Nord 1601
| Industry | Aerospace |
|---|---|
| Headquarters | France |
The Nord 1601 was an aerodynamic research plane created by Nord Aviation in France, intended to investigate the characteristics of swept wings and high-lift mechanisms.
Design and development
This model was designed as a cantilever mid-wing monoplane featuring wings swept back at a 33° angle. The wing assembly incorporated ailerons, spoilers, leading-edge slats, and trailing-edge flaps to enhance aerodynamic performance. It utilized retractable tricycle landing gear for ground operations. Propulsion was provided by two Rolls-Royce Derwent V turbojet engines housed in nacelles suspended beneath each wing. The cockpit was enclosed and fitted with a Martin-Baker ejection seat for pilot safety. Bearing the registration F-WFKK, its maiden flight took place on 24 January 1950.
Variants
- Nord 1600
- Conceptual fighter version that was never constructed.
- Nord 1601
- Single built aircraft dedicated to aerodynamic research.
Bibliography
- Buttler, Tony & Delezenne, Jean-Louis. X-Planes of Europe: Secret Research Aircraft from the Golden Age 1946-1974. Hikoki Publications, Manchester, UK, 2012.
- Cuny, Jean. Les avions de combat français, 2: Chasse lourde, bombardement, assaut, exploration. Ed. Larivière, 1989.
- Gaillard, Pierre. Les Avions Francais de 1944 à 1964. Éditions EPA, Paris, 1990.
- Taylor, Michael J. H. Jane's Encyclopedia of Aviation. Studio Editions, London, 1989.
- The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Aircraft (Part Work 1982-1985). Orbis Publishing.