The MS.407 LP gets a small mention on page 251 of "Morane-Saulnier - Ses Avions, Ses Projets" by Henri Lacaze,
and the author express some doubts about what is said about those modified aircraft, see the quick translation :
"Type 407 LP were three modified aircraft for tests with high-speed parachuting (LP stands for Lance-Parachute). The dummy and its parachute were positioned between the engine and the pilot, instead of the fuel tank, which was relocated to both sides and partly under the seat. As a precaution the windshield and the leading edges were reinforced. It seems that the dummy was dropped down through a hatch in the underside of the fuselage (one wonders, why the aircraft had a reinforced windshield then ?).
These trials began at the end of 1938 (first flight by Launay on December 9th, 1938). Why were three aircraft necessary for these tests ? The aircraft used would then have been returned to the normal standard (personally, I doubt it):
- n / a 4549 MS 406 No. 14, replaced in the pre-series, registration N 264;
- n / a 4596 MS 406 No 31, registered L 418 then F-AKIF;
- n / c 4723 MS 406 No. 82, registered ? re-registered F-AKIG? "
From that description, I tried to make a quick sketch without any claim for accuracy. I took the standard MS.406, removed
the antennaea, because they probably would have been in the way, when ejecting a dummy, hint at a beefed up wind shield
(in the original cockpit) and tried to add a hatch on the underside. Maybe these tests just should give a clue, if upwards or down-
wards ejection would be better ?
Replacing the fuel tank wouldn't have been much of a problem, I think, the weapon bays could have been used and, as mentioned
the space under the seat. And for such tests long range probably wasn't necessary.