EKW D-3800 (MS.406H)

History

Morane-Saulnier has been a prolific aircraft designer and manufacturer since its inception in 1911. After the First World War (1914-1918), during the interwar period and during the Second World War (1939-1945), the company's aircraft contributed to the development of very modern and very powerful combat platforms . Multiple Sclerosis.

The 406 series - born "MS. 405" - was one of the group's last products before the fall of France in May/June 1940, a single-seat, single-engine, monoplane Served in the Armed Forces and for some time outside the reach of the French Air Force.

Back in September 1938, the first of the two "MS.406H" fighters was handed over to Switzerland for evaluation and as the base form of a locally produced, licensed version of the same French aircraft - which became Ordered "D-3800" for service in Switzerland. These planes are MS in nature.

405 fuselage and wings (Hispano-Suiza 12Y31 inline) with MS engines. 406 production version, but with partial modifications to meet the needs of the Swiss Air Force's permanent fighter. For example, the original drum-wing machine gun was converted to a belt-type machine gun already in service in Switzerland, and the two-pitch propeller gave way to a locally produced controllable-pitch form.

The aircraft production program is managed by Eidgenossische Konstruktions-Werkstatt (EKW) with engines from Adolph Saurer AG.

The Swiss Air Force ordered eight pre-production models, designed to revised Swiss operational standards and built in 1939. Delivery followed in January 1940, and by the end of August 1940 a total of about 74 production-quality aircraft had been built.

In 1942, at a time when war was already part of European daily life, at least two fighter jets were built with largely available spare parts to further increase the number of Swiss Air Forces. The following year, the fleet was modernized with changes to the "D-3801" standard (described in detail elsewhere on this website) - this included an ejector exhaust system for extra forward thrust, upgrades to the internal control system and Improved system engine cooling.

All in all, the streamlined fighter can reach speeds of 295 miles per hour and has a 1.75-hour endurance in the air. Climb rates of 2,685 feet per minute make them suitable interceptors when needed. Curb weight is 4,000 lbs and maximum takeoff weight (MTOW) is 5,500 lbs.

Dimensions include a barrel length of 26.9 feet, a wingspan of 34.9 feet and a height of 8.10 feet.

Due to Switzerland's independent stance during World War II, the D-3800 fighter never faced actual combat - although the threat of a German invasion was very real. The fleet served as a premium trainer for the descendants of Swiss pilots, before finally being abandoned in 1954 with the advent of the jet age.

Specification

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