145/328-EN ¦ ORY 21.09.1979
Nord N.2501 Noratlas (c/n 145)
Armée de l'Air Française
Paris-Orly (ORY/LFPO)
21 September 1979
This Noratlas was one of almost 230 operated by the Armée de l'Air Française, and was delivered in June 1957. The Noratlas was a twin-engined, twin-boomed transport aircraft, built by Nord Aviation between 1949 and 1961 in over 400 examples. The French Air Force N.2501s were powered by two SNECMA-manufactured Hercules 739 radial pistons with 2068 PS each.
Looking strange on the approach to Orly's runway 25, and sounding even stranger yet lovely, serial 145 made a welcome appearance in the middle of the jetliner stream arriving in the early morning sun at Orly. The codes 328-EN indicate that it was operated by Escadron de Transport 3/328 at that time, based at Base aérienne 128 at Metz-Frescaty. 145 was in fact the only Noratlas I have ever seen in the air.
Most of the N.2501s were struck-off charge in the mid-1980s when new C.160 Transall aircraft arrived, and while some survived as gate guards or in museums, the majority were simply scrapped, including serial 145. It is, however, not known where and when this happened.
145/328-EN ¦ ORY 21.09.1979
Nord N.2501 Noratlas (c/n 145)
Armée de l'Air Française
Paris-Orly (ORY/LFPO)
21 September 1979
This Noratlas was one of almost 230 operated by the Armée de l'Air Française, and was delivered in June 1957. The Noratlas was a twin-engined, twin-boomed transport aircraft, built by Nord Aviation between 1949 and 1961 in over 400 examples. The French Air Force N.2501s were powered by two SNECMA-manufactured Hercules 739 radial pistons with 2068 PS each.
Looking strange on the approach to Orly's runway 25, and sounding even stranger yet lovely, serial 145 made a welcome appearance in the middle of the jetliner stream arriving in the early morning sun at Orly. The codes 328-EN indicate that it was operated by Escadron de Transport 3/328 at that time, based at Base aérienne 128 at Metz-Frescaty. 145 was in fact the only Noratlas I have ever seen in the air.
Most of the N.2501s were struck-off charge in the mid-1980s when new C.160 Transall aircraft arrived, and while some survived as gate guards or in museums, the majority were simply scrapped, including serial 145. It is, however, not known where and when this happened.