Nord Noratlas
Encyclopedia
The Nord Noratlas was a 1950s French military transport aircraft intended to replace the older types in service at the end of World War II. Several hundred were produced in a run lasting over a decade, finding a wide variety of uses.
was left with two primary transport aircraft: the Junkers Ju 52, built in France after the end of the war, and the Douglas C-47
, received from US surplus. While both had given good service, they were no longer modern, and they suffered from a common set of flaws: tail-dragger landing gear which gave them a nose-up attitude when at rest, complicating cargo stowing; restrictive side-loading doors; and limited payload.
Accordingly, in 1947 Direction Technique Industrielle organized a design competition for medium-weight cargo aircraft offering great flexibility in use. Société Nationale de Construction Aéronautique du Nord (SNCAN) answered with the Nord 2500, while their competitors, Breguet
and SNCASO, offered the BR-891R Mars and SO-30C respectively. The Nord 2500, with its rear-opening clamshell doors allowing ease of loading, was considered the most promising, and DTI ordered two prototypes on April 27, 1948.
The first prototype took to the air on September 10, 1949 powered by two Gnome-Rhône 14R
engines of 1,600 hp driving 3-bladed variable pitch propellers, but it was found to be too slow for most applications. The second prototype replaced the 14Rs with two SNECMA
-built Bristol Hercules
738/9 2,040 hp engines driving four-bladed propellers, and this model was rechristened the Nord 2501. DTI ordered 3 more preproduction Nord 2501s, which they flight-tested extensively against the similar Fairchild C-82 Packet
. The N-2501 was found superior, and the first 34 were ordered on July 10, 1951.
After an eventual production run of some 425 planes, the last Noratlas was constructed in 1961.
of 1956, when French paratroopers dropped over the south of Port Said
and Port Fouad
in Egypt
. Its history began four years earlier.
1952 was marked by the unfortunate crash of the first Nord 2501 prototype as it underwent further testing, and on January 9, 1953, the Nord 2501 was baptized the Noratlas by the widow of the pilot killed in the crash. Despite this setback, the program was able to fulfill its initial contract for 34 planes by June 25, 1953, and the Armée de l'Air went on to order another 174 planes, for a total of 208.
These were initially overwhelmingly cargo planes, though 10 were ordered fitted out for passengers; however, following the conclusion of operations in Algeria
in 1962, many were converted to other roles (detailed below). Of these modifications, the eight Nord Gabriels (an electronic warfare
platform) were useful the longest, and it was the last of this type that was finally phased out in 1989 by the Armée de l'Air.
, faced with the same situation that had prompted the development of the Noratlas, eventually ordered a total of 186 Noratlases from 1956 on, of which 25 were built in France, and the other 161 manufactured in West Germany by Flugzeugbau Nord under contract. These last were designated N-2501D. The Luftwaffe
began selling its Noratlases in 1964, and is the source for most of the planes for the smaller national operators listed below.
(IAF) initially purchased three examples of the N-2501IS in 1956, but under duress—the French government would only allow them to purchase 12 Dassault Ouragan
s if they purchased three Noratlases as well. The Israelis were upset by the terms of the offer, but France was one of very few countries willing to sell them modern arms, and eventually they knuckled under. However, they quickly realized the utility of the Noratlas following its performance in the Suez Crisis
, and purchased another three N-2501ISs in 1959, and 16 N-2501Ds before the Six-Day War
. These were primarily intended for cargo and paratroop transport, although several were put to more unconventional use as bombers on long-range strikes into Egypt (operation Drought), much as the contemporary C-130s deployed the Daisy Cutter
bomb in Vietnam
. It is also known that the IAF used their Noratlases for maritime reconnaissance at the outset of the Six-Day War
, and one of these supposedly identified the prior to the strafing of the ship. The IAF phased the Noratlas out in 1978.
