Morane-Saulnier I

The Morane-Saulnier I, also called the Type I, was a French single-seat fighter of the First World War, essentially a Type N fitted with a more powerful 110 horsepower Le Rhone 9J rotary engine. It came about after the Royal Flying Corps, largely on the advice of Lord Trenchard, ordered a more powerful version of the popular Type N in 1916. An initial order for one aircraft grew to thirteen by March 1916, but only four were delivered to the Royal Flying Corps by July of that year, and the type was not built further because the Morane-Saulnier V offered better characteristics. The four aircraft that were delivered did reach the front and were used as combat aircraft as late as October 1916.