SNCAN,(abbreviated fromSociété nationale des constructions aéronautiques du Nord), or commonly,Nord,was a state-ownedFrenchaircraft manufacturer in the pre- and post–World War IIera. The company had been formed as one of six state-ownedSociété Nationalesin the 1936 reorganization of military industries, and was created by thenationalizationof several aircraft factories in the north of France. It survived until 1954 when it merged to formNord Aviation.
| Industry | Aerospace,defence |
|---|---|
| Predecessor | Potez(Méaulte) C.A.M.S.(Sartrouville) ANF(Les Mureaux) Amiot(Caudebec-en-Caux) Breguet(Le Havre) |
| Founded | 1936 |
| Defunct | 1954 |
| Fate | Acquired (nationalization) |
| Successor | Nord Aviation |
| Headquarters | France |
| Products | Aircraft |
History
editFollowing theresolutionof the 1936general strikeof Frenchheavy industrythe government ofLéon Blumintroduced an act to nationalize the French war industry on or before April 1, 1937. This led to the formation of six nationalized aircraft manufacturing companies, organized regionally: SNCAN (in the north),SNCAO(west),SNCAM(Le Midi),SNCAC(centre),SNCASO(the south-west), andSNCASE(south-east). A further company,SNCM,(previouslyLorraine-Dietrich), was created for building aircraft engines.[1]
SNCAN was a merger of thePotezfactory atMéaulteinPicardy,CAMS inSartrouville,ANFLes Mureauxin theIle-de-France,Amiot/SECMCaudebec-en-Caux,andBreguetLe HavreinNormandy.[2]
In the run-up to theSecond World War,SNCAN continued to build aircraft to established designs of the original makers. It also produced several new designs and prototypes, although only one, thePotez 63 series,went into full production.[3]
After thefall of Francein 1940, SNCAN's assets lay in theoccupied zone,and work in the aircraft industry was restricted, although in 1944 the company was able to build a German sport and touring aircraft, theMe 108,under licence; after the end of the war this was continued as theNord Pingouin.
During this period, SNCAN adopted the "Nord" marque name and generated a series of successful designs, the best-known of which was theNord Noratlastransport aircraft.
In 1949 the SNCAC group was dissolved and several of its assets were absorbed by SNCAN; however a further period of rationalization saw SNCAN merge with SFECMAS, the recently-privatized French governmentAir Arsenal,and renamed “Nord Aviation”,
Later, in 1970, Nord merged withSud Aviationto formAerospatiale,the French government's primary aircraft manufacturer.
Products
edit
Aircraft designed and built by SNCAN include thePingouin,in 1944; theNorécrin,a 3-seat cabin monoplane trainer, in 1945: theNorélan,a 3-seat trainer, in 1948: and theNoroit,a 2-engine air-sea rescue amphibian/flying-boat, in 1949
In 1947 Nord built a prototype carrier bomber, theNoréclair,and a prototype 2-seat helicopter, theNorélic,but neither went into production.
In 1947 Nord also designed theNorazur,a prototype 2-engine transport plane, and followed it with theNoratlasin 1949, which became the main transport aircraft of theFrench Air Forceof the era.
Nord unveiled theInter Autoscooterat the 1953Paris Motor Show.They were produced from 1954-1958.[4]
Notes
edit- ^Hartmann, Gérard (2005-01-05),Les réalisations de la SNCASE(PDF)(in French),retrieved2009-07-15
- ^ SNCAN at aviafrance;retrieved 27 June 2016
- ^Sampson Low Guide p252
- ^Dredge, Richard (n.d.)."SNCAN Inter 175A Autoscooter".Below the Radar.Retrieved2022-03-27.
References
edit- Angelucci, Enzo; Matricardi, Paolo:World Aircraft World War II Part I(1978) Sampson Low Guides SBN 562 00095 X
- Hartmann, Gerard::Les réalisations de la SNCASE(pdf) (fr)
External links
edit- SNCANat aviafrance (fr)