Nord Norelfe
Nord Aviation (SNCAN) · France · first flew 1950 · light aircraft
The Nord Norelfe (N 1101) was a small twin-jet trainer and liaison aircraft developed by SNCAN in post-war France, representing an early attempt at a jet-powered light aircraft.
Recognition (WEFT)
| W — Wings | Low-mounted, straight |
|---|---|
| E — Engines | 2 × turbojet, fuselage-mounted |
| F — Fuselage | very compact fuselage |
| T — Tail | Conventional |
WEFT is AircraftIQ's four-point recognition method — how it works.
Spot it by:
- twin-jet side-by-side two-seater
- very compact fuselage
- straight low wing with rounded tips
The very small fuselage with side-by-side seating under a broad canopy, combined with twin jet exhausts exiting beneath the rear fuselage, makes the Norelfe distinctive. Its straight low wing and conventional tail look almost like a scaled-down airliner of the period.
Specifications
- The Nord Norelfe has a length of 7.48 m (25 ft).
- It has a wingspan of 9.8 m (32 ft).
- Its maximum speed is 400 km/h (249 mph).
- Typical crew: 2.
Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.
History
Nord Aviation designed the Norelfe in the early 1950s as a compact twin-jet for advanced training and liaison duties. With two Turbomeca Marboré turbojets buried in the fuselage, it offered jet performance in an unusually small airframe. The prototype flew in 1954 but the type did not enter production.
Variants
The N 1101 Norelfe remained at prototype stage. Nord's subsequent N 1104 and jet trainer work fed into later programmes.
Where you'll see it
The Norelfe was evaluated by the French Air Force but not ordered for service. It remains a notable example of early French jet-era experimentation.
Related aircraft
AircraftIQ — the aircraft field guide: 4,893 recognition guides, live overhead identification, works offline.