Morane-Saulnier MS.603

Morane-Saulnier MS.603
The MS.603 at Saint-Cyr-l'École near Paris in May 1957 when operated by the Aero Club de Courbevoie
Role	club aircraft
National origin	France
Manufacturer	Morane Saulnier
Status	stored in a museum in France
Primary user	aero clubs
Number built	3
Developed from	MS.600

The Morane-Saulnier MS.603 was a French-built two-seat light aircraft of the late 1940s.

Design and development

The MS.603 was one of three aircraft constructed in the MS.600 series which were built to compete in an officially-sponsored 1947 contest for a light two-seat side-by-side club aircraft to be powered by a 75 hp (56 kW) engine.

The initial MS.600, powered by a 75 hp (56 kW) Mathis G-4F piston engine, was a fixed gear, low-winged monoplane of mixed construction, with a single fin and the tailplane set just above the fuselage and a clear perspex canopy over a side-by-side cockpit for two persons. All three aircraft, MS.600, MS.602 and MS.603, were ready for flight in 1947 with the MS.600 flying on 4 June 1947.^[1]

A parallel development, the MS.602, powered by a 75 hp (56 kW) Minie 4DA piston engine, was similar in most respects to the MS.600 and flew on 24 June 1947.^[2]

The MS.602 at Saint-Cyr-l'École in 1957

A more powerful derivative emerged as the MS.603, powered by a 100 hp (75 kW) Hirth HM 504A-2 engine and fitted with a fixed tricycle undercarriage.^[3] The tailplane was also moved to a high set position on the fin and supported by struts.

Operational history

Initially registered F-WCZU in the experimental series, and re-registered F-PHQY in the amateur-operated series, the MS.602 was owned by Messieurs Gambi and Chanson and based at Saint-Cyr-l'École airfield to the west of Paris.^[4] By 1983, the aircraft had been withdrawn from service and scrapped.

Map showing the position of Saint-Cyr-l'École

The sole MS.603, construction No. 1, was initially registered F-WCZT and later re-registered F-PHJC. It was flown for many years by the Aero Club de Courbevoie. By 1963 it was operated by M. Jean Forster, based at Guyancourt airfield, ^[5] but was withdrawn from use by 2006 when it was stored at the Musee de l'Aviation du Mas Palegry - (Mas Palegry Aviation Museum) near Perpignan.^[6]

Variants

MS.600

The initial prototype powered by a 75 hp (56 kW) Mathis G-4F piston engine. One built.

MS.602

The derivative intended for production. The MS.602 was powered by a 75 hp (56 kW) Minie 4DA piston engine, but otherwiswe similar to the MS.600. One built.

MS.603

The final derivative with tricycle undercarriage was powered by a 100 hp (75 kW) Hirth HM 504A-2 engine and had a revised tail unit. One built.

Specifications (MS.603)

Data from Green, 1965

General characteristics

• Crew: 1
• Capacity: 1 passenger
• Length: 7.46 m (24 ft 6 in)
• Wingspan: 9.6 m (31 ft 6 in)
• Height: 2.7 m (8 ft 10 in)
• Wing area: 14.5 m² (156 sq ft)
• Gross weight: 664.5 kg (1,465 lb)
• Powerplant: 1 × Hirth HM 504A-2 four-cylinder piston, 74.6 kW (100.0 hp)

Performance

• Maximum speed: 190 km/h (120 mph; 100 kn)
• Cruising speed: 162.5 km/h (101.0 mph; 87.7 kn)

Notes

1. ^ Simpson, 2005, p.17
2. ^ Simpson, 2005, p.17
3. ^ Green, 1965 p.55
4. ^ Butler, 1964, p.110
5. ^ Butler, 1964, p. 118
6. ^ Ogden, 2006, p.149

References

• Butler, P.H. (1964). French Civil Aircraft Register. Merseyside Society of Aviation Enthusiasts. ISBN none. 
• Green, William (1965). The Aircraft of the World. Macdonald & Co. (Publishers) Ltd. ISBN none. 
• Ogden, Bob (2006). Aviation Museums and Collections of Mainland Europe. Air-Britain (Historians) Ltd. ISBN 0-85130-375-7. 
• Simpson, Rod (2005). The General Aviation Handbook. Midland Publishing. ISBN 1-85780-222-5.