Nord 1601

Nord 1601
Role	Aerodynamic research aircraft
National origin	France
Manufacturer	SNCAN, Nord Aviation
First flight	24 January 1950
Number built	1

The Nord 1601 was a French aerodynamic research aircraft designed and built by Nord Aviation. The aircraft was designed to investigate the aerodynamics of swept wings and related high-lift devices.

Design and development

The 1601 was a cantilever mid-wing monoplane with a 33° swept wing. The wing was fitted with ailerons, spoilers, leading edge slats and trailing edge flaps. It had retractable tricycle landing gear and was powered by two Rolls-Royce Derwent turbojets in underslung, wing mounted nacelles on either side of the fuselage. It had an enclosed cockpit and was fitted with a Martin-Baker ejection seat. The 1601, registered F-WFKK, first flew on the 24 January 1950.

Variants

Nord 1600

Proposed fighter variant, not built.

Nord 1601

Aerodynamic research aircraft, one built.

Specifications (1601)

Data from Gaillard (1990) p.110

General characteristics

• Crew: 1
• Length: 11.62 m (38 ft 7 in)
• Wingspan: 12.40 m (40 ft 10.5 in)
• Height: 3.67 m (12 ft 0 in)
• Wing area: 30.2 m² (333 sq ft)
• Empty weight: 4,710 kg (10,384 lb)
• Gross weight: 6,700 kg (14,771 lb)
• Powerplant: 2 × Rolls-Royce Derwent 5 turbojet , 17.8 kN (4,000 lbf) thrust each

Performance

• Maximum speed: 1,000 km/h (621 mph, 540 kn)
• Range: 1,135 km (705 mi, 613 nmi)
• Service ceiling: 12,000 m (39,370 ft)

Bibliography

• Buttler, Tony & Delezenne, Jean-Louis (2012). X-Planes of Europe: Secret Research Aircraft from the Golden Age 1946-1974. Manchester, UK: Hikoki Publications. ISBN 978-1-902-10921-3.
• Gaillard, Pierre (1990). Les Avions Francais de 1944 à 1964 (French Aircraft from 1944 to 1964) (in French). Paris, France: Éditions EPA. p. 110. ISBN 2 85120 350 9.
• Taylor, Michael J. H. (1989). Jane's Encyclopedia of Aviation. London: Studio Editions.
• The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Aircraft (Part Work 1982-1985). Orbis Publishing.