S/ S.R.L./ 57.S

27/ 11/ 59

47

Out of service since 1997

11.S/ S.S.D./ 2.S/ S.R.L./ 57.S

08/ 01/ 60

48

Crashed at Rennes on 04/ 01/ 68

11.S/ 3.S

26/ 02/ 60

84

Crashed at Le Bourget on 23/ 12 / 70

11.S/ S.S.D./ 2.S

06/ 04/ 61

85

Out of service since 1997

11.S/ S.S.D./ 2.S/ S.R.L./ 57.S

19/ 04/ 61

87

Out of service since 1997

11.S/ S.S.D./ 2.S/ S.R.L./ 57.S

17/ 05/ 61

88

Out of service since 1997

11.S/ S.S.D./ 2.S/ S.R.L./ 57.S

27/ 07/ 61

MS.760 Paris N°42 de l'escadrille 57.S, vu quelques mois avant son retrait définitif du service. (©C.Jacquet)

CHARACTERISTICS (US) (FR)

LENGTH 33 ft 3 in 10. 15 m

WINGSPAN 33 ft 59 in 10. 24 m

HEIGHT 8 ft 53 in 2. 60 m

WEIGHT 4 657 lb (min)/ 8 779 lb (max) 2 070 kg (min)/ 3 902 kg (max)

WING AREA 193. 7 sq ft 18 m²

CEILING 39 369 ft 12 000 m

MAX SPEED 431. 9 mph 695 km/ h

INITIAL CLIMB RATE 2 460 ft/mn 750 m/mn

MAX RANGE 922 nm 1 740 km

POWER 2 x 1 058 lbs 2 x 480 kg

sources - acknowledgements :
Avion de Combat du Monde - Éditions Atlas.
Air Zone N°21 "Kenavo Morane" ; Michel Mienville - mai-juin 1998.

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