, with the 354th Tactical Airlift Squadron (112th Tactical Fighter Wing). Hellenic Air Force 354th Sqdr Noratlases were used in the airlifting of the 1st Greek Rangers Squadron from Crete (Souda) to Cyprus (Nicosia
) on the night of July 21–22, 1974, during the Turkish invasion of Cyprus. In spite of the aircraft age and the adverse flying conditions, 12 of the 15 aircraft which participated in operation "Nike" (Victory in Greek) managed to land at Nicosia airport. The Greek 1st Rangers Squadron managed to keep the National Airport of Nicosia in UN hands and did not surrender it to the Turkish Brigade which attacked the airport.
purchased six militarized N-2502As (designated N-2502F) over 1961-1962 as well. Portugal also bought 12 N-2501s. The planes were used in Portugal colonial wars in Africa in the 1970s.
IIE turbojets at the wingtips, was used primarily by civil operators such as Aéromaritime du Transport (N-2502A) and CGTA-Air Algérie
(N-2502B), but never found the success of the military versions, and only ten were built. There were also several variants of limited service that are mentioned below.
N2501
Nord 2501A
Nord 2501D
Nord 2501E
Nord 2501IS
N-2501 Gabriel
Nord 2501TC
Nord 2501
Nord 2502A
Nord 2502B
Nord 2502C
Nord 2502F
Nord 2503
Nord 2504
Nord 2505
Nord 2506
Nord 2507
Nord 2508
Nord 2508B
Nord 2509
Nord 2510
Nord 2520
: Djibouti Air Force
: Armée de l'Air
: Luftwaffe
: Hellenic Air Force
: Israeli Air Force
: Mozambique Air Force
: Niger Air Force
: Nigerian Air Force
: Portuguese Air Force
: Rwandan Air Force
: Ugandan Air Force
: Cibao Cargo Airways
: Aerotaxis Ecuatorianos
: Elbeflug
: Guila Air
Development
At the end of World War II, the French Armée de l'AirFrench Air Force
The French Air Force , literally Army of the Air) is the air force of the French Armed Forces. It was formed in 1909 as the Service Aéronautique, a service arm of the French Army, then was made an independent military arm in 1933...
was left with two primary transport aircraft: the Junkers Ju 52, built in France after the end of the war, and the Douglas C-47
C-47 Skytrain
The Douglas C-47 Skytrain or Dakota is a military transport aircraft that was developed from the Douglas DC-3 airliner. It was used extensively by the Allies during World War II and remained in front line operations through the 1950s with a few remaining in operation to this day.-Design and...
, received from US surplus. While both had given good service, they were no longer modern, and they suffered from a common set of flaws: tail-dragger landing gear which gave them a nose-up attitude when at rest, complicating cargo stowing; restrictive side-loading doors; and limited payload.
Accordingly, in 1947 Direction Technique Industrielle organized a design competition for medium-weight cargo aircraft offering great flexibility in use. Société Nationale de Construction Aéronautique du Nord (SNCAN) answered with the Nord 2500, while their competitors, Breguet
Société Anonyme des Ateliers d'Aviation Louis Breguet
The Société des Ateliers d'Aviation Louis Bréguet also known as Breguet Aviation was a former French aircraft manufacturer. The company was set up in 1911 by aviation pioneer Louis Charles Breguet....
and SNCASO, offered the BR-891R Mars and SO-30C respectively. The Nord 2500, with its rear-opening clamshell doors allowing ease of loading, was considered the most promising, and DTI ordered two prototypes on April 27, 1948.
The first prototype took to the air on September 10, 1949 powered by two Gnome-Rhône 14R
Gnome-Rhône Mistral Major
|-See also:-References:* Danel, Raymond and Cuny, Jean. L'aviation française de bombardement et de renseignement 1918-1940 Docavia n°12, Editions Larivière...
engines of 1,600 hp driving 3-bladed variable pitch propellers, but it was found to be too slow for most applications. The second prototype replaced the 14Rs with two SNECMA
Snecma
Snecma is a major French manufacturer of engines for commercial and military aircraft, and for space vehicles. The name is an acronym for Société Nationale d'Étude et de Construction de Moteurs d'Aviation .In 2005, the Snecma group, which included Snecma ,...
-built Bristol Hercules
Bristol Hercules
|-See also:-Bibliography:*Gunston, B. Classic World War II Aircraft Cutaways. Osprey. ISBN 1-85532-526-8*Gunston, Bill. World Encyclopedia of Aero Engines. Cambridge, England. Patrick Stephens Limited, 1989. ISBN 1-85260-163-9...
