Belgian Wings
Belgian Air Force, past and present.
The Aeronautical Reference Site - De Luchtvaart Referentie Site - Le site référence de l'Aéronautique
Morane Saulnier MS230 / MS236
Single engine two-seat aerobatic trainer and communications aircraft
In the early thirties the Belgian Militair Vliegwezen/Aéronautique Militaire was in need of an aircraft for advanced pilot training which excelled in aerobatics. For this purpose, 5 or 6 (according to the sources) French Morane Saulnier MS.230 trainers were acquired in 1931. Having been quite satisfied with this machine the Belgian Government ordered 19 more Morane’s which were powered by an Armstrong Siddeley Lynx 4c engine of 215 HP (slightly less than the 230 HP Salmson 9ABb engine of the MS.230). These aircraft were identified as MS.236 and were constructed by Sabca in Belgium. The engine change was introduced for the sake of commonality as the 215 HP Lynx was already powering such AéM aircraft types as the SV22, SV26, RSV 22/215, Avro 626 Prefect, while the Avro 504N used the very similar but less powerful Lynx of 160 HP. Most Morane’s were used by the Ecole de Pilotage at Wevelgem (Penguin) but at the eve of World War II many of the Morane MS.236 (the MS.230 was already withdrawn from use from 1937 onwards) served as Squadron communications aircraft.
According to the origine of the sources it is believed that the Belgian Aéronautique Militaire also received from 3 to 7 Morane Saulnier MS.130 EC.2. Unfortunately up to now no official documents or pictures have been found to confirm this statement. (D. Brackx)
M-1
History
Type- C/N
MS 230 c/n 334
Date In
Apr 1932
Date Out
-
Vliegschool/Ecole de Pilotage Wevelgem, used by pilot Georges Vandamme for aerobatic demonstrations.
M-2
History
Type- C/N
MS 230 c/n 335
Date In
Apr 1932
Date Out
-
Vliegschool/Ecole de Pilotage Wevelgem,
M-3
History
Type- C/N
MS 230 c/n 336
Date In
Apr 1932
Date Out
-
Vliegschool/Ecole de Pilotage Wevelgem, to V/1 Aé on 25 Mar 1937
M-4
History
Type- C/N
MS 236
Date In
1932
Date Out
Jun 1937
Vliegschool/Ecole de Pilotage Wevelgem, to 4/II/2Aé (White Cocotte), c rashed at Oostende/Stene on 8 June 1937.
M-5
History
Type- C/N
MS 236
Date In
1932
Date Out
-
Participated at the "Ralley Aérien du Zoute" in Jul 1934 Pilot d'Hoore. -
M-6
History
Type- C/N
MS 236
Date In
1932
Date Out
May 1940
1/I/1 Aé (Seagull), to 3/II/1 Aé (Holy Leaf), damaged in May 1940, transported to Ets Aé at Zwevegem for repairs, ultimate fate unknown.
M-7
History
Type- C/N
MS 236
Date In
1932
Date Out
1939
7/IV/1 Aé (Mephisto) crashed at Bierset in 1939.
M-8
History
Type- C/N
MS 236
Date In
1932
Date Out
May 1940
1/I/1 Aé (Seagull), damaged beyond repair at Neerhespen airfield on 10 May 1940.
M-9
History
Type- C/N
MS 236
Date In
1932
Date Out
-
Used by pilot Georges Vandamme for aerobatic demonstrations
M-10
History
Type- C/N
MS 236
Date In
1932
Date Out
-
Vliegschool/Ecole de Pilotage Wevelgem,
M-11
History
Type- C/N
MS 236
Date In
1932
Date Out
-
Vliegschool/Ecole de Pilotage Wevelgem, to Luchtvaartschool/Ecole d'Aéronautique (Cockatoo)
M-12
History
Type- C/N
MS 236
Date In
1932
Date Out
-
1/I/1 Aé (Seagull), to Vliegschool/Ecole de Pilotage Wevelgem,
M-13
History
Type- C/N
MS 236
Date In
1932
Date Out
-
Vliegschool/Ecole de Pilotage Wevelgem, to Luchtvaartschool/Ecole d'Aéronautique (Cockatoo)
M-14
History
Type- C/N
MS 236
Date In
+
Date Out
Sep 1933
Crashed at Evere on 9 Sept 1933.
M-15
History
Type- C/N
MS 236
Date In
-
Date Out
-
Vliegschool/Ecole de Pilotage Wevelgem, 3/II/1 Aé (Holy Leaf),
M-16
History
Type- C/N
MS 236
Date In
-
Date Out
-
Ecole Vliegschool de Pilotage Wevelgem, to Luchtvaartschool/Ecole d'Aéronautique (Cockatoo)
M-17
History
Type- C/N
MS 236
Date In
-
Date Out
May 1940
Ecole Vliegschool de Pilotage Wevelgem, 4/II/2Aé (White Cocotte), destroyed at Nivelles on 10 May 1940.
M-18
History
Type- C/N
MS 236
Date In
-
Date Out
May 1940
Vliegschool/Ecole de Pilotage Wevelgem, destroyed at Nivelles on 10 May 1940.
M-19
History
Type- C/N
MS 236
Date In
-
Date Out
May 1939
Vliegschool/Ecole de Pilotage Wevelgem, to 5/III/1 Aé (Swallow), to 4/II/2Aé (White Cocotte), crashed at Monstreux (near Nivelles) on 4 May 1939.
M-20
History
Type- C/N
MS 236
Date In
-
Date Out
-
Vliegschool/Ecole de Pilotage Wevelgem,
M-21
History
Type- C/N
MS 230
Date In
-
Date Out
-
Vliegschool/Ecole de Pilotage Wevelgem,
M-22
History
Type- C/N
Date In
-
Date Out
-
-
M-23
History
Type- C/N
MS 236
Date In
-
Date Out
-
Vliegschool/Ecole de Pilotage Wevelgem,
M-24
History
Type- C/N
MS 236
Date In
-
Date Out
-
-