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I hope, nobody mind me misusing this forum, for a question about an aircraft, that didn't remain a project, but even reached the prototype stage. At least it seems, that many ligt aircraft of this era are shrouded in more secrecy then those glamorous jet fighters and bombers !
In this case it is the Morane Saulnier MS.570, I have problems with. Although I have two photos (One from http://www.aviafrance.com/, the other from http://www.hydroretro.net/etudegh/, more then of many other types !), both showing he same registration and even the type designation at the fin, there are distinctive differences between them, which I have outlined and shown separately. Additionally, the lower photo shows a fixed landing gear, whereas the upper one a retractable type, I think. The MS.570 is described as a 2- to 3-seater, which was derived, or maybe even modified from the MS.560 single seater. So my theorie is, that it started it's life as a 2-seat version with a broadened fuselage and a retractable landing gear like the MS.560 and without much differences to the contour of the canopy. A later change to the 3-seat configuration necessitated a new, longer and higher canopy and, because of the higher weight the landing gear was exchanged for a lighter fixed type.
As the whole series of the Morane aircraft from the MS.560 to the 660 seems to be full of uncertainties, I got a number of photos (but never enough !), but no reliable information, not in the mentioned websites, not in the Gaillard and not in the Fayer books.
And so, I think, it's no misnomer, to call them at least "secret prototypes" and ask for help here .
In this case it is the Morane Saulnier MS.570, I have problems with. Although I have two photos (One from http://www.aviafrance.com/, the other from http://www.hydroretro.net/etudegh/, more then of many other types !), both showing he same registration and even the type designation at the fin, there are distinctive differences between them, which I have outlined and shown separately. Additionally, the lower photo shows a fixed landing gear, whereas the upper one a retractable type, I think. The MS.570 is described as a 2- to 3-seater, which was derived, or maybe even modified from the MS.560 single seater. So my theorie is, that it started it's life as a 2-seat version with a broadened fuselage and a retractable landing gear like the MS.560 and without much differences to the contour of the canopy. A later change to the 3-seat configuration necessitated a new, longer and higher canopy and, because of the higher weight the landing gear was exchanged for a lighter fixed type.
As the whole series of the Morane aircraft from the MS.560 to the 660 seems to be full of uncertainties, I got a number of photos (but never enough !), but no reliable information, not in the mentioned websites, not in the Gaillard and not in the Fayer books.
And so, I think, it's no misnomer, to call them at least "secret prototypes" and ask for help here .