738/9 2,040 hp engines driving four-bladed propellers, and this model was rechristened the Nord 2501. DTI ordered 3 more preproduction Nord 2501s, which they flight-tested extensively against the similar Fairchild C-82 Packet
C-82 Packet
The C-82 Packet was a twin-engine, twin-boom cargo aircraft designed and built by Fairchild Aircraft. It was used briefly by the United States Army Air Forces and United States Navy following World War II.-Design and development:...
. The N-2501 was found superior, and the first 34 were ordered on July 10, 1951.
After an eventual production run of some 425 planes, the last Noratlas was constructed in 1961.
French Air Force
The Noratlas Nord 2501 gained fame during the Suez CrisisSuez Crisis
The Suez Crisis, also referred to as the Tripartite Aggression, Suez War was an offensive war fought by France, the United Kingdom, and Israel against Egypt beginning on 29 October 1956. Less than a day after Israel invaded Egypt, Britain and France issued a joint ultimatum to Egypt and Israel,...
of 1956, when French paratroopers dropped over the south of Port Said
Port Said
Port Said is a city that lies in north east Egypt extending about 30 km along the coast of the Mediterranean Sea, north of the Suez Canal, with an approximate population of 603,787...
and Port Fouad
Port Fouad
Port Fuad is a city in north-eastern Egypt under the jurisdiction of Port Said Governorate, located across the Suez Canal from Port Said. It forms the northwesternmost part of Sinai Peninsula and has a population of 560,000...
in Egypt
Egypt
Egypt , officially the Arab Republic of Egypt, Arabic: , is a country mainly in North Africa, with the Sinai Peninsula forming a land bridge in Southwest Asia. Egypt is thus a transcontinental country, and a major power in Africa, the Mediterranean Basin, the Middle East and the Muslim world...
. Its history began four years earlier.
1952 was marked by the unfortunate crash of the first Nord 2501 prototype as it underwent further testing, and on January 9, 1953, the Nord 2501 was baptized the Noratlas by the widow of the pilot killed in the crash. Despite this setback, the program was able to fulfill its initial contract for 34 planes by June 25, 1953, and the Armée de l'Air went on to order another 174 planes, for a total of 208.
These were initially overwhelmingly cargo planes, though 10 were ordered fitted out for passengers; however, following the conclusion of operations in Algeria
Algerian War of Independence
The Algerian War was a conflict between France and Algerian independence movements from 1954 to 1962, which led to Algeria's gaining its independence from France...
in 1962, many were converted to other roles (detailed below). Of these modifications, the eight Nord Gabriels (an electronic warfare
Electronic warfare
Electronic warfare refers to any action involving the use of the electromagnetic spectrum or directed energy to control the spectrum, attack an enemy, or impede enemy assaults via the spectrum. The purpose of electronic warfare is to deny the opponent the advantage of, and ensure friendly...
platform) were useful the longest, and it was the last of this type that was finally phased out in 1989 by the Armée de l'Air.
German Air Force
West GermanyWest Germany
West Germany is the common English, but not official, name for the Federal Republic of Germany or FRG in the period between its creation in May 1949 to German reunification on 3 October 1990....
, faced with the same situation that had prompted the development of the Noratlas, eventually ordered a total of 186 Noratlases from 1956 on, of which 25 were built in France, and the other 161 manufactured in West Germany by Flugzeugbau Nord under contract. These last were designated N-2501D. The Luftwaffe
Luftwaffe
Luftwaffe is a generic German term for an air force. It is also the official name for two of the four historic German air forces, the Wehrmacht air arm founded in 1935 and disbanded in 1946; and the current Bundeswehr air arm founded in 1956....
began selling its Noratlases in 1964, and is the source for most of the planes for the smaller national operators listed below.
Israel Air Force
The Israeli Air ForceIsraeli Air Force
The Israeli Air Force is the air force of the State of Israel and the aerial arm of the Israel Defense Forces. It was founded on May 28, 1948, shortly after the Israeli Declaration of Independence...
