WALTER VAN TILBORG MEMORIAL COLLECTION
No. 2487. Nord 260 (F-AZRH c/n 03)
Source unknown

Nord 260

02/28/2008. Remarks by Johan Visschedijk: "Société des Avions Max Holste produced the M.H. 250 Super Broussard un-pressurized light 17 to 26 passenger transport powered by two 600 hp Pratt & Whitney R-1340 radials. Registered as F-WJDA (c/n 001) the sole prototype flew for the first time on May 20, 1959.

This was developed into the M.H. 260 Super Broussard, fitted with two 805 shp Turboméca Bastan IIIA turboprop engines. The prototype flew for the first time on July 27, 1960, registered as F-WJDV (c/n 01). Re-engined with two 986 shp Bastan IV turboprop engines the aircraft was flown again in October 1960.

Cessna from the USA had acquired a 47% stake in the French company on February 16, 1960, and to concentrate on the license production of Cessna models, Holste and Nord signed an an agreement on November 20, 1960, Nord taking over the production and sales rights from Holste for the Super Broussard. A production series of ten aircraft, known as the Nord 260, was laid down and the first aircraft flew on January 29, 1962. By that time Société des Avions Max Holste was renamed Reims Aviation. Nord produced also 110 aircraft of the pressurized Nord 262 model.

The pictured aircraft was the third Nord 260 built, registered as F-BKRH on October 11, 1962, and was sold to Turboméca on May 21, 1969. On September 15, 1994, the aircraft was registered to the Association Antilope, an organization that preserves historical French built aircraft. Reregistered to F-AZRH on August 1, 1996, it had the shown livery applied for the sixtieth anniversary of Turboméca in 1998, still wearing it as of this day."


Created May 5, 2003