Morane-Saulnier was a reputable company that had many records and world’s firsts. During 1913, the French flyer Roland Garros had crossed the mediteranean in a Morane-Saulnier. The trip took 7 hours and was more than 20 times further than the Bleriot channel crossing. During WWI, it was the first airplane to be fitted with machine guns that could shoot through the propeller arch, thereby creating the world’s first real fighter plane.

Thus, two single-seater trainiers were bought from A.B. Enoch Thulins Aeroplanfabrik in Landskrona in Sweden for money donated to the Army. They were named M.S.1 “Hugin” and M.S.2. “Munin”, after Odin’s two raven from Nordic mythology. The planes were delivered in October 1915 and June 1916 respectively.

Both aircraft crashed within two years of their delivery. M.S.1 Hugin on the 8th of October 1919 at Kløvermarken in Copenhagen, and M.S.2 on the 1st of Octover 1917 near Viborg.

The planes were delivered with 50 HP Gnome rotary engines, but they were upgraded to 80 HP during 1917. It’s very likely the “Gnome” engines were in fact the rather un-reliable Enoch Thulin Gnome copies.

Specifications
Construction: Wood and canvas
Engine: 50 HP, upgraded to 80 HP during 1917
Wingspan: 10.2 m
Length: 6.5 m
Height: 2.55 m
Weight Empty: 370 kg.
Weight Full: 582 kg.
Max speed: 135 km/h
Endurance: 2 hours