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.

MB-1
Role Fighter
National origin United States
Manufacturer Thomas-Morse Aircraft
Designer B. Douglas Thomas
First flight 1918
Number built 1

Development

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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

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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

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Notes
  1. ^ "Thomas".
  2. ^ "Thomas-Morse MB-1 - fighter".
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.