Nord 1500 Griffon
Nord Aviation · France · first flew 1955 · fighter
The Nord 1500 Griffon was a French experimental supersonic aircraft designed to investigate delta-wing aerodynamics and combined turbojet/ramjet propulsion. The Griffon II reached Mach 2.19, making it one of the fastest European aircraft of its era.
Recognition (WEFT)
| W — Wings | Low-mounted, delta |
|---|---|
| E — Engines | 1 × turbojet, fuselage-mounted |
| F — Fuselage | 14.54 m fuselage |
| T — Tail | Conventional |
WEFT is AircraftIQ's four-point recognition method — how it works.
Spot it by:
- Slender delta-wing research aircraft with a very long pointed nose
- Combined turbojet and ramjet propulsion in Griffon II
- French experimental supersonic testbed of the late 1950s
Highly distinctive very long needle nose, delta wing, and the broad annular ramjet ring surrounding the mid-fuselage are unmistakable; conventional tail surfaces sit atop the jet exhaust.
Specifications
- The Nord 1500 Griffon has a length of 14.54 m (48 ft).
- It has a wingspan of 8.1 m (27 ft).
- Its maximum speed is 2320 km/h (1442 mph).
- Typical crew: 1.
Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.
History
Nord Aviation developed the Griffon through the late 1950s as both a research platform and a potential supersonic interceptor concept. The Griffon I first flew in 1955 on turbojet power alone; the Griffon II, which flew in 1957, added an annular ramjet surrounding the fuselage for sustained supersonic flight. The programme was cancelled in 1961 when France chose the Mirage III for its interceptor requirement.
Variants
The Griffon I used a single SNECMA Atar turbojet; the Griffon II added an annular ramjet integrated around the fuselage to achieve Mach 2-class performance.
Where you'll see it
Purely experimental; never entered operational service. Operated only by Nord Aviation test pilots at Melun-Villaroche.
Related aircraft
- Nord Aviation CT.20
- Nord 3202
- Nord Aviation Nord 3400
- Nord 2200
- Bell X-2
- Cessna T-37C Tweet
- Dassault MD 550 Mystère-Delta
- Dassault Super Mystère
AircraftIQ — the aircraft field guide: 4,893 recognition guides, live overhead identification, works offline.