Post by flyboy on Nov 28, 2016 13:05:45 GMT
THE NORD NORATLAS
The Nord Noratlas was a French military design produced to undertake the transport role following the end of World War II with several hundred being produced in France and under license in Germany. Although not a regular visitor to Blackbushe the aircraft was often seen during the Farnborough Airshow weeks during the 1950's.
First flown on September 10th 1949 the Nord 2500 prototype twin was powered by Gnome-Rhone 14R engines developing 1600hp but was found to be too slow for most requirements. The engines were changed to SNECMA built Bristol Hercules 738/9, 2040hp, engines powering four bladed propellers on the second aircraft which was known as the Nord 2501. As one of three preproduction aircraft it was extensively flight tested against the Fairchild C82 Packet. This resulted in an initial order for 34 aircraft which was placed on July 10th 1951. There was to be an eventual total production run of 425 aircraft before production ceased in 1961.
The Armee de L'Air ordered a further 174 of the type giving as total of 208 operated mainly in the freighter role. However 10 were fitted out for passenger transport while others undertook a variety of other tasks before the type was retired in 1989.
The West German Air Force operated 186 Noratlas of which 25 were produced at the French factory while the remainder were produced by Flugzengbau Nord in West Germany. Of these only 173 were delivered with the others going to smaller national operators. Aircraft were also supplied to the Israeli Air Force, Greece, Portugal, Niger, Nigeria and Chad although not all received new aircraft.
In civilian guise the aircraft known as the Nord N-2502A/B which had 2x additional Turbomeca Marbore IIE turbojets mounted on the wingtips were used primarily by Aeromaritime du Transport (N-2502A) and CGTA Air Algerie (N-2502B), but only 10 were built.
SPECIFICATION:
Crew 4-5
Capacity 45 Soldiers or 36 Paratroopers or 18 patients with medics or cargo.
Length 72' 1" (21.96m).
Wingspan 106' 8" (32.5m).
Height 19' 8" (6.0m)
Weight Empty 29,327lb (13,302kg).
Take-off Weight Max 45,423lb (20,603kg).
Engines 2x SNECMA built Bristol Hercules 738/739 radial engine 2090hp (1,558kW) each.
Max Speed 273mph (440km/hr) or 251mph/405km/hr loaded).
Cruise Speed 199mph (320km/hr) at 1,500m.
Range 1550m (2500km).
Ceiling 23,300ft (7,100m).
Climb 1080ft/min (5.5m/s).
RECORDED MOVEMENTS
Reg C/N Type Operator Identification Dates Noted
No.3 03 2501 French Air Force ------------ 00.9.54.
--//-- --//-- --//-- --//-- c/s F-ZABT 9.5.57,10.5.57 to Bedford,12.5.57->
--//-- --//-- --//-- --//-- --//-- 11.10.57,28.1.58,4.9.58.
4 04 --//-- --//-- 341-G 00.4.58.
5 5 --//-- --//-- ------------ 4.9.55-8.9.55.
8 8 --//-- --//-- 341-K c/s F-RBOK 25.6.59.
9 9 --//-- --//-- ------------ 8.9.54,3.9.56,4.9.56.
10 10 --//-- --//-- ------------ 28.5.57,1.11.57.
21 21 --//-- --//-- ------------ 7.9.54,8.9.54.
34 34 --//-- --//-- ------------ 7.9.54.
37 37 --//-- --//-- ------------ 7.9.54.
40 40 --//-- --//-- 63esc 8.9.55.
43 43 --//-- --//-- 61-QM 61esc 7.9.55.
51 51 --//-- --//-- ------------ 7.9.55.
53 53 --//-- --//-- 61-NH 6.9.55.
74 74 --//-- --//-- ------------ 7.10.58.
81 81 --//-- --//-- ET63 5.9.56,6.9.56.
82 82 --//-- --//-- ET63 4.9.56-6.9.56.
101 101 --//-- --//-- 61-NE 12.5.60.
106 106 --//-- --//-- 61-NE 13.5.60.
118 118 --//-- --//-- 61-NA 13.5.60.
151 151 --//-- --//-- 61-YP c/s F-RAYP 25.6.59.
5761 250IIS-1 --//-- Israeli Air Force 4X-FAP 28.10.55,28.3.56 maint. Eagles.
5762 250IIS-2 --//-- --//-- 4X-FAQ 4.4.56,23.7.56 Eagles maint->
--//-- --//-- --//-- --//-- --//-- 1.11.57 Eagles maint.->
--//-- --//-- --//-- --//-- --//-- 23.10.57,30.10.57,2.11.57.
5763 250IIS-3 --//-- --//-- 4X-FAR 23.7.56 maint. Eagles.
F-BFRG 2503-1 2503 Nord Demonstrator 3.9.58,4.9.58,8.9.59.
GA+239 N2501-026 2501 Luftwaffe ------------ 30.1.60.
GA+245 N2501-039? --//-- --//-- ------------ 00.7.59,1.2.60,4.2.60.
GB+107 2501D-012 --//-- --//-- ------------ 9.9.59.
GB+108 2501D-013 --//-- --//-- ------------ 25.1.60.
GB+113 2501D-018 --//-- --//-- ------------ 00.7.59,1.2.60,5.2.60.
GB+118 2501D-023 --//-- --//-- ------------ 10.5.60,23.5,60.
Credit: rj for the details contained. This would not be possible without his co-operation.
The enthusiasts of the day for their records.
Wikipedia
PB for the photographs.
Rj's Blackbushe history due shortly.
complete JSM 28.11.2016.