- Aérospatiale N 262
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N 262 / Frégate 
262A of the Centre d'Essais en Vol in 1981 Role Turboprop airliner National origin France Manufacturer Aérospatiale First flight MH.250: 20 May 1959
N 262: 24 December 1962Introduction 1964 Primary users French Air Force
French Navy
Allegheny AirlinesProduced 1962-1976 Number built 110 The Aérospatiale N 262 was a French twin-prop high-wing airliner built first by Nord Aviation (merged into Aérospatiale in 1970).
Contents
Design and development
Originally designed to replace the Douglas DC-3/C-47 Skytrain, the prototype utility transport aircraft was designated by Max Holste and designated the Max Holste MH.250 Super Broussard it first flew on 20 May 1959. The initial design had the aircraft rather square in shape, and fitted Pratt & Whitney Wasp radial engines to the aircraft. The second prototype, known as the MH.260, was equipped with Turbomeca Bastan turboprop engines and eventually took its flight just over a year later on 29 July 1960.
Eventually, wholly state-owned Nord Aviation (later renamed Aérospatiale) took over the further development of the aircraft. The new changes that Nord brought to the aircraft were a rounded, pressurized cabin and the new name Nord 262. The new cabin design enabled the aircraft to carry between 24-26 passengers.
The first prototype since the changes by Nord took to the skies for the first time on 24 December 1962. The aircraft received its certificate on 16 July 1964 and entered its initial commercial service with Air Inter of France.
Four of the first aircraft 262A, 262B, 262C, and 262D were built, the first two fitted with Bastan IVC engines, while the C and D models were fitted with the higher powered Bastan VIIC. Of these four aircraft, the latter two saw their first air time in July 1968. Most sales of the initial aircraft were not in the passenger field, but rather the military field. The 262D was the most popular and known as Frégate to the Armée de I'Air.
As for the American designation, the "Mohawk 298" airplanes were modified Nord 262s and first flew on 7 January 1975, equipped with Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6A-45 turboprops. Built in order to meet United States FAR 298 regulation, the modification of the aircraft was overseen by Mohawk Air Services and outsourced to Frakes Aviation. Allegheny Airlines was the initial operator of the aircraft.
Joel Krane, the chairman of the FOEB (Flight Operations Evaluation Board) determined that a common type rating could be issued for the Nord 262 and Mohawk 298. Appropriate differences training would be required for transitioning pilots.
Variants
N262E of the Aviation navale, at the Nîmes-Garons' French Navy base
- Max Holste MH.250 Super Broussard
- Prototype 17-seat transport first flown in 1959.
- Max Holste MH.260
- Production variant of the MH.250, ten ordered but not completed before development handed over to Nord Aviation.
- N 262
- Prototypes and initial production version
- N 262A
- Early standard production version (preceded by N 262B). Powered by Turbomeca Bastan VIC engines. Certified 15 March 1965 with first delivery to Lake Central Airlines on 17 August 1965.[1]
- N 262B
- Initial production version for Air Inter, powered by two Bastan VIC turboprops. Four built, with first example flown 8 June 1964, certification 16 July 1964 and delivery 24 July 1964.[1]
- N 262C Frégate
- Bastan VIIC engines and greater wingspan
- N 262D Frégate
- French Air Force version of N-262C
- N 262E
- A maritime patrol and training version used by the Aviation navale (French Navy).
- Mohawk 298
- Nine aircraft updated by Frakes Aviation for Allegheny Airlines between 1975 and 1978. Powered by Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6A-45 engines driving five-bladed propellers.[2][3]
Operators
A Nord 262 spotted in service in Guatemala, November 2004.As of July 2011 a total of 3 Nord 262 aircraft remain in airline service with the following airlines:[4]
- Equatorial International Airlines (1),
- International Trans Air Business (1) and
- RACSA (1).
Former Operators
- Air Ceylon
- Aerovías
- Air Inter
- Alisarda
- Allegheny Airlines
- Cimber Air
- Dan-Air
- IFG Interregional Fluggesellschaft
- Japan Domesic
- Lake Central Airlines
- Linjeflyg
- Mohawk Air Service
- Tempelhof Airways
- Rhein Air (Switzerland)
- National Commuter Airlines(NATCOM)
- Widerøe
- Swift Aire (San Luis Obispo, USA)
- Trans Service Airlift[5]
- Malu Aviation[5]
Queensland Pacific Nord Aviation Mohawk at Queensland Air MuseumMilitary Operators
Specifications (Nord 262A)
Data from Jane's All The World's Aircraft 1965–66[6]
General characteristics
- Crew: 2
- Capacity: 29 passengers
- Length: 19.28 m (63 ft 3 in)
- Wingspan: 21.90 m (71 ft 10 in)
- Height: 6.21 m (20 ft 4 in)
- Wing area: 55.0 m² (592 sq ft)
- Airfoil: NACA 23016 at root, NACA 23012 at tip
- Empty weight: 6,654 kg (14,669 lb)
- Max takeoff weight: 10,300 kg (22,710 lb)
- Powerplant: 2 × Turbomeca Bastan VI C turboprops, 794 kW (1,065 ehp) each
Performance
- Never exceed speed: 498 km/h (269 knots, 309 mph)
- Maximum speed: 385 km/h (208 knots, 239 mph)
- Cruise speed: 360 km/h (194 knots, 223 mph)
- Stall speed: 128 km/h (69 knots, 79 mph)
- Range: 1,110 km (600 nmi, 690 mi)
- Service ceiling: 7,300 m (24,000 ft)
- Rate of climb: 6.3 m/s (1,250 ft/min)
See also
- Aircraft of comparable role, configuration and era
- Related lists
- List of airliners
References
- ^ a b Taylor 1976, p. 36.
- ^ Taylor 1976, p. 338.
- ^ "The Aerospatiale N-262 Fregate & Mohawk 298". Airliners.net. Retrieved 6 August 2011.
- ^ "World Airliner Census 2011" (pdf). Flightglobal Insight, p. 6. Retrieved 20 August 2011.
- ^ a b "World Airliner Census 2009" (pdf). Flight International, 18-24 August 2009, p. 37.
- ^ Taylor 1965, p. 49.
- Taylor, John W. R. Jane's All The World's Aircraft 1965–1966. London:Sampson Low, Marston & Company, 1965.
- Taylor, John W. R. Jane's All The World's Aircraft 1976–1977. London:Jane's Yearbooks, 1976. ISBN 0 354 00538 3.
External links
Nord Aviation aircraft Manufacturer
designationsBy role See also: SS.10 • AA.20Lists relating to aviation General Aircraft (manufacturers) · Aircraft engines (manufacturers) · Airlines (defunct) · Airports · Civil authorities · Museums · Registration prefixes · Rotorcraft (manufacturers) · TimelineMilitary Accidents/incidents Records Categories:- Aérospatiale aircraft
- French airliners 1960–1969
- Max Holste aircraft
- Nord aircraft
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