(IAF) initially purchased three examples of the N-2501IS in 1956, but under duress—the French government would only allow them to purchase 12 Dassault Ouragan
Dassault Ouragan
The Dassault M.D.450 Ouragan was the first French-designed jet fighter-bomber to enter production, playing a key role in resurgence of the French aviation industry after World War II. The Ouragan was operated by France, Israel, India and El Salvador...
s if they purchased three Noratlases as well. The Israelis were upset by the terms of the offer, but France was one of very few countries willing to sell them modern arms, and eventually they knuckled under. However, they quickly realized the utility of the Noratlas following its performance in the Suez Crisis
Suez Crisis
The Suez Crisis, also referred to as the Tripartite Aggression, Suez War was an offensive war fought by France, the United Kingdom, and Israel against Egypt beginning on 29 October 1956. Less than a day after Israel invaded Egypt, Britain and France issued a joint ultimatum to Egypt and Israel,...
, and purchased another three N-2501ISs in 1959, and 16 N-2501Ds before the Six-Day War
Six-Day War
The Six-Day War , also known as the June War, 1967 Arab-Israeli War, or Third Arab-Israeli War, was fought between June 5 and 10, 1967, by Israel and the neighboring states of Egypt , Jordan, and Syria...
. These were primarily intended for cargo and paratroop transport, although several were put to more unconventional use as bombers on long-range strikes into Egypt (operation Drought), much as the contemporary C-130s deployed the Daisy Cutter
BLU-82
The BLU-82B/C-130 weapon system, known under program "Commando Vault" and nicknamed "daisy cutter" in Vietnam and in Afghanistan for its ability to flatten a forest into a helicopter landing zone, is a 15,000 pound conventional bomb, delivered from either a C-130 or an MC-130 transport aircraft....
bomb in Vietnam
Vietnam
Vietnam – sometimes spelled Viet Nam , officially the Socialist Republic of Vietnam – is the easternmost country on the Indochina Peninsula in Southeast Asia. It is bordered by China to the north, Laos to the northwest, Cambodia to the southwest, and the South China Sea –...
. It is also known that the IAF used their Noratlases for maritime reconnaissance at the outset of the Six-Day War
Six-Day War
The Six-Day War , also known as the June War, 1967 Arab-Israeli War, or Third Arab-Israeli War, was fought between June 5 and 10, 1967, by Israel and the neighboring states of Egypt , Jordan, and Syria...
, and one of these supposedly identified the prior to the strafing of the ship. The IAF phased the Noratlas out in 1978.
Hellenic Air Force
In 1970, the Hellenic Air Force (HAF) received 50 surplus Noratlases from Germany as World War II compensations and NATO help. These Noratlases were based at Elefsis AFB near AthensAthens
Athens , is the capital and largest city of Greece. Athens dominates the Attica region and is one of the world's oldest cities, as its recorded history spans around 3,400 years. Classical Athens was a powerful city-state...
, with the 354th Tactical Airlift Squadron (112th Tactical Fighter Wing). Hellenic Air Force 354th Sqdr Noratlases were used in the airlifting of the 1st Greek Rangers Squadron from Crete (Souda) to Cyprus (Nicosia
Nicosia
Nicosia from , known locally as Lefkosia , is the capital and largest city in Cyprus, as well as its main business center. Nicosia is the only divided capital in the world, with the southern and the northern portions divided by a Green Line...
) on the night of July 21–22, 1974, during the Turkish invasion of Cyprus. In spite of the aircraft age and the adverse flying conditions, 12 of the 15 aircraft which participated in operation "Nike" (Victory in Greek) managed to land at Nicosia airport. The Greek 1st Rangers Squadron managed to keep the National Airport of Nicosia in UN hands and did not surrender it to the Turkish Brigade which attacked the airport.
Portuguese Air Force
The Portuguese Air ForcePortuguese Air Force
The Portuguese Air Force is the air force of Portugal. Formed on July 1, 1952, with the Aeronáutica Militar and Aviação Naval united in a single independent Air Force, it is one of the three branches of the Portuguese Armed Forces and its origins dates back to 1912, when the military aviation...
purchased six militarized N-2502As (designated N-2502F) over 1961-1962 as well. Portugal also bought 12 N-2501s. The planes were used in Portugal colonial wars in Africa in the 1970s.
