Nord Noratlas

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The Nord Noratlas was a 1950s French military transport aircraft intended to replace the older types in service at the end of World War II.

Development

Accordingly, in 1947 Direction Technique Industrielle organized a design competition for medium-weight cargo aircraft offering great flexibility in use. Société Nationale de Construction Aéronautique du Nord (SNCAN) answered with the Nord 2500, while their competitors, Breguet and SNCASO, offered the BR-891R Mars and SO-30C respectively. The Nord 2500, with its rear-opening clamshell doors allowing ease of loading, was considered the most promising, and DTI ordered two prototypes on April 27, 1948. The first prototype took to the air on September 10, 1949 powered by two Gnome et Rhône 14R 1600-hp engines driving 3-bladed variable pitch propellers, but it was found to be too slow for most applications. The second prototype replaced the 14Rs with two SNECMA-built Bristol Hercules 738/9 2040-hp engines driving four-bladed propellers, and this model was rechristened the Nord 2501. DTI ordered 3 more preproduction Nord 2501s, which they flight-tested extensively against the similar Fairchild C-82 Packet. The N-2501 was found superior, and the first 34 were ordered on July 10, 1951. After an eventual production run of some 425 planes, the last Noratlas was constructed in 1961.

Operational History

West Germany, faced with the same situation that had prompted the development of the Noratlas, eventually ordered a total of 186 Noratlases from 1956 on, of which 25 were built in France, and the other 161 manufactured in West Germany by Flugzeugbau Nord (a satellite company) under contract. These last were designated N-2501D. The Luftwaffe began selling its Noratlases in 1964, and is the source for most of the planes for the smaller national operators listed below.

The Israeli Air Force (IAF) initially purchased three examples of the N-2501IS in 1956, but under duress -- the French government would only allow them to purchase 12 Dassault Ouragans if they purchased 3 Noratlases as well. The Israelis were upset by the terms of the offer, but France was one of very few countries willing to sell them arms, and eventually they knuckled under. However, they quickly realized the utility of the Noratlas following its performance in the Suez Crisis, and purchased another 3 N-2501ISs in 1959, and 16 N-2501Ds before the Six-Day War. These were primarily intended for cargo and paratroop transport, but there are reports that several were put to more unconventional use as bombers on long-range strikes into Egypt, much as the contemporary C-130s deployed the Daisy Cutter bomb in Vietnam. It is also known that the IAF used their Noratlases for maritime reconnaissance at the outset of the Six-Day War, and one of these identified the USS Liberty prior to the strafing of the ship. The IAF phased the Noratlas out in 1978, and the bulk of their fleet was sold to the Greek Air Force.

The N-2502A/B, which added two small Turboméca Marboré IIE turbojets at the wingtips, was used primarily by civil operators such as Union Aéromaritime du Transport (N-2502A) and CGTA-Air Algérie (N-2502B), but never found the success of the military versions, and only 10 were built. The Portuguese Air Force purchased 6 militarized N-2502As (designated N-2502F) over 1961-1962 as well.

There were also several variants of limited service that are mentioned below.

Variants

*one produced

*208 produced, purchased by the Armée de l'Air

*186 produced, purchased by the Luftwaffe

*6 produced, purchased by the Israeli Air Force

*8 produced, probably modified N-2501s; operated by the Armée de l'Air

*3 produced

*10 purchased by UAT (A) and Air Algérie (B)

*one prototype constructed

*6 produced, operated by Portuguese Air Force

*one produced? modified N-2501?

*4 planned, one constructed; operated by the French Navy

*never passed the planning stage

*at least 2 constructed

*never passed the planning stage

*2 prototypes constructed

*never passed the planning stage

Former Operators

The factual accuracy of this section is [Accuracy disputedisputed]. Please view the article's [talk page]

Specifications (Nord N-2501)

See also

• Armstrong Whitworth AW.660 Argosy
• Blackburn Beverley
• C-119 Flying Boxcar

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