The MS 733 continued Morane-Saulnier’s tradition
for building quality training aircraft. It served with both the air force and navy and
later armed versions saw combat in Algeria.
MS733
(francais)
( cover page, text under construction )
Fiche de Navigabilité
(type certificate data sheet, unofficial translation)
for sale: MS733
the affordable French warbird
information
Development of the Morane-Saulnier MS 733 Alcyon (kingfisher) basic
trainer began with the first flight 11 August 1949. With the original 134-kW (180-hp)
Mathis 8G.20 inverted V-8 engine replaced by a 179-kW (240-hp) Argus As 10, the prototype
(F-WFOB) flew again in November and later that year as the MS 731.
Two MS 732 prototypes (F-WFOD) were flight tested in early 1951, each of
them powered by a Potez 6D.30 engine and having gear replaced by a new design that
retracts. This first example of the definitive version flew on 16 April 1951 as the MS
733.01
Five pre-production aircraft followed and series aircraft totalled 200,
40 for the French navy, 15 for Cambodia, and the balance for service with the Armée de
l’Air as the Alcyon, 70 of them being fitted with machine-gun armament for use as
gunnery trainers. In 1956 some of the gunnery trainers were converted for duties in
Algeria. These aircraft were re-designated MS 733A, of which a number were sold later to
Morocco.
Data:
Powerplant: one 179-kW (240-hp) Potez 6D.30 inverted
inline piston engine
Performance: maximum speed 260km/h (162 mph), service
ceiling 4800 m (15.750 ft), range 920 km (572 miles)
Weights: empty equipped 1260 kg (2,778 lbs), maximum
take-off 1670 kg (3,682 lbs)
Dimensions: span 11.28 m (37 ft 0 in) ; length 9.32 m
(30 ft 7in) ; height 2.42 m (7 ft 11 in) ; wing area 21.90 m2 (235.74 sq ft)