Other Air Forces
Used French and German aircraft were bought by Niger (4), Nigeria (6) and Chad (10).Civilian
The N-2502A/B, which added two small Turbomeca MarboréTurbomeca Marboré
|-See also:-References:* Gunston, Bill. World Encyclopedia of Aero Engines. Cambridge, England. Patrick Stephens Limited, 1989. ISBN 1-85260-163-9-External links:* *...
IIE turbojets at the wingtips, was used primarily by civil operators such as Aéromaritime du Transport (N-2502A) and CGTA-Air Algérie
Air Algérie
Air Algérie SpA is the national flag carrier airline of Algeria, with its head office in the Immeuble El-Djazair in Algiers. With flights operating from Houari Boumedienne Airport, Air Algérie operates scheduled international services to 39 destinations in 28 countries in Europe, North America,...
(N-2502B), but never found the success of the military versions, and only ten were built. There were also several variants of limited service that are mentioned below.
Variants
N2500- Prototype powered by two Gnome et RhôneGnome et RhôneGnome et Rhône was a major French aircraft engine manufacturer. Between 1914 and 1918 they produced 25,000 of their 9-cylinder Delta and Le Rhône 110 hp rotary designs, while another 75,000 were produced by various licensees, powering the majority of aircraft in the first half of the war on...
14R 1600-hp engines, one built.
N2501
- Production version for the French Air ForceFrench Air ForceThe French Air Force , literally Army of the Air) is the air force of the French Armed Forces. It was formed in 1909 as the Service Aéronautique, a service arm of the French Army, then was made an independent military arm in 1933...
, powered by SNECMASnecmaSnecma is a major French manufacturer of engines for commercial and military aircraft, and for space vehicles. The name is an acronym for Société Nationale d'Étude et de Construction de Moteurs d'Aviation .In 2005, the Snecma group, which included Snecma ,...
-manufactured HerculesBristol Hercules|-See also:-Bibliography:*Gunston, B. Classic World War II Aircraft Cutaways. Osprey. ISBN 1-85532-526-8*Gunston, Bill. World Encyclopedia of Aero Engines. Cambridge, England. Patrick Stephens Limited, 1989. ISBN 1-85260-163-9...
739 radial piston engines with 2,068 PS each (1521 kW), five prototypes and 208 production aircraft built.
Nord 2501A
- Civil transport version for UTA, fitted with two 1,650-hp (1230-kW) SNECMA 758/759 Hercules radial piston engines, four built later converted to N2502.
Nord 2501D
- Production version for the German Air Force, replaced some systems components of the N2501 with their equivalent from German manufacturers, 186 built (25 French built and 116 German built).
Nord 2501E
- The redesignation of one standard Nord 2501 for flight testing, the aircraft was used to test two Turbomeca Marbore II auxiliary turbojet engines.
Nord 2501IS
- Replaced some systems components of the N-2501, 6 produced, purchased by the Israeli Air Force
N-2501 Gabriel
- SIGINTSIGINTSignals intelligence is intelligence-gathering by interception of signals, whether between people , whether involving electronic signals not directly used in communication , or combinations of the two...
/electronic warfareElectronic warfareElectronic warfare refers to any action involving the use of the electromagnetic spectrum or directed energy to control the spectrum, attack an enemy, or impede enemy assaults via the spectrum. The purpose of electronic warfare is to deny the opponent the advantage of, and ensure friendly...
platforms, 8 produced, probably modified N-2501s; operated by the Armée de l'Air
Nord 2501TC
- Nord 2501 modified for civil use by Transvalair, 3 produced
Nord 2501
- Civil transport version for Air Algeria and Union Aéromaritime de TransportUnion Aéromaritime de TransportUnion Aéromaritime de Transport was a French airline. It had its head office in the 8th arrondissement of Paris.In addition, on 26 December 1958 a DC-6 of UAT crashed in Salisbury, Rhodesia ....
