Designed in Vichy France theMS.470 prototype first flew on22 December 1944[citation needed], successful testing leading to an order from the French Air Force of a revised variant theMS.472. The Vanneau was a low-wing cantilever monoplane with a pilot and student in tandem under a long glazed canopy. It had a retractable tailwheel landing gear and the prototype was powered by a 515 kW (690 hp)Hispano-Suiza 12X inline engine.
The production MS.472 was powered by a 425 kW (570 hp)Gnome-Rhône 14M-05 14-cylinderradial engine and first flew on 12 December 1945, with deliveries to the French Air Force starting in December 1946. From December 1947 the French Navy received 70 of theMS.474 variant modified for carrier operations.
A re-engined version theMS.475 was produced from 1950 which had minor differences but was powered by a 641 kW (860 hp)Hispano-Suiza 12Y-45 V-12 engine. One MS.475 was modified as theMS.476 with an increase in wing surface area and another MS.475 was fitted with aRenault 12S-02 engine as theMS.477 in 1950. A proposed variant was theMS.478 which was to be fitted with anIsotta Fraschini Delta engine but was not built. One MS.472 was re-engined with a 611 kW (820 hp)SNECMA 14X-04 radial engine in 1952 but development was later stopped. The Vanneau remained in service with the French Air Force and Navy into the late 1960s.
Production variant for the French Air Force powered by a 425 kW (570 hp)Gnome-Rhône 14M-05 piston engine; three prototypes and 230 production aircraft built.[2]
MS.474 Vanneau IV
Carrier-capable production variant for the French Navy, powered by aGnome-Rhône 14M-04; 70 built.[3]
MS.475 Vanneau V
Improved version for the French Air Force powered by a 641 kW (860 hp)Hispano-Suiza 12Y-45 V12 engine; 201 built.[4]
MS.476
One MS.475 modified with increased wing surface.
MS.477
One MS.475 powered by a 433 kW (580 hp)Renault 12S-02 inline engine.[5]
Cuny, Jean (1989).Les avions de combat français, 2: Chasse lourde, bombardement, assaut, exploration [French Combat Aircraft 2: Heavy Fighters, Bombers, Attack, Reconnaissance]. Docavia (in French). Vol. 30. Ed. Larivière.OCLC36836833.
Lacaze, Henri & Lherbert, Claude (2013).Morane Saulnier: ses avions, ses projets [Morane Saulnier: Their Aircraft and Projects] (in French). Outreau, France: Lela Presse.ISBN978-2-914017-70-1.
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