Morane-Saulnier Epervier
The Morane-Saulnier MS.1500 Épervier (en: Sparrowhawk) was a 1950s French two-seat ground attack and reconnaissance aircraft.[1] Designed and built by Morane-Saulnier to meet a French Air Force requirement, it did not enter production.[1]
| MS.1500 Epervier | |
|---|---|
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| Role | Ground-attack and reconnaissance monoplane | 
| National origin | France | 
| Manufacturer | Morane-Saulnier | 
| First flight | 12 May 1958 | 
| Number built | 2 | 
Development
    
Designed to meet a requirement for a tactical reconnaissance and counter-insurgency aircraft for use by the French Air Force in Algeria the Epervier was a tandem two-seat low-wing cantilever monoplane.[1] Powered by a 522 kW (700 hp)) Turbomeca Bastan turboprop the MS.1500 had a fixed tailwheel landing gear.[1] The prototype first flew on the 12 May 1958 powered by a 300 kW (402 hp)) Turbomeca Marcadau turboprop.[2][3] A second prototype was built but the type did not enter production.[1]
Specifications (Epervier with Bastan engine)
    
Data from The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Aircraft,[1] Jane's All the World's Aircraft 1958-59,[2] Aviafreance : Morane-Saulnier MS.1500[4]
General characteristics
- Crew: 2
 - Length: 10.58 m (34 ft 9 in) [3]
 - Wingspan: 13.06 m (42 ft 10 in)
 - Height: 3.30 m (10 ft 10 in) [3]
 - Wing area: 24.3 m2 (262 sq ft)
 - Empty weight: 1,660 kg (3,660 lb) [3]
 - Max takeoff weight: 2,850 kg (6,283 lb)
 - Powerplant: 1 × Turbomeca Bastan IV turboprop, 560 kW (750 shp)
 - Propellers: 3-bladed constant-speed propeller
 
Performance
- Maximum speed: 315 km/h (196 mph, 170 kn)
 - Range: 700 km (430 mi, 380 nmi)
 - Ferry range: 1,300 km (810 mi, 700 nmi) [3]
 - Rate of climb: 8 m/s (1,600 ft/min) minimum[3]
 
Armament
- Rockets: 6 × rocket pods
 - Bombs: 6 × 50 kg (110 lb) anti-personnel bombs
 
References
    
| Wikimedia Commons has media related to Morane-Saulnier MS.1500 Epervier. | 
- The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Aircraft (Part Work 1982-1985). Orbis Publishing. p. 2560.
 - Bridgman, Leonard, ed. (1957). Jane's All the World's Aircraft 1958-59. London: Jane's All the World's Aircraft Publishing Co. Ltd. p. 159.
 - Green, William; Pollinger, Gerald (1959). The Observer's Book of Aircraft. London & New York: Frederick Warne & Co. Ltd. pp. 186–187.
 - Parmentier, Bruno (17 December 1999). "Morane-Saulnier MS-1500". Aviafrance (in French). Retrieved 5 March 2020.
 
