Nord 1101 Noralpha
The Nord 1101 Noralpha’s roots go back to Germany at the beginning of the 20th century when “Willy” Messerschmitt designed his tail-wheeled Bf-108 Taifun (Typhoon) in 1933. This aircraft enjoyed success as a four-place sporting plane in Germany prior the start of the Second World War. With the outbreak of the war, production of the Bf-108 was delegated to the Société Nationale de Constructions Aéronautiques du Nord factory in Occupied France which produced two prototypes of the Bf-108 during 1943-1944. After V-E day, (Victory in Europe) the company continued production of the Nord with a French engine. These civilian aircraft were designated as Nord 1101 Noralphas, with a military version also being produced for the French Air Force & Navy, called the “Ramier.” The Noralpha combined many designs that were revolutionary in the 1930s, including an all-metal structure, a stressed metal skin that utilized flush riveting, an outward retracting landing gear, and a fully enclosed cabin. These same features were also found in Germany’s most important WW II fighter aircraft, the Messerschmitt Bf-109, who “Willy” Messerschmitt had also designed. Interestingly, at the outbreak of WW ll the British Royal Air Force put four Bf 108s (predecessor of the Nord 1101) into service, and designated them the "Messerschmitt Aldon". It was the fastest light communications aircraft the RAF had then, but they were often mistaken for German Bf 109 aircraft.
The Museum’s Nord 1101 is on loan from the National Naval Aviation Museum in Pensacola, Florida.
SPECIFICATIONS
Type Four-seat cabin monoplane
Weight 560 lbs. empty
Wingspan 37 ft. 8 in
Length 28 ft. 0 in
Height 10ft. 8 in
Power One Renault 6Q-10 inline 233 hp piston engine
Manufacturer Nord Aviation
PERFORMANCE
Maximum speed 189 mph
Cruising speed 172 mph
Range 745 miles
Service ceiling 9,355 ft.