Replica of MS Type L donated to EAA Museum

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Replica of MS Type L donated to EAA Museum
Replica of MS Type L donated to EAA Museum
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Replica of MS Type L donated to EAA Museum

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Extraordinary donation honors 100 years of French-American aviation relationship Oshkosh, Wisconsin, USA, August 31, 2017 - In a donation honoring 100 years of the French-American aviation relationship, a full-sized Morane-Saulnier Type L “Parasol” aeroplane replica will join the prestigious Experimental Aircraft Association’s EAA Aviation Museum collection in Oshkosh, Wisconsin.

This hand-crafted reproduction of the World War I-era Parasol – an ancestor of Daher’s TBM very fast turboprop aircraft family – was brought by Daher to the U.S. for an appearance at last month’s EAA AirVenture Oshkosh fly-in. During the week-long event, the aeroplane was a major draw, attracting a steady flow of visitors.

While the Type L originally was planned for a return to France, it was decided to honor the EAA’s request that the replica be permanently exhibited at the EAA Aviation Museum. It is to be situated near the facility’s entrance, between the historic reproductions of the Wright brothers’ Wright Flyer and Charles Lindbergh’s Spirit of St. Louis. The six-year construction effort for the Type L Parasol replica was managed by the Association Héritage Avions Morane-Saulnier, whose volunteers – both retired and current workers of Daher and predecessor companies (including some Morane-Saulnier veterans in their mid-80s) – contributed their skills, energy and passion. Daher supported the Type L replica project from the start, providing workspace, tooling and expertise.

The flightworthy replica retains the Type L Parasol’s original wooden structure configuration, along with its wing-warping system and the aircraft’s all-flying rudder and stabilator controls.

“The response to the Type L’s presence from EAA AirVenture Oshkosh attendees, including members of our global TBM community, was very impressive,” said Nicolas Chabbert, senior Vice President of Daher Airplane Business Unit. “When the opportunity came to include this element of aviation history in the EAA Aviation Museum, we were pleased that the Association Héritage Avions Morane-Saulnier agreed – and Daher fully supports the decision.”

As a result of the donation, Daher has offered to sponsor the construction of a second flightworthy Type L replica, which will be produced and based in France.

“Our team of dedicated volunteers are extremely proud to have the Parasol included in the EAA Aviation Museum, which is recognized worldwide for the quality and range of its collection,” commented Daniel Bacou, President of the Association Héritage Avions Morane-Saulnier. “Of course, it was difficult to part ways with the aircraft after six years of hard work, but we thank Daher for the very generous offer that enables us to embark on a new exciting project for the second reproduction.”

“The Parasol was an extremely important aircraft to the Allied powers of World War I and an important symbol of the friendship between France and the United States during the war,” said Bob Campbell, Director of the EAA Aviation Museum. “We are most honored and proud to accept this replica in the same spirit shared between our two great nations during that conflict.”

When the U.S. entered World War I, the U.S. Army Air Service needed to train thousands of pilots, and the service created flight schools in France – including the large Issoudun operation, established in July 1917. Morane-Saulnier’s contribution to the massive effort was to provide Parasol aeroplanes as training aircraft.

Some of them were converted as “Morane rouleurs” for preliminary training. The “rouleur” function was to teach fledging pilots to properly taxi the aircraft before starting to fly in dual-control airplanes. The brand became popular, and other Morane-Saulnier aircraft, such as the Type AI fighter, were purchased by the U.S. Army and brought back to America where they served until the 1920s.

About EAA – www.eaa.org

EAA embodies the spirit of aviation through the world’s most engaged community of aviation enthusiasts. EAA’s 200,000 members and 1,000 local chapters enjoy the fun and camaraderie of sharing their passion for flying, building and restoring recreational aircraft. For more information on EAA and its programs, call 800-JOIN-EAA (800-564-6322) or go to www.eaa.org. For continual news updates, connect with www.twitter.com/EAA.

For more information, contact:
Dick Knapinski, EAA Communications
(920) 426-6523
dknapinski@eaa.org

About Daher – www.daher.com

Daher is an equipment supplier developing integrated industrial systems for aerospace and advanced technologies.

By combining its expertise in industrial manufacturing, product and process engineering, logistics and transport, and industrial services, Daher designs and develops Integrated Industrial Systems. Daher has established itself as a leader in five fields of activity: aircraft manufacturer, aerostructures and systems, integrated logistics, nuclear services, and valves.

Daher posts annual turnover of nearly one billion euros, and its order book stands at around three and a half years of turnover. Driven by bold innovation ever since it was founded in 1863, Daher has established itself today as one of the major players of the third industrial revolution.

Contact for the media – Airplane Business Unit

Philippe de Segovia
E-mail p.de-segovia@daher.com
Tel +33 (0)6 70 21 70 47

Milestones of a legendary aircraft: the Type L replica

This highly symbolic project is truly creating aviation history, recalling many firsts with the “Parasol” as a highly symbolic TBM predecessor:

– First high-wing monoplane built in large production numbers initially as a reconnaissance aircraft;

– First aircraft used as a fighter (initially with an observer as a gunner) for the three allied powers, France, Russia and the U.K. at the beginning of World War I. Many aces scored their first victories on the “Parasol,” including French ace Georges Guynemer;

– First aircraft to successfully shoot down an enemy airplane by firing a gun through the propeller, accomplished by Roland Garros in April 1915;

– Royal Navy Lieutenant Reginald Warneford became the first aviator to receive a Victoria Cross with the destruction of a Zeppelin airship in June 1915;

– First crossing of the Andes mountains by Argentinian Lieutenant Luis Candelaria, from Argentina to Chile in April 1918. The Morane-Saulnier Parasol served in 17 countries and regions (Argentina, Belgium, Brazil, Czechoslovakia, Finland, France, Germany, Great Britain, Netherlands, the Ottoman Empire, Poland, Romania, Imperial Russia, Sweden, Soviet Union, Ukraine, USA) until 1919. While some 1,000 units were produced by several manufacturers in France, the UK, Germany, Sweden and Russia, none of the original Type L aircraft are in existence today.

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