, powered by two 1650-hp Bristol HerculesBristol Hercules|-See also:-Bibliography:*Gunston, B. Classic World War II Aircraft Cutaways. Osprey. ISBN 1-85532-526-8*Gunston, Bill. World Encyclopedia of Aero Engines. Cambridge, England. Patrick Stephens Limited, 1989. ISBN 1-85260-163-9...
758/759 radial engines, plus two TurbomecaTurbomecaTurbomeca is a French manufacturer of low- and medium-power gas turbine turboshaft engines for helicopters. The company also produces gas turbine engines for aircraft and missiles, as well as turbines for land, industrial and marine applications...
Marbore II auxiliary turbojet engines.
Nord 2502A
- Civil transport version for Union Aéromaritime de TransportUnion Aéromaritime de TransportUnion Aéromaritime de Transport was a French airline. It had its head office in the 8th arrondissement of Paris.In addition, on 26 December 1958 a DC-6 of UAT crashed in Salisbury, Rhodesia ....
, powered by two TurbomecaTurbomecaTurbomeca is a French manufacturer of low- and medium-power gas turbine turboshaft engines for helicopters. The company also produces gas turbine engines for aircraft and missiles, as well as turbines for land, industrial and marine applications...
Marboré II auxiliary turbojets and two 1650-hp Bristol HerculesBristol Hercules|-See also:-Bibliography:*Gunston, B. Classic World War II Aircraft Cutaways. Osprey. ISBN 1-85532-526-8*Gunston, Bill. World Encyclopedia of Aero Engines. Cambridge, England. Patrick Stephens Limited, 1989. ISBN 1-85260-163-9...
758/759 radial engines. Five built and two conversions from N2501A.
Nord 2502B
- Civilian cargo transport version for Air Algeria, powered by two TurbomecaTurbomecaTurbomeca is a French manufacturer of low- and medium-power gas turbine turboshaft engines for helicopters. The company also produces gas turbine engines for aircraft and missiles, as well as turbines for land, industrial and marine applications...
Marboré II auxiliary turbojets and two 1650-hp Bristol HerculesBristol Hercules|-See also:-Bibliography:*Gunston, B. Classic World War II Aircraft Cutaways. Osprey. ISBN 1-85532-526-8*Gunston, Bill. World Encyclopedia of Aero Engines. Cambridge, England. Patrick Stephens Limited, 1989. ISBN 1-85260-163-9...
758/759 radial engines. 2 conversions from N2501A and one built.
Nord 2502C
- Civilian cargo transport version, similar to Nord 2502A/B. Intended for purchase by an Indian airline, only one prototype was built.
Nord 2502F
- Militarized version of the Nord 2502 for Portuguese Air ForcePortuguese Air ForceThe Portuguese Air Force is the air force of Portugal. Formed on July 1, 1952, with the Aeronáutica Militar and Aviação Naval united in a single independent Air Force, it is one of the three branches of the Portuguese Armed Forces and its origins dates back to 1912, when the military aviation...
, 6 conversions.
Nord 2503
- Re-engined version with two 1864-kW (2,500-hp) Pratt & Whitney R-2800Pratt & Whitney R-2800The Pratt & Whitney R-2800 Double Wasp is a two-row, 18-cylinder, air-cooled radial aircraft engine with a displacement of 2,804 in³ , and is part of the long-lived Wasp family....
-CB17 radial piston engines. One conversion from one of the Nord 2501 prototypes.
Nord 2504
- Modification of the Nord 2502 intended for antisubmarine warfare training role with the French NavyFrench NavyThe French Navy, officially the Marine nationale and often called La Royale is the maritime arm of the French military. It includes a full range of fighting vessels, from patrol boats to a nuclear powered aircraft carrier and 10 nuclear-powered submarines, four of which are capable of launching...
, 24 ordered but only one built.
Nord 2505
- Modified Nord 2502 intended for antisubmarine warfare, cancelled not built.
Nord 2506
- Special modification of Nord 2502 to improve STOLSTOLSTOL is an acronym for short take-off and landing, a term used to describe aircraft with very short runway requirements.-Definitions:There is no one accepted definition of STOL and many different definitions have been used by different authorities and nations at various times and for a myriad of...
performance and performance under heavy load for use as an assault transport, one conversion and one built.
