Nord 2501 Noratlas
The Nord Noratlas was a French post-war military transport with a distinctive twin-boom tail and central cargo pod. Its rear loading ramp allowed vehicles and supplies to be loaded directly into the fuselage, while the high tail kept the ramp clear. Noratlases served with France, Germany, Israel, Portugal, and several African air forces in transport and humanitarian roles. The aircraft’s twin booms make it instantly recognisable and visually similar only to a few other early tactical transports.
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Did you know?
The Noratlas's twin tail booms and central cargo pod with a rear ramp make it instantly recognisable among early tactical transports.
Specifications
| Length | 22 m (72 ft) |
|---|---|
| Wingspan | 32.5 m (107 ft) |
| Height | 7 m (23 ft) |
| Maximum passengers | 45 |
| Persons on board | 47 |
| Crew | 5 |
| Maximum take-off weight | 21.8 t |
| Range | 1,600 NM (2,963 km) |
| Maximum speed | 250 kt (463 km/h) |
| Service ceiling | 26,000 ft (7,925 m) |
| Optimum ceiling | 18,000 ft (5,486 m) |
| Rate of climb | 1,500 ft/min (7.6 m/s) |
| Take-off distance | 1,500 m (4,921 ft) |
| Landing distance | 800 m (2,625 ft) |
| Engines | 2x SNECMA Bristol Hercules |
| Units built | 425 |
Curated by CatchFlights from manufacturer documents, ICAO Doc 8643 and reference works; values are left out where no source could confirm them. Sources are listed on our credits page.
In CatchFlights
In CatchFlights the Nord 2501 Noratlas starts as a Legendary catch. The tier is an editorial judgement of how special a sighting of this type is. The more often you catch it, the closer it moves to Common for you. The first catch of a legendary type pays a bonus of its own.
A catch counts for the manufacturer Nord, the 2501 Noratlas family and the model in your collection, and the daily Type Rating quiz asks about the types of each family.
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