Morane-Saulnier BB

{{Infobox aircraft | name = Type BB, Type BH | logo = | logo_size = | image = Morane-Saulnier BB French First World War reconnaissance aircraft in RFC markings.jpg | alt = | caption = RFC Morane-Saulnier BB | long_caption = | other_names = | aircraft_type = Observation aircraft | aim = | outcome = | related = | national_origin = France | manufacturer = [[Morane-Saulnier]] | design_group = | designer = | builder = | issuer = | status = retired | owners = | primary_user = [[Royal Flying Corps]] | more_users = | service = | major_applications = | proposals = | prototypes = | number_built = 107 | construction_number = | civil_registration = | military_serial = | radio_code = | requirement = | aircraft_carried = | flights = | total_hours = | total_distance = | construction_date = | introduction = | retired = | first_flight = 1915 | initiated = | in_service = | last_flight = | expected = | developed_from = | variants = | developed_into = | preservation = | fate = | predecessors = | successors = | concluded = }}

[[File:Morane-Saulnier BB French First World War reconnaissance aircraft captured by Germany.jpg|thumb|Captured Morane-Saulnier BB]] The '''Morane-Saulnier BB''' was a military [[observation aircraft]] produced in France during [[World War I]] for use by Britain's [[Royal Flying Corps]].<ref name="JEA">Taylor 1989, 684</ref><ref name="IEA">"The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Aircraft", 2538</ref> It was a conventional [[single-bay]] [[biplane]] design with seating for the pilot and observer in tandem, open [[cockpit]]s. The original order called for 150 aircraft powered by 110-hp [[Le Rhône 9J]] rotary engines, but shortages meant that most of the 94 aircraft eventually built were delivered with 80 hp [[Le Rhône 9C]] rotaries instead.<ref name="IEA" /> A [[water-cooled]] [[Hispano-Suiza 8A]] engine was trialled as an alternative in the '''Type BH''', but this remained experimental only.<ref name="JEA" /> A production licence was sold to the Spanish company Compañía Española de Construcciones Aeronáuticas (CECA), which built twelve fitted with Hispano-Suiza engines in 1916.

==Operational history== The type equipped a number of RFC and RNAS squadrons both in its original observation role and, equipped with a forward-firing [[Lewis gun]] mounted on the top wing, as a fighter.<ref name="IEA" />

==Variants== ;MS.7 :official French government STAe designation for the BB ;MS.8 :official French government STAe designation for the BH ;BB :[[Le Rhône 9J]] rotary powered variant ;BH :[[Hispano-Suiza 8A]] V-8 powered variant ;CECA-MS or CECA-Saulnier : designations used for BB/BH built in Spain

==Operators== ;{{UK}} * [[Royal Flying Corps]]<ref name="Bruce RFC p306">Bruce 1982, p.306.</ref> ** [[No. 1 Squadron RAF|No. 1 Squadron RFC]] ** [[No. 3 Squadron RAF|No. 3 Squadron RFC]] ** [[No. 12 Squadron RAF|No. 12 Squadron RFC]] ** [[No. 60 Squadron RAF|No. 60 Squadron RFC]] * [[Royal Naval Air Service]] ** [[No. 201 Squadron RAF|No. 1 Squadron RNAS]] ** [[No. 203 Squadron RAF|No. 3 Squadron RNAS]] ** [[No. 204 Squadron RAF|No. 4 Squadron RNAS]] ;{{ESP}} * [[Spanish Air Force]] ;{{RUS}} * [[Imperial Russian Air Service]]

==Specifications (BB)== {{Aircraft specs |ref=Parmentier |prime units? = met |crew=Two, pilot and observer |length m=7.00 |length ft=23 |length in=0 |span m=8.65 |span ft=28 |span in=5 |height m=2.54 |height ft=8 |height in=4 |wing area sqm=23.0 |wing area sqft=247 |gross weight kg=750 |gross weight lb=1,650 |eng1 number=1 |eng1 name=[[Le Rhône 9Ja]] |eng1 kw=82 |eng1 hp=110 |max speed kmh=147 |max speed mph=92 |ceiling m=4,000 |ceiling ft=13,000 |armament = *1 × flexible, rearward-firing .303 [[Lewis gun]] for observer }}  {{aircontent  |see also= |related= |similar aircraft= |lists= }}

==Notes== {{reflist}}

==References== * {{cite book |title=The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Aircraft |publisher=Aerospace Publishing|location=London }} * {{cite book |title=The Aeroplanes of the Royal Flying Corps (Military Wing) |last=Bruce |first= J.M.|year=1982 |publisher= Putnam|location=London |isbn=0-370-30084-X }} * {{cite book |last= Taylor |first= Michael J. H. |title=Jane's Encyclopedia of Aviation |year=1989 |publisher=Studio Editions |location=London }} * {{cite web |last=Parmentier |first=Bruno |title=Morane-Saulnier BB |work=Aviafrance - Un siècle d'aviation française |url=http://www.aviafrance.com/1387.htm |accessdate=2008-11-07}}

==Further reading== {{commons category|Morane-Saulnier BB}} *{{cite book |last1=Lacaze |first1=Henri |last2=Lherbert |first2=Claude |title=Morane Saulnier: ses avions, ses projets |date=2013 |publisher=Lela Presse |location=Outreau, France |isbn=978-2-914017-70-1 |language=fr|name-list-style=amp|trans-title=Morane Saulnier: Their Aircraft and Projects}}

[[Category:Morane-Saulnier aircraft|BB]] [[Category:1910s French military reconnaissance aircraft]] [[Category:Biplanes]] [[Category:Single-engined tractor aircraft]] [[Category:Aircraft first flown in 1915]] [[Category:Rotary-engined aircraft]]