The Nord 2501 Noratlas (1997)
Xavier Capy
The Noratlas was one of the major elements in the revival of the French aeronautical industry in the aftermath of the second war. The French Air Force needed a transport aircraft; the industry needed a mass...
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The Nord 2501 Noratlas (1997)
Xavier Capy
The Noratlas was one of the major elements in the revival of the French aeronautical industry in the aftermath of the second war. The French Air Force needed a transport aircraft; the industry needed a mass production program. With 321 copies built, the Nord 2500 Noratlas has perfectly fulfilled its role.
Incorporating innovative formulas for the time, such as the twin-boom, the rear shell opening or the lowering of the fuselage for loading, it found its field of excellence in Africa where it was perfectly adapted to tropical conditions or desert operations. The Israeli and Portuguese air forces, and airlines such as UAT and Air Algeria quickly understood this. Its transport capabilities made it an essential tactical element for NATO at the height of the Cold War, in the Suez crisis or in the Algerian conflict. It dropped paratroopers, assisted in polar exploration missions, provided humanitarian assistance and was even part of an aeroba
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