It was the original small passenger jet. Before the JetStar, Sabreliner or Lear 23 was the Paris. First flown in 1954 by French pioneers Morane-Saulnier, the MS 760 twinjet became a military trainer, light attack aircraft and speedy transport that served with distinction--if not in great numbers--with mostly military customers for nearly 50 years. Now the Paris is looking to be reborn at the hands of the MS760 Sales Corporation, which has acquired the type certificate, has ambitious plans to re-engine the jet, and may even restart production.

Steve Fox, president, MS760 Corp., told Show News, "We have spent seven years assembling a stock of aircraft. We have acquired all the remaining MS 760s, plus engines and parts from EADS-Socata. We have 20 ready now, with seven that could be delivered in the next 30 to 90 days. We could deliver those seven plus another nine in 2010." A 'new' Paris (the company's inventory was built between 1959 and 1966) starts at $450,000.

Ed Furtack is CEO of JetSet International Ltd. and an investor in MS760 Corp. He is also an MS 760 owner and pilot. "This is a sport aircraft for a specific market," he says; "I use it for genuine business flying, but it can carry enough bags for a family weekend trip. In 200 hours of flying, the only thing I have had to do with my Paris is change the tires and change the oil." Everyone on the MS760 Corp. team praises the flair and handling of the aircraft. The airframe is stressed to +7/-3 g and would make an excellent 'upset trainer.'

To promote the jet to a wider audience, MS760 Corp. will establish a two-ship aerobatic team for the 2010 season, crewed by famed military pilot and shoe veterans Dale "Snort" Snodgrass and Jerry "Jive" Kerby.

The Paris' Achilles' heel is its elderly Turbomeca Marbore turbojets, which produce modest levels of power and vast amounts of noise. They fail to meet most modern noise regulations, so a re-engining plan is in hand. MS760 Corp. is even looking at a redesigned single-engined configuration that would further lower running costs. Engine options could include the Pratt & Whitney JT15-IV, Williams FJ44 or Pratt & Whitney 600 series.

Says Furtack, "Re-engining the Paris will cost significantly less than what others have spent to develop a new aircraft. The STC would be a minimal investment." A new engine decision could be made in the next two or three months, and Fox says the single-engined configuration "looks promising."

The company is even contemplating a fuselage redesign that would allow a reconfigured four- or six-seat version to be built. Changes have already been made to the

Image credit: MS760 Corp.