Thomas-Morse MB-1

The Thomas-Morse MB-1 was an open-cockpit monoplane fighter manufactured by Thomas-Morse Aircraft for the U.S. Army Air Service in 1918.

Development[]

The MB-1 was designed by B. Douglas Thomas as a high wing parasol monoplane. Powered by a Liberty 12 engine, the MB-1 flew only once, and the weight of the Liberty 12 proved so heavy for the aircraft that the landing gear collapsed while the MB-1 was taxiing for another flight.^[1]

Specifications[]

Data from ^[2]

General characteristics

• Crew: 1
• Length: 22 ft 0 in (6.70 m)
• Wingspan: 37 ft 0 in (11.28 m)
• Height: 8 ft 5 in (2.56 m)
• Empty weight: 1,499 lb (680 kg)
• Powerplant: 1 × Liberty L-12 liquid-cooled piston engine , 400 hp (300 kW)

Performance Armament

• 2x 7.7 mm machine guns

References[]

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Thomas-Morse MB-1.

Notes

Bibliography

• Angelucci, Enzo (1987). The American Fighter from 1917 to the present. New York: Orion Books. ISBN 0-517-56588-9.
• Wegg, John (1990). General Dynamics Aircraft and their Predecessors. London: Putnam. ISBN 0-85177-833-X.