The Nord Noratlas is a dedicated military transport aircraft , developed and manufactured by French aircraft manufacturer Nord Aviation .
72-630: Development commenced during the late 1940s with the aim of producing a suitable aircraft to replace the numerous older types that were in service with the Armée de l'Air (French Air Force) which dated back to the Second World War . In response to a competition organised by the Direction Technique Industrielle (DTI), Nord produced their Nord 2500 proposal, which was selected as the most promising. Experiences with
144-511: A batch of six ex-Portuguese Noratlas were given to the governments of these two new countries. By September 1977, all of the remaining Noratlases had been withdrawn from Portuguese service. By 1951, a civil-orientated version of the Noratlas, was under development and had received multiple orders from domestic and overseas customers. Known as the N-2502A/B , it was designed to be suitable for
216-407: A common set of flaws, such as the traditional tailwheel landing gear configuration, which gave them a nose-up attitude when at rest that complicated the loading and unloading of cargo, relatively restrictive side-loading doors and a limited payload capacity. In light of these apparent shortcomings, during 1947, the Direction Technique Industrielle (DTI) organized a design competition that sought
288-423: A crude method of firing a machine gun through the propeller arc by cladding his propeller with metal wedges deflecting any errant bullets. After destroying three German airplanes, Garros came down behind enemy lines on 18 April 1915. His secret weapon was thus exposed, and Anthony Fokker came up with the synchronization gear that by July 1, 1915 , turned airplanes into flying gun platforms. On 21 February 1916,
360-595: A figure of 658 aircraft in 2014. According to 2018 data, this figure includes 210 combat aircraft: 115 Dassault Mirage 2000 and 95 Dassault Rafale . As of 2021, the French Air and Space Force employs a total of 40,500 regular personnel, with a reserve element of 5,187 in 2014. The Chief of Staff of the French Air and Space Force (CEMAAE) is a direct subordinate of the Chief of the Defence Staff (CEMA),
432-635: A high-ranking military officer who in turn answers to the civilian Minister of the Armed Forces . The founding of the Service Aéronautique began in 1909, when the French War Minister approved the purchase of a Wright Biplane . The following year, another Wright biplane, a Bleriot , and two Farmans were added to the lone acquisition. On 22 October 1910, General Pierre Roques was appointed Inspector General of what
504-459: A large pod-like fuselage that was slung in between the aircraft's twin booms and indirectly attached to them via its shoulder-mounted wing . The Noratlas was deliberately designed to be operated under austere conditions, featuring widely spaced landing gear, complete with wide low-pressure tyres, for additional stability and suitability to moving over rough terrain, while the propellers had sufficient clearance to accommodate such operations as well. It
576-552: A medium-weight cargo aircraft which would offer very high operational flexibility. In response to the competition, the Société Nationale de Construction Aéronautique du Nord (SNCAN) produced a response in the form of the proposed Nord 2500. Several other competing French aviation firms, such as Breguet and Sud-Ouest , offered their own designs, the BR-891R Mars and SO-30C , respectively. The Nord 2500, which
648-530: A range of up to 750 miles (1,210 km). Cargo was typically loaded into and unloaded from the main cabin via the rear-facing clamshell doors, which were intentionally positioned close to ground level to ease freight handling. During its service life with the Armée de l'Air, the Noratlas was initially predominantly operated in it cargo-carrying role; however, 10 had been fitted out, as ordered, to facilitate performing passenger operations as well. However, following
720-695: A role during the Operation Niki (meaning Victory in Greek), being used to airlift the 1st Greek Rangers Squadron from Souda , Crete to Nicosia , Cyprus , as part of Greece's response to the Turkish invasion of Cyprus . In spite of the aircraft's age and the adverse flying conditions present throughout, 12 of the 15 aircraft which participated in Operation Niki had managed to arrive and land at Nicosia International Airport ; at least one Noratlas
792-588: A service arm of the French Army , it became an independent military branch in 1934 as the French Air Force. On 10 September 2020, it assumed its current name, the French Air and Space Force, to reflect an "evolution of its mission" into the area of outer space . The number of aircraft in service with the French Air and Space Force varies depending on the source; the Ministry of Armed Forces gives
