Nord 260

The Nord 260, built in prototype form as the Max Holste MH.260 Super Broussard, ("Super Bushranger"), was a turboprop-powered, uprated version of the piston-engined Max Holste MH.250 Super Broussard, that was further developed into the Aérospatiale N 262.[1]

Nord 260
Nord 260A.
Role Passenger turboprop
National origin France
Manufacturer Avions Max Holste, Nord Aviation
Designer Max Holste
First flight 29 July 1960
Number built 9 (1 x MH-260 and 8 x Nord 260)
Developed from Max Holste MH.250 Super Broussard
Variants Aérospatiale N 262

Design and development

The MH.260 was designed in partnership with Nord Aviation to carry 23 passengers or 3,445 kg (7,595 lb) of cargo on short fields, as a modern equivalent of the DC-3.[2] [3]

The MH.260 was a high-wing, twin-engine turboprop aircraft powered by 731 kW (980 hp) Turbomeca Bastan engines. The fuselage was of all -aluminum construction with fabric covered control surfaces. The landing gear retracted into fuselage-mounted fairings.[4]

The prototype was built at a Nord Aviation facility, so it followed naturally that production aircraft should also be built there. The MH-260 design was taken over by Nord and production was commenced to fill a French government order for ten aircraft under the designation Nord 260. No orders were received from outside the government as the nascent Nord 262 offered better performance. Eight Nord 260s were completed and delivered to a few airlines on lease for short periods before final delivery to the French Air Force at CEV Bretigny.

Variants
MH.260 Super Broussard
The sole prototype c/n 001, built for Max-Holste at a Nord Aviation factory.
Nord MH.260
Ten production aircraft were ordered by the French government, but only eight were completed. Not released for general service, but delivered to the French Air Force at CEV Bretigny for use as transports. Several were leased out temporarily pending delivery of the much improved Nord 262.
Nord MH.260 (Astazou)
Construction no 03 was re-engined with Turbomeca Astazou turboprops after acquisition by Turbomeca.
Nord MH.260A
Probably an alternative designation for the MH.260 (Astazou), the sole example, (regn. F-BKRH), powered by Astazou engines was operated by Turbomeca. (see infobox image)

Operators
 France
Armee de l'Air - CEV Bretigny
 Norway
Widerøe - Three aircraft leased pending delivery of Nord 262 aircraft.[5]

Specifications (Nord 260)

Data from MH-260 Super Broussard[6]

General characteristics

  • Crew: two
  • Capacity: 23
  • Length: 17.60 m (57 ft 9 in)
  • Wingspan: 21.92 m (71 ft 11 in)
  • Height: 6.58 m (21 ft 7 in)
  • Wing area: 55.0 m2 (592 sq ft) [7]
  • Empty weight: 5,600 kg (12,345 lb)
  • Gross weight: 9,400 kg (20,723 lb)
  • Fuel capacity: 2,000 litres (440 imp gal; 530 US gal)
  • Powerplant: 2 × Turbomeca Bastan IV Turboprop, 735 kW (985 hp) each
  • Propellers: 3-bladed Ratier-Figeac

Performance

  • Cruise speed: 380 km/h (236 mph, 205 kn)
  • Stall speed: 90 km/h (56 mph, 49 kn)
  • Range: 1,500 km (930 mi, 810 nmi)
  • Service ceiling: 8,100 m (26,500 ft)
  • Rate of climb: 8.5 m/s (1,670 ft/min)

References
  1. Aviation Week and Space Technology. 77. 1961. Missing or empty |title= (help)
  2. Peter W. Brooks. The world's airliners. p. 360.
  3. "Flight International". Vol. 81. Cite magazine requires |magazine= (help)
  4. Watkins Flying December 1961, pp. 33, 89.
  5. "Widerøe" (PDF). London: www.plane-spotter.com. Retrieved 25 January 2012.
  6. Watkins Flying December 1961, p. 90.
  7. Taylor 1961, pp. 56–57
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.