“Phony War” Fighter Morane Saulnier 406

Owner/pilot Daniel Koblet flies the license-built Swiss version of the sole-surviving Morane Saulnier 406 (Dornier D-3801) over Duxford, England.

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A 1938 design that started production in January 1939, the Morane Saulnier 406 was France’s most numerically important fighter at the outbreak of WW II. By March 1940, 1,000 machines had been produced with a final total of 1,176. Basically a good low-wing monoplane design of plywood construction, the type’s weakness was lack of power—the 870hp Hispano Suiza HS 12Y-31 allowed a top speed of only 304mph/490kmh—and its 20mm Hispano-Suiza HS-9 and two 7.5mm MAC-1934...

PARDON THE INTERRUPTION

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