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#1732790392503864-567: A total of 148 planes (eight from French Naval Aviation ( Aéronautique Navale )) and 15 airships . In August 1914, as France entered World War I, French airpower consisted of 24 squadrons ( escadrilles ) supporting ground forces, including three squadrons assigned to cavalry units. By 8 October, expansion to 65 squadrons was being planned. By December, the plans called for 70 new squadrons. Meanwhile, even as procurement efforts scaled up, inventive airmen were trying to use various light weapons against opposing airplanes. Roland Garros invented
936-485: A total of 19 squadrons of Mirage III, Jaguars, two squadrons flying the Mirage 5 F (EC 2/13 and EC 3/13, both at Colmar ), and a squadron flying the Mirage F.1 CR. CoTAM counted 28 squadrons, of which ten were fixed-wing transport squadrons, and the remainder helicopter and liaison squadrons, at least five of which were overseas. CAFDA numbered 14 squadrons mostly flying the Mirage F.1 C. Two other commands had flying units,
1008-786: Is believed to have been shot down by friendly fire from Greek-aligned forces. Regardless, the operation had allowed the Greek 1st Rangers Squadron to help retain the Nicosia airport under the control of the United Nations and avoid its surrender to the Turkish Brigade that had attacked it. The Portuguese Air Force operated a large number of Noratlases. During 1960, Portugal decided to purchase an initial batch of six militarized N-2502A (designated N-2502F ) from French airline Union Aéromaritime de Transport (UAT). This purchase
1080-647: Is organized in accordance with Chapter 4, Title II, Book II of the Third Part of the French Defense Code ( French : code de la Défense ), which replaced decree n° 91-672 dated 14 July 1991. Under the authority of the Chief of Staff of the French Air and Space Force (CEMAAE) in Paris , the Air and Space Force includes: The Air and Space Force headquarters, employing 150 personnel, are located alongside
1152-876: The Division Aerienne fought until war's end. By the time of the Battle of Saint-Mihiel , the French could commit 27 fighter squadrons to the effort, along with reconnaissance and bombing squadrons. The 1,137 airplanes dedicated to the battle were the most numerous used in a World War I battle. When the 11 November 1918 armistice came, French air power had expanded to 336 squadrons, 74 of which were SPAD fighter squadrons. France had 3,608 planes in service. Confirmed claims of 2,049 destroyed enemy airplanes included 307 that had been brought down within French lines. French airmen had also destroyed 357 observation balloons . However, 5,500 pilots and observers were killed out of
1224-657: The Groupement d'Unités Aériennes Spécialisées . Also created in 1964 was the Escadron des Fusiliers Commandos de l'Air (EFCA), seemingly grouping all FCA units. The Dassault Mirage IV , the principal French strategic bomber, was designed to strike Soviet positions as part of the French nuclear triad . In 1985, the Air Force had four major flying commands, the Strategic Air Forces Command ,
1296-532: The Fusiliers Commandos de l'Air command was reestablished under a different form. The French Air Force entered a phase of inventory replacement and expansion. The Air Force ordered the Airbus A400M military transport aircraft, then in development. By November 2016, 11 had already been delivered to ET00.061 at Orleans-Bricy, and integration of the new Dassault Rafale multi-role jet fighter
1368-762: The Air Force Training Command , and the Air Force Transmissions Command, with four squadrons and three trials units. Dassault Aviation led the way mainly with delta-wing designs, which formed the basis for the Dassault Mirage III series of fighter jets . The Mirage demonstrated its abilities in the Six-Day War , Yom Kippur War , Falklands War , and Gulf War , becoming one of the most popular jet fighters of its day and being widely sold. In 1994,
1440-445: The Armée de l'Air went on to order another 174 Noratlases, for a total of 228 aircraft in French service. Several different models were developed and were proposed, but ultimately were never built. Of those built, perhaps the most distinct was the civil-orientated 2502 , which featured additional engines in the form of a pair of wing-tip mounted Turbomeca Marboré turbojets , giving it improved takeoff performance. The proposed 2506
