Robert Morane was born on March 10, 1886, in Paris and died on August 28, 1968, in Paris. His brother, Léon Morane, was born on April 11, 1885, in Paris and died on October 19, 1918, in Paris. Both Robert Morane and his brother Léon Morane were French aviation pioneers.

Career

Léon earned his brevet (flying licence) on 19 April 1910 in a Blériot. That same month, he participated in la Grande Semaine d'aviation de Rouen.

On 5 October 1910, Léon and Robert Morane made a trial flight to compete for le prix Michelin d'aviation. This challenge required flying from Paris to the summit of Puy de Dôme in less than 6 hours. Their attempt failed when their aircraft, a Gnôme 100 hp-powered Blériot, crashed near Boissy-Saint-Léger after taking off from Issy. Both men were seriously injured in the accident. Later, Léon met with his childhood friend Raymond Saulnier. A year later, on 10 October 1911, Léon and Raymond founded the Société Anonyme des Aéroplanes Morane–Saulnier. Robert Morane served as the company’s test pilot. The company’s headquarters was in Paris, and its factories were located in Puteaux.

In 1910, Léon became the first person to fly at a speed of 100 km/h (62 mph). He also set a record for flying at an altitude of 2,500 m (8,200 ft).

Léon died during the epidemic of 'Spanish' flu in October 1918.

After the First World War, the factory focused mainly on producing trainers and fighter aircraft. Notable models included a single-seat aircraft with a canopy (1924), the MS 230 trainer (which sold 1,100 units in 1930), and the M.S.405/MS 406, a single-seat fighter made of all-metal and powered by a Hispano-Suiza 860 hp engine (1936–1937).

Robert established the Morane-Saulnier flight school, where pilots Maurice Tabuteau and Marcel Brindejonc des Moulinais received training.

The brothers are buried at the Père Lachaise Cemetery.