Max Holste MH.1521 Broussard
Max Holste · France · first flew 1952 · transport aircraft
The Max Holste MH.1521 Broussard was a robust French utility transport developed for the Armée de l'Air and Army aviation in the early 1950s, designed from the outset for operations from unimproved airstrips in the French colonial territories. It became the standard light liaison and casualty-evacuation aircraft of the Algerian War.
Recognition (WEFT)
| W — Wings | High-mounted, straight |
|---|---|
| E — Engines | 1 × piston, nose-mounted |
| F — Fuselage | Stocky high-wing utility transport with a large radial engine and a squared-off slab-sided fuselage |
| T — Tail | Conventional |
WEFT is AircraftIQ's four-point recognition method — how it works.
Spot it by:
- Stocky high-wing utility transport with a large radial engine and a squared-off slab-sided fuselage
- Fixed tailwheel undercarriage with large low-pressure tyres for rough-strip operation
- French Army workhorse of the Algerian War, recognisable for its boxy cabin and massive propeller
A very distinctive aircraft: high straight wing, large nine-cylinder radial engine, a boxy rectangular fuselage with a high-set tail, and large spatted main wheels on a fixed undercarriage; resembles no other contemporary French type.
Specifications
- The Max Holste MH.1521 Broussard has a length of 8.65 m (28 ft).
- It has a wingspan of 13.75 m (45 ft).
- Its maximum speed is 260 km/h (162 mph).
- Typical crew: 1.
Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.
History
First flown in November 1952, the Broussard was ordered in quantity for the French military to replace the American-supplied Cessna L-19 and similar types. It entered service in 1954 and served throughout the Algerian War (1954–62), operating from makeshift strips in support of ground forces.
Variants
The MH.1521M was the standard military production model; a small number of civil-registered examples were also built. Around 350 were produced in total.
Where you'll see it
Served with the Armée de l'Air and ALAT (French Army Light Aviation) from 1954 through the 1970s; a handful remained in civil use in France and its former territories for many years.
Related aircraft
- Max Holste MH.1521M Broussard
- Beechcraft CT-128 Expeditor 3 TM
- Bristol Britannia C.1
- Hughes XH-17
- Percival Pembroke
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