Robert Morane, (10 March 1886, Paris – 28 August 1968, Paris)[1] and his brother Léon Morane (11 April 1885, Paris – 19 October 1918, Paris)[2] were French aviation pioneers.
Career
Léon obtained his brevet (flying licence) on 19 April 1910 in a Blériot,[3] and that June, he took part in la Grande Semaine d'aviation de Rouen.
On 5 October 1910, Léon and Robert Morane made a trial flight, aiming to win le prix Michelin d'aviation, which required a journey between Paris and sommet du Puy de Dôme in less than 6 hours. Their attempt failed when, having set off from Issy in a Gnôme 100 hp- powered Blériot, they crashed near Boissy-Saint-Léger, both being seriously injured.[4][5] After this accident, Leon received a visit from his childhood friend Raymond Saulnier, and a year later, on 10 October 1911, they created the Société Anonyme des Aéroplanes Morane – Saulnier, with Robert Morane as test pilot.[6][4] Its registered office was at Paris[citation needed] and the factories were at Puteaux.[7]
In 1910, Léon was the first person to fly at 100 km/h (62 mph);[8] he also set the altitude record, at 2,500 m (8,200 ft).[citation needed]
Léon died during the epidemic of 'Spanish' flu in October 1918.[4]
After the First World War the factory was dedicated primarily to production of trainers and fighter aircraft, including, notably: a single seater with canopy (1924), the MS 230 trainer which sold 1100 examples (1930), and the M.S.405/MS 406, a single seat fighter of all-metal construction, powered by a Hispano-Suiza 860 hp engine (1936–1937).