Nord 2507
- Modified Nord 2502 intended for search and rescueSearch and rescueSearch and rescue is the search for and provision of aid to people who are in distress or imminent danger.The general field of search and rescue includes many specialty sub-fields, mostly based upon terrain considerations...
role, with 12-hour endurance or greater, never passed the planning stage.
Nord 2508
- Modified Nord 2503, powered by two 1864-kW (2,500-hp) Pratt & Whitney R-2800-CB17 radial piston engines and two Turbomeca Marboré IIE auxiliary turbojets added; highly capable, but none were ordered; the prototypes were sold to German, one conversion and one built.
Nord 2508B
- Cargo transport version of the N.2508.
Nord 2509
- Unbuilt version. Not built.
Nord 2510
- Unbuilt anti-submarine warfare version. Not built.
Nord 2520
- Enlarged Nord 2502 with better cargo capacity, never passed the planning stage
Military operators
: Angolan Air ForceAngolan Armed Forces
The Angolan Armed Forces are the military in Angola that succeeded Forças Armadas de Libertação de Angola following the abortive Bicesse Accord with UNITA in 1991. As part of the peace agreement, troops from both armies were to be demilitarized and then integrated. Integration was never completed...
: Djibouti Air Force
Military of Djibouti
The Military of Djibouti consists of the Djibouti National Army. It is located on the Gulf of Aden and Bab al-Mandab with a foothold on the Red Sea.- History :...
: Armée de l'Air
: Luftwaffe
Luftwaffe
Luftwaffe is a generic German term for an air force. It is also the official name for two of the four historic German air forces, the Wehrmacht air arm founded in 1935 and disbanded in 1946; and the current Bundeswehr air arm founded in 1956....
: Hellenic Air Force
Hellenic Air Force
The Hellenic Air Force, abbreviated to HAF is the air force of Greece. The mission of the Hellenic Air Force is to guard and protect Greek airspace, provide air assistance and support to the Hellenic Army and the Hellenic Navy, as well as the provision of humanitarian aid in Greece and around the...
: Israeli Air Force
Israeli Air Force
The Israeli Air Force is the air force of the State of Israel and the aerial arm of the Israel Defense Forces. It was founded on May 28, 1948, shortly after the Israeli Declaration of Independence...
: Mozambique Air Force
Military of Mozambique
The Armed Forces for the Defence of Mozambique or FADM were formed in mid August 1994 from the previous warring factions of the Mozambique Civil War, which ended in 1992...
: Niger Air Force
Military of Niger
The Niger Armed Forces comprises both the military and national police services of the West African nation of Niger, totaling around 12,000 active personnel and 5,000 reservists...
: Nigerian Air Force
Nigerian Air Force
The Nigerian Air Force is the air arm of the Nigerian Armed Forces.It is one of the largest in West Africa, consisting of about 15,000 personnel and aircraft including 15 Chengdu F-7s, and 24 Dassault-Dornier Alpha Jets, armed helicopters, and military transport aircraft. However in recent years...
: Portuguese Air Force
Portuguese Air Force
The Portuguese Air Force is the air force of Portugal. Formed on July 1, 1952, with the Aeronáutica Militar and Aviação Naval united in a single independent Air Force, it is one of the three branches of the Portuguese Armed Forces and its origins dates back to 1912, when the military aviation...
: Rwandan Air Force
: Ugandan Air Force
Civilian operators
: Air AlgérieAir Algérie
Air Algérie SpA is the national flag carrier airline of Algeria, with its head office in the Immeuble El-Djazair in Algiers. With flights operating from Houari Boumedienne Airport, Air Algérie operates scheduled international services to 39 destinations in 28 countries in Europe, North America,...
: Cibao Cargo Airways
: Aerotaxis Ecuatorianos
- ACE/Transvalair
- Union des Transports Aériens
- Union Aéromaritime de TransportUnion Aéromaritime de TransportUnion Aéromaritime de Transport was a French airline. It had its head office in the 8th arrondissement of Paris.In addition, on 26 December 1958 a DC-6 of UAT crashed in Salisbury, Rhodesia ....
: Elbeflug
: Guila Air