Nord Aviation 3202
Primary-Source Technical Documentation Archive — Nord-Aviation / École de Spécialisation de l'Aviation Légère de l'Armée de Terre (ALAT)
The Nord Aviation 3202 is a fully aerobatic, tandem-seat basic trainer designed in the early 1950s to replace the Stampe SV.4 biplane for the French Army Light Aviation (Aviation Légère de l'Armée de Terre — ALAT). A clean, low-wing cantilever monoplane with a fixed tailwheel undercarriage and an inverted engine system for sustained negative-G flight, the Nord 3202 bridged the gap between elementary piston trainers and the demanding North American T-6 Texan. Its handling qualities were described by instructors as transitional between a de Havilland Chipmunk and a T-6 — a precise, responsive platform that produced a generation of French Army aviators.
This archival collection presents two original Nord-Aviation publications: the official French Army Manuel d'Utilisation (January 1963, Diffusion Restreinte) and the Nord-Aviation commercial brochure for the N.3202.
Document Manifest
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Manuel d'Utilisation de l'Avion Nord 3202
École de Spécialisation de l'Aviation Légère de l'Armée de Terre
Édition de Janvier 1963 · 54 pages
Diffusion Restreinte — Ce document ne doit être communiqué qu'aux personnes qualifiées pour le connaître.
Language: French -
Avion Biplace d'Entraînement N.3202 — Brochure Commerciale
Nord-Aviation · 2 à 18, Rue Béranger, Chatillon-ss-Bagneux, Seine
Language: French
Aircraft Technical Profile
Aerodynamic & Airframe Design
- Low-wing cantilever monoplane — NACA 23015 profile at root, tapering to NACA 23012 at wingtips
- Total wing surface area: 16.26 m² (175 sq ft)
- Fixed cantilever tailwheel undercarriage — engineered for high sink rates during military student instruction
- Modified variants feature enlarged ailerons for enhanced roll rates in competition aerobatics
Propulsion
- Nord 3202A: Potez 4D-32 inverted inline air-cooled 4-cylinder — 180 kW (240 hp)
- Nord 3202B: Potez 4D-34 inverted inline air-cooled 4-cylinder — 194 kW (260 hp)
- Specialized inverted fuel and oil supply systems for sustained negative-G maneuvers
- Ratier Type 23-92 two-blade adjustable-pitch propeller; variable-pitch on late models
Handling & Stability
- High vertical stabilizer providing pronounced directional recovery — stable spin characteristics
- Flight control harmony described as transitional between de Havilland Chipmunk and North American T-6 Texan
- Later Nord 3212 variant introduced radio compass and advanced blind-flying instruments
Performance Data
| Parameter | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum Speed | 260 km/h (140 kt) at sea level |
| Cruising Speed | 235 km/h (127 kt) at 2,300 m |
| Stall Speed (flaps down) | 102 km/h (55 kt) |
| Rate of Climb | 360 m/min (1,181 ft/min) |
| Empty Weight | 824 kg (1,817 lb) |
| Maximum Takeoff Weight (MTOW) | 1,220 kg (2,690 lb) |
Engineering & Operations Bulletin Highlights
- Manuel d'Utilisation (1963): Primary flight and systems operating instructions issued by the ALAT specialisation school — 54 pages, restricted distribution
- Maintenance Access: Full-length fuselage access panels for rapid component repair turnaround
- Nord 3212 Avionics Update: Modified electrical infrastructure accommodating radio compass and blind-flying instrument suite
This is an archival, static-copy edition fixed at its original publication date. Intended for historical reference, flight simulation, museum restoration, and educational use only. Not approved for active airworthiness maintenance under FAA