1512-764: The Battle of France in 1940. The Vichy French Air Force had later a significant presence in the French Levant . The engagement of the Free French Air Forces from 1940 to 1943, and then the engagement of the aviators of the French Liberation Army , were also important episodes in the history of the French Air Force. The sacrifices of Commandant René Mouchotte and Lieutenant Marcel Beau illustrated their devotion. After 1945, France rebuilt its aircraft industry. The French Air Force participated in several colonial wars during
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#17327903925031584-647: The Chief of the Defence Staff (CEMA) on the deployment, manner, and use of the Air and Space Force. They are responsible for the preparation and logistic support of the French Air and Space Force. The CEMAA is assisted by a Deputy Chief, the Major Général de l'Armée de l'Air . Finally, the CEMAA is assisted by the Inspectorate of the French Air and Space Force (IAA) and by the French Air and Space Force Health Service Inspection (ISSAA). The Air and Space Force
1656-588: The Chief of the Defence Staff 's offices (EMA) and the Army and Navy headquarters at the Balard armed forces complex in Paris. The new site replaced the former Paris Air Base (BA 117) which served as air staff headquarters until 25 June 2015. The French Air and Space Force has had three commands: two grand operational commands (CDAOA and CFAS) and one organic command (CFA). These last two brigades belonged until 2013 to
1728-772: The Strategic Air Forces Command , COTAM, the Air Command of Aerial Defense Forces ( Commandement Air des Forces de Défense Aérienne , CAFDA), and the Force aérienne tactique (FATac). In 1964, the Second Tactical Air Command was created in Nancy to take command of air units stationed in France but not assigned to NATO . The Military Air Transport Command had previously been formed in February 1962 from
1800-659: The Suez Crisis of 1956. During 1959, having been suitably impressed by its use under combat conditions, the IAF purchased another three N-2501ISs; prior to the Six-Day War of 1967, an additional 16 ex-German Air Force N-2501Ds had also been acquired and put into service. The Noratlas fleet was primarily intended for cargo and paratroop transport, although several aircraft conducted more unconventional operations, being used as improvised bomber aircraft to perform long-range strike missions into Egypt (known as Operation Drought), much as
1872-552: The Verdun Offensive began. New weapons demanded new tactics. Commandant Charles de Tricornet de Rose was the original French pilot, having learned to fly in March 1911. This experienced flier was given a free hand to select pilots and airplanes for a new unit tasked with keeping German observation craft from over the French lines. The ad hoc unit commandeered all available Morane-Saulniers and Nieuport 11s , as well as
1944-459: The 15 best pilots regardless of posting. This ad hoc unit patrolling the skies over Verdun was the first French Groupement de Chasse . The Groupement was successful despite Tricornet's death in a mishap. Under the leadership of new commander Captain Auguste de Reverand, such flying aces as Georges Guynemer , Charles Nungesser , and Albert Deullin began their careers. Encouraged by
2016-421: The 17,300 engaged in the conflict, amounting to 31%. A 1919 newspaper article reported that the French Air Force had suffered losses of 61%. Military aeronautics was established as a "special arm" by the law of 8 December 1922. It remained under the auspices of the French Army . It was not until 2 July 1934, that the "special arm" became an independent service and was totally independent. The initial air arm
2088-493: The 1960s, there were five air regions (RA). The number was then reduced to four by a decree of 30 June 1962 with the disestablishment of the 5th Aerial Region ( French North Africa ). The decree of 14 July 1991 reduced the air regions to three: « RA Atlantic », « RA Mediterranean » and « RA North-East ». On 1 July 2000 was placed into effect an organization consisting of « RA North » (RAN) and « RA South » (RAS). The territorial division
2160-532: The Air Force Support Command (CSFA), which maintained the arms systems, equipment, information and communication systems (SIC) as well as infrastructure. The CSFA supported the human element, the military logistics (supply and transport), wherever, previously, forces of the French Air and Space Force operated or trained. These two brigades are now subordinate to the CFA. The official designation of
2232-491: The Air and Space Force (DRH-AAE) recruits, trains, manages, administers, and converts personnel of the Air and Space Force. Since January 2008, the DRH-AAE groups the former Air Force directorate of military personnel (DPMMA) and some tasks of the former Air Force Training Command . The directorate is responsible for Air and Space Force recruitment via the recruiting bureau. French joint defence service organisations, supporting
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2304-754: The Empire such as French Indochina after the Second World War. Since 1945, the French Air Force was notably engaged in Indochina (1945–1954). The French Air Force was active in Algeria from 1952 until 1962 and Suez (1956), later Mauritania and Chad , the Persian Gulf (1990–1991), ex- Yugoslavia and more recently in Afghanistan , Mali and Iraq . From 1964 until 1971
2376-558: The French Air Force had the unique responsibility for the French nuclear arm via Dassault Mirage IV or ballistic missiles of Air Base 200 Apt-Saint-Christol on the Plateau d'Albion. Accordingly, from 1962, the French political leadership shifted its military emphasis to nuclear deterrence , implementing a complete reorganisation of the Air Force, with the creation of four air regions and seven major specialised commands, among which were
2448-583: The German Junkers Ju 52 , which was produced for some time in France after the end of the conflict, and the American Douglas C-47 , (that was derived from the 1930s Douglas DC-3 civil airliner), which had been received from US surplus. While both of these types were typically known for their good service levels, they were by no means modern or particularly large in comparison with newer contemporaries. Both aircraft had suffered from
2520-484: The Hellenic Air Force (HAF) received 50 surplus Noratlases from Germany as part of a compensation package for events during the Second World War, as well as being an element of NATO -organised military assistance to Greece. The HAF Noratlases were operated by the 354th Tactical Airlift Squadron, based at Elefsis AFB on the outskirts of Athens . On the night of 21–22 July 1974, multiple HAF Noratlases played
2592-621: The Noratlas for their own military air services. Having found itself in a similar situation to France, the German Air Force of West Germany chose to adopt the same solution, procuring the type for their own purposes. The Israeli Air Force , the Hellenic Air Force , and the Portuguese Air Force all deployed the Noratlas under combat conditions. Furthermore, operators often found a wide variety of uses for
2664-541: The Noratlas gave enthusiasm for further Franco-German collaborative efforts, leading directly to the larger and more advanced Transall C-160 transport aircraft. As a result of the superior Transall becoming available, the German Air Force came to consider its Noratlas fleet to have been supplanted and rendered surplus to requirements. Accordingly, as early as 1964, the German Air Force began to offer individual Noratlases for resale; in this fashion, Germany became
2736-650: The Portuguese Air Force extensively operated their Noratlas fleet across all three of the African theatres of operations of the Portuguese Colonial War . In this lengthy conflict, the Noratlas was primarily used to conduct the intra-theatre tactical transportation missions, as well as to transport and deliver Portuguese paratroopers during airborne assault operations. Shortly following the independence of Angola and Mozambique in 1975,
2808-667: The Tactical Air Forces Command, the Military Air Transport Command , and CAFDA (air defence). CFAS had two squadrons of S2 and S-3 IRBMs at the Plateau d'Albion, six squadrons of Mirage IV As (at Mont de Marsan , Cazaux, Orange, Istres, St Dizier, and EB 3/94 at Luxeuil - Saint-Sauveur Air Base ), and three squadrons of C-135F , as well as a training/reconnaissance unit, CIFAS 328, at Bordeaux . The tactical air command included wings EC 3, EC 4, EC 7, EC 11, EC 13, and ER 33, with
2880-530: The World's Aircraft 1958-59 General characteristics Performance Aircraft of comparable role, configuration, and era French Air Force The French Air and Space Force ( French : Armée de l'air et de l'espace , lit. ' Army of Air and Space ' ) is the air and space force of the French Armed Forces . Formed in 1909 as the Service Aéronautique ,
2952-570: The air and space force, include: Commanded by a Lieutenant-colonel or Colonel, the Escadre is a formation that assembles various units and personnel dedicated to the same mission. In 1932, the "regiment" designation was replaced with "Escadre", which until 1994 was a unit consisting of the following: Escadres ( wings ) were dissolved from 1993 as part of the Armées 2000 reorganisation, were reestablished in 2014. The problems caused by having
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3024-523: The civilian population. The last remaining squadron of Dassault Mirage F1s retired the aircraft in July 2014 and replaced them with Dassault Rafales . On 13 July 2019, President Emmanuel Macron announced the creation of a space command, which would come into being within the French Air Force by September 2019, and the transformation of the French Air Force into the French Air and Space Force. According to Defense Minister Florence Parly , France reserves
3096-413: The conclusion of Algerian War of Independence in 1962 and the conclusion of French military operations in that theatre, many aircraft underwent conversion work to perform additional secondary roles. Of the various post-delivery customisations and modifications made to the Noratlas fleet, the eight Nord Gabriels , which were used in the electronic warfare role, was perhaps the most useful as well as being
3168-739: The contemporary C-130s deployed the Daisy Cutter bomb in Vietnam . Amongst the other secondary roles that the IAF are known to have used their Noratlases for included maritime reconnaissance at the outset of the Six-Day War. It has been claimed that an IAF Noratlas had supposedly identified the USS ; Liberty prior to the USS Liberty Incident . During 1978, the IAF retired the last of their Noratlas fleet. During 1970,
3240-512: The development effort during 1952 when the first Nord 2501 prototype was lost in an accident during a test flight. On 9 January 1953, the Nord 2501 was baptized as the Noratlas by the widow of the pilot killed in the first prototype's crash. Despite the setback of the first prototype's loss, Nord continued the programme to schedule, fulfilling its initial contract for 34 aircraft by 25 June 1953, and
3312-401: The end of the French accumulation of air power. On 14 May 1918, they were grouped into the Division Aerienne . As bombing aircraft were also being concentrated into larger units, the new division would also contain Escadre de Bombardement No. 12 and Escadre de Bombardement No. 13 . The bombing units were both equipped with 45 Breguet 14 bombers. The last addition to the new division
3384-471: The first prototype was simply too slow to be useful for most applications. As such, on the second prototype, the 14Rs were replaced by a pair of SNECMA -built Bristol Hercules 738/9 engines, capable of producing 2,040 hp (1,520 kW), along with a new four-bladed Rotol propeller arrangement. The revised model was rechristened as the Nord 2501 . Having been suitably impressed by its performance following
3456-488: The first prototype, powered by Gnome-Rhône 14R engines, did not impress, thus the design was revised as the Nord 2501 , powered by the SNECMA -built Bristol Hercules 738/9 engines instead, which was found acceptable. Accordingly, the Noratlas was introduced to service by the Armée de l'Air on 6 December 1953. Following its adoption by the Armée de l'Air, a number of other operators in both Europe and Africa chose to procure
3528-540: The first three Groupements . During March 1917, Groupe de Combat 14 and Groupe de Combat 15 were formed. Again, each new Groupe was assigned four Nieuport fighter squadrons; again, each was sent to support a different French field army . On 10 January 1918, Groupe de Combat 16 was formed from four SPAD squadrons. In February, five more Groupe de Combats were founded from SPAD squadrons: Groupes de Combats number 17, 18, 19, 20, and 21. The various Nieuport models were now being phased out as
3600-406: The improvements, DTI decided to order three more pre-production aircraft to the Nord 2501 standard. These pre-production aircraft underwent extensive flight testing, which included a series of fly-offs against the similar American Fairchild C-82 Packet . From these, the N2501 was found to be superior, leading to an initial production order for a batch of 34 aircraft on 10 July 1951. Tragedy struck
3672-464: The longest serving aircraft. During 1989, the final Gabriel was finally phased out of operations with the Armée de l'Air, marking the complete retirement of the wider type as well. The Noratlas had been able to attain particular recognition and notoriety amongst the general public as a consequence of its use during the Suez Crisis of 1956. During the opening phase of the Anglo -French operation, French paratroopers had been successfully air-dropped using
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#17327903925033744-441: The nation also acquired at least three Noratlases in the same deal. The Israelis were upset by the terms of the offer, however, at the time, France was one of only a few countries that were willing to sell modern armaments and combat platforms to Israel; eventually, the Israeli government agreed to France's terms. However, once in service, IAF personnel quickly came to realize the utility of the Noratlas following its performance during
3816-551: The new SPADs filled the inventories of the French. With the Groupes success, the French were encouraged to amass airpower into still larger tactical units. On 4 February 1918, Escadre de Combat No. 1 was created out of Groupe de Combat 15 , Groupe de Combat 18 , and Groupe de Combat 19 . It was followed by Escadre de Combat No. 2 , formed on the 27th from Groupe de Combat 11 , Groupe de Combat 13 , and Groupe de Combat 17 . Each groupe would be stocked with 72 fighters. The escadres were not
3888-466: The primary source for the various smaller national operators that came to operate the type. Portugal was a major customer for the ex-German aircraft, purchasing many for their own military requirements. During 1956, the Israeli Air Force (IAF) initially purchased three examples of the N-2501IS. However, this procurement had been made under duress—the French government would only allow Israel to purchase 12 of its Dassault Ouragan jet-powered fighters if
3960-476: The right to arm French satellites with lasers for defensive purposes. The official renaming occurred on 24 July 2020, with the new Air and Space Force logo unveiled on 11 September 2020. On 26 July 2023, FASF conducted its first ever joint fighter exercise with Japan , continuing its defense ties between the two countries. The Chief of Staff of the French Air and Space Force (CEMAAE) determines French Air and Space Force doctrines application and advises
4032-426: The same manner, eventually ordered a total of 187 Noratlases from 1956. Of these, the first 25 aircraft were manufactured in France, while the other 161 Noratlases were manufactured by the West German-based Flugzeugbau Nord company under contract; such aircraft were designated as N-2501D . Of these aircraft, only 173 were delivered. Flugzeugbau Nord had been involved in the Noratlas programme from an early stage, which
4104-473: The service was changed in July 2019 from Air Army ( Armée de l'Air ) to Air and Space Army ( Armée de l'air et de l'espace ), when the previous joint Inter-Service Space Command ( Commandement interarmées de l'espace ( CIE )) under the French General Staff was transformed into the Space Command ( Commandement de l'espace ( CDE )) and absorbed into the Air and Space Force as its fourth command. All air regions were disestablished on 1 January 2008. In
4176-642: The success of their original Groupement , the French massed several squadrons for the Battle of the Somme . The burgeoning French aircraft inventory afforded the formation of Groupement de Combat de la Somme under Captain Felix Brocard . The Groupement was formed on 1 July 1916 with a posting of four Nieuport squadrons: Squadron N.3 , N.26 , N.73 , and N.103 . Three other squadrons-- Squadron N.37 , N.62 , and N.65 were temporarily attached at various times. On 19 October 1916, three fixed Groupes de Combat were established, each to consist of four squadron. Numbered 11 , 12 , and 13 , they were only
4248-405: The transportation of both passenger and cargo payloads; the principal difference between the military models and the civil variant was the addition of a pair of small Turbomeca Marboré IIE turbojets , installed within the wingtips, for the purpose of improving the type's performance during the takeoff phase of flight only. The personnel doors normally used by paratroopers were also eliminated as it
4320-418: The type to quickly deploy at various strategic locations, such as immediately south of Port Said and Port Fouad in Egypt . During the post-war years, the newly formed nation of West Germany was faced with a similar situation to that which had prompted France to pursue development of the Noratlas. As such, the government decided to address the German Air Force 's requirement for new transport aircraft in
4392-431: The type, extensively adapting aircraft to suit secondary roles in some cases. The Noratlas was also adopted by a number of civil operators, although most aircraft were flown by military customers. As such, several hundred aircraft were produced during the Noratlas' production run, which lasted over a decade. Following the end of the Second World War , the French Armée de l'Air was left with two primary transport aircraft:
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#17327903925034464-470: Was abolished by decree n°2007-601 of 26 April 2007. From 2008 to 2010 the French Air Force underwent the "Air 2010" streamlining process. The main targets of this project were to simplify the command structure, to regroup all military and civil air force functions and to rationalise and optimise all air force units. Five major commands, were formed, instead of the former 13, and several commands and units were disbanded. The Directorate of Human Resources of
