The Morane-Saulnier Type L was a two seat monoplane with a "parasol" wing, which made it excellent for reconnaissance. A single wing was mounted above the fuselage giving the occupants an unobstructed view of the ground.
At the beginning of the war, a swivel gun was mounted in the rear cockpit allowing the observer to shoot at balloons or other aircraft. In April of 1915, French pilot Roland Garros mounted a Hotchkiss machine gun to the fuselage in front of the pilot, allowing a pilot to shoot through the propellor for the first time. The gun was not synchronized to the engine so steel plates were mounted on the propellor to protect it from bullets.
| Specifications | |
|---|---|
| Country of Manufacture | France |
| First Year of Service | 1913 |
| Wing Span | 36.8 ft | 11.2 m |
| Length | 22.5 ft | 6.9 m |
| Height | 12.9 ft | 3.9 m |
| Weight | 1441 lbs | 655 kg |
| Engine | Gnôme 7 cylinder air-cooled rotary engine, 80hp |
| Top Speed | 71.5 mph | 115 km/h |
| Range | 180 miles | 288 km |
| Armament | 1 machine gun |
| Crew | 1 or 2 |
