Nord Norelfe

Norelfe
Role	Three-seat experimental helicopter
National origin	France
Manufacturer	Nord Aviation
Designer	Jean Cantinieau
First flight	28 December 1954
Number built	2

The Nord 1750 Norelfe was a 1950s French three-seat helicopter built by Nord Aviation and designed by Jean Cantinieau.

Development

The 1750 Norelfe was based on the Matra-Cantinieau MC-101A, an earlier helicopter designed by Jean Cantinieau. It had a single main rotor, with torque control through a movable duct at the end of the tailboom. Powered by a Turbomeca Artouste turboshaft, the first of two Norelfes flew on 28 December 1954.^[1]

The company sold the two helicopters and the design rights to Aerotécnica of Spain who redesignated them the Aerotécnica AC-13A.^[1] Aerotécnica went on to produce a larger five-seat version, the Aerotécnica AC-14 which was used by the Ejército del Aire (Spanish Air Force).

Specifications (AC-13A)

Data from Jane's All the World's Aircraft 1958-59^[2]

General characteristics

Crew: 1
Capacity: 2 pax
Length: 7.48 m (24 ft 6 in)
Height: 2.75 m (9 ft 0 in) to top of rotor pylon
Empty weight: 575 kg (1,268 lb)
Gross weight: 880 kg (1,940 lb)
Fuel capacity: 115 L (30 US gal; 25 imp gal)
Powerplant: 1 × Turbomeca Artouste I turboshaft, 130 kW (170 hp) at transmission (rated to 260 shp (194 kW))
Main rotor diameter: 9.04 m (29 ft 8 in)
Main rotor area: 64 m² (690 sq ft)

Performance

Maximum speed: 140 km/h (87 mph, 76 kn)
Cruise speed: 124 km/h (77 mph, 67 kn)
Range: 140–345 km (87–214 mi, 76–186 nmi)
Service ceiling: 6,065 m (19,898 ft)
Hover ceiling IGE: 2,650 m (8,694 ft)
Rate of climb: 4.6 m/s (910 ft/min)

References

^ ^a ^b The Illustrated Encyclopaedia of Aircraft. London: Orbis Publications. 1985. p. 2617.
^ Bridgman, Leonard, ed. (1958). Jane's All the World's Aircraft 1958-59. London: Jane's All the World's Aircraft Publishing Co. Ltd. pp. 235–236.