The Aerospatiale (Nord Aviation) 262A is a twin-engine short-haul commuter airliner jet for up to 29
passengers. Originally known as the MH262 Super Broussard, the Nord 262 was designed by the former la Société
des Avions Max Holste. Development of a 17-seat light commuter airliner, known as the M.H.250 Super Broussard
started in 1957. The prototype of the MH250, powered by two Pratt & Whitney Wasp-1830
piston engines, flew first on 20 May 1959. It was soon realised that turboprops should be employed
and further development resulted in the MH260 with enlarged fuselage and powered by Turboméca Bastan
turboprops. In October 1959, Avions Max Holste entered into a co-production arrangement with Nord
Aviation so that the new aircraft could be manufactured. On 16 February 1960, Cessna Aircraft
acquired a 49% shareholding in la Société des Avions Max Holste, which was entitled the Société
Nouvelle des Avions Max Holste. This name was afterwards changed into Reims Aviation S.A.
The prototype of the M.H.260, the F-WJDV, flew on 29 July 1960. Ten MH260 with its rectangular
section fuselage were built by Nord Aviation as the Nord 260. In 1961 started a significant redesign
of the Nord 260. This resulted in the Nord 262 that had a redesigned fuselage with a circular cross
section, pressurisation and more powerful powerplants. On 24 December 1962, this pressurised Nord 262 made
its first flight. On 1 January 1970, the main three French nationalised aircraft companies - Sud-Aviation,
Nord Aviation and the missile manufacturing company, SEREB - were merged into Aérospatiale.
As a result of this merger the Nord 262 became a product of Aérospatiale. When production ended in 1976,
a total of 110 Aerospatiale (Nord) 262 were built. |
On 11 April 1970, Nord 262A OY-BCO and OY-BKR of Cimber Air Denmark A/S came in at Groningen Airport Eelde
in the Netherlands. The OY-BCO made its first flight on 30 March 1967, as F-WNDD and was delivered as OY-BCO
to Cimber Air on 8 July 1967. In 1977, the Nord 262A was sold in the USA and registered N274A with Altair. The N274A was
transferred to National Commuter Airlines in April 1982; leased to Pompano Airways in January 1984. On 3 March 1999, the
registration N274A was cancelled as the Nord was sold in Honduras. In Honduras this Nord 262 is
operated by Aerolineas SOSA as the HR-ARP. |