Fp/Al Èquiere
pictured above : Èquiere M.B/51 of the Colonial Air Wing in Ziggurai, 1970
The
Èquiere is a Merdic trainer aircraft, designed to fill in the gap between ab-initio trainers and advanced jet fighters. It was designed with conventional low mounted monoplane wings, side-by-side seating, and an air-cooled inverted V12 engine. The type was built by Anoire, being one of their last notable designs that entered service in 1948 before the company's disbandment and subsequent reorganization 1955.
Development
Before 1943, most if not all pilots attained the bulk of their flight hours in outdated civilian aircraft before switching into two-seater military biplanes to qualify for fighter pilotage. During the confrontation era, this model of training proved to be ineffective as trainees found it difficult transitioning from old 1930s open-top trainers to more powerful aircraft such as the high-speed, hard to handle Avanter and Visard, or the heavy Tophane.
This problem was temporarily rectified by converting older designs such as the Sancy and Rafale into two-seat intermediate trainers, though with limited success as the two-seat variants proved to exhibit many performance issues and still presented a steep learning curve.
The issue was also evident on naval aviation, as the navy did not have a dedicated trainer that can simulate the landing aspects of fighter aircraft sufficiently.
In 1945, the Merdic Air Force began a program to revamp and standardize the pilot training system to prepare cadets for newer jet fighters.
The Bureau of Military Aviation published Specification No.115/A.45 that called for an aircraft that could serve as an initial trainer and as an advanced trainer if necessary. The design is required to utilize an engine that have sufficient performance and ease of maintenance, and preferably already used in other designs. On top of that, it should also meet the requirements of both the Navy and the Air Force.
Anoire would win the specification, coming up with the prototype design of the Èquiere in 1946.
Flight testing began in 1947, and results were mixed. The Navy wasn't so impressed by the design but still ordered several aircraft, ultimately preferring to start its own program to build trainers that better suited their operations. In spite of this, the design was popular among Air Force circles as the aircraft closely simulated fighter agility and acceleration with a lenient handling profile.
In 1948 production of the M.A/48 began, and was followed later in 1951 by the upgraded M.B/51.
Design
The Èquiere would incorporate a Riberyolles-Marche inverted V12 470HP engine that was initially rated at 700HP to power an emergency light fighter design which ultimately got scrapped. Instead, the engine found use in several liaison and light transport aircraft.
A single main tank situated between the cockpit and the firewall supplied fuel for the engine.
Hardpoints were able to be fitted onto the wing spars to provide attachment for drop tanks and munitions if necessary.
The initial M.A/48 model featured a conventional framed canopy construction which proved to be awkward to look out of, and thus the upgraded M.B/51 featured an acrylic bubble canopy. Other than that, the two models were practically identical.
Both models were built to withstand harder landings as per Navy requirements, and is able to be fitted with an arrestor gear.
Operational History
The type entered service in 1949 with the Air Force serving as an intermediary trainer and in some cases for advanced flight maneuver training, owing to its performance.
A total of 107 M.A/48 and 1250 M.B/51 were produced, with most of them operating in the Air Force as the Navy sought to design its own trainers to meet their standard.
In the Air Force, the aircraft was used to prepare students for the higher speed and agility of advanced jet trainers. The high performance also meant that it could perform well in basic ground attack courses, a role which it was put into service due to Air Academy Command not wanting to commit advanced jet trainers into initial weapons training because of the perceived danger.
This meant that foreign buyers would employ Èquieres as light attackers and later as COINs. Operations in this role was famously carried out by the Kambers Free State in their wars against Shaladeiha, and with the Calabar Air Force against insurgents.
The type saw active service with the Metropolitan Air Force until 1972, where it started to be phased out and replaced by the Pony turboprop trainer, ironically a design that was born as a naval trainer.
Nonetheless, it still saw active service in colonial air wings until the end of its service life.
As the type was being phased out from training service in the late 1970s, several Air Force trainer squadrons began to use them as aerobatic aircraft on local air shows. As a result of this, the aircraft gained attraction from civilian buyers that sought to purchase them as surplus warbirds.
Thus, many units were passed on to the hands of civilian aviators and racers. One of the most peculiar offsprings of these endeavors was a 4-seat conversion for VIP transport.
Its role as a trainer came to an end in 1991, where it was replaced completely by the Super Pony turboprop trainer.
Nowadays the aircraft is often found on air shows and races, either fitted out to the brim to compete in medium-class competitions or as vintage airframes serving as an ode to the great age of propeller aircrafts.