4536-402: Was becoming referred to as the Cinquieme Arme, or Fifth Service. In March 1912, the French parliament enacted legislation to establish the air arm. It was projected to consist of three distinct branches based on aircraft missions—reconnaissance, bombing, or countering other aircraft. France was one of the first states to start building aircraft. At the beginning of World War I , France had
4608-544: Was designed with rear-opening clamshell doors to allow for easy cargo handling, was considered to be the most promising of the submissions received; according, on 27 April 1948, DTI placed an order for a pair of prototypes to be constructed for evaluation. On 10 September 1949, the first prototype conducted its maiden flight . It was powered by a pair of Gnome-Rhône 14R engines, each capable of generating 1,600 hp (1,200 kW), which drove three-bladed variable-pitch propellers . However, flight testing soon determined that
4680-404: Was five protection squadrons, operating 75 Caudron R.11 gunships to fly escort for the Breguets. On 25 June 1918, Groupe de Combat 22 was founded. Groupe de Combat 23 followed soon thereafter. A couple of night bombardment groupes were also founded. Then, on 15 July 1918, the Division was committed to the Second Battle of the Marne . From then on, whether in whole or in part,
4752-419: Was powered by a pair of SNECMA -built Bristol Hercules 738/9 engines, each capable of producing 2,040 hp (1,520 kW) and driving a four-bladed Rotol propeller. The sizable cabin of the Noratlas was capable of accommodating up to 7.5 short tons (6.8 t) of freight or a maximum of 40 passengers; when flown at a cruising speed of 200 mph (320 km/h), it could transport a 6-ton payload over
4824-606: Was quickly followed by six more of the same model, this time directly from Nord Aviation itself. Later on, an additional 19 N-2501Ds were purchased from the German Air Force . Overall, multiple units of the Portuguese Air Force operated the Noratlas, including Esquadra 32 , based at Tancos Air Base , from 1970 to 1977, Esquadra 92 , based at Luanda Air Base in Portuguese Angola , from 1961 to 1975, Esquadra 102 , based at Beira Air Base in Mozambique , from 1962 to 1975, and Esquadra 123 , based at Bissalanca Air Base in Portuguese Guinea , from 1969 to 1974. Between 1961 and 1975,
4896-567: Was seen as lacking value to the prospective civil customers it was aimed at. The 2502 was used primarily by civil operators such as Aéromaritime de Transport (N-2502A) and CGTA- Air Algérie (N-2502B). However, the Noratlas never achieved the same level of success of the military versions in the civil market; only ten aircraft of this model were ever completed. However, this model would also often end up in military service via acquisitions from civil operators; as such, it saw relatively limited service with civilian customers. Data from Jane's All
4968-429: Was the company's first post-war aviation project, having been responsible for the design and manufacture of the majority of the aircraft's fuselage. According to author John P. Cann, if the Noratlas in German service had a weakness, it was that the fleet was furnished with four different sets of cockpit instrumentation and electronic systems as a result of its complex procurement arrangement. The favourable experience with
5040-472: Was the cradle of French military parachuting , responsible for the first formation of the Air Infantry Groups ( Groupements de l'Infanterie de l'Air ) in the 1930s, out of which the Air Parachute Commandos ( commandos parachutistes de l'air ) descended. The French Air Force maintained a continuous presence across the French colonial empire , particularly from the 1920s to 1943. The French Air Force played an important role in WWII, most notably during
5112-436: Was to have further built upon the 2502, having been intended to possess airbrakes , along with re-designed flaps and height-adjustable landing gear . Following an eventual production run of some 425 planes, the final Noratlas was constructed during 1961. It was succeeded and eventually replaced by the multinational Transall C-160 . The Nord Noratlas was a purpose-built twin-engine, twin-boom transport aircraft. It featured
5184-698: Was underway; the first 20-aircraft squadron became operational in 2006 at Saint-Dizier . In 2009, France rejoined the NATO Military Command Structure , having been absent since 1966. France was a leading nation, alongside the United States , United Kingdom and Italy in implementing the UN sponsored no-fly zone in Libya (NATO Operation Unified Protector ), deploying 20 fighter aircraft to Benghazi in defense of rebel-held positions and
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