This folder contains a repaint for the Nord 2501 Noratlas by Projet Noratlas in the colors of N2501IS 4X-FAP, the first of the Noratlas aircraft used by the Israeli Air Force. In the immediate post-war era France produced a plethora of prototype aircraft, nearly all of which vanished without trace. One of those that made good was the Nord 2500, a cargo transport with the same twin-boom configuration as the American C-119, with the cockpit in the nose of a capacious nacelle. Like the US type, the rear doors were of the left/right clamshell type, so for air-dropping heavy loads they had to be removed before takeoff, causing turbulence and high drag. Despite this, the more powerful 2501 proved an excellent aircraft, produced in large numbers in France and Germany in a programme that led directly to the Transall, produced by the same partners, designed in 1959 and flown in 1962.
Israel bought eight N.2501 IS direct from Nord in 1955-59, a further 12 from Germany in 1962, and four more later. The first, 4X-FAP, was delivered before the end of 1955, and immediately proved extremely popular and capable.
Eight Nords had been purchased and these were used extensively to re-supply IDF columns in Sinai. To assist with these re-supply efforts other Nords were made available from the French Air Force and were requisitioned from Israeli Airline EL-AL which used them as freight transports.
Repaint by Jan Kees Blom, based on the paint kit by Projet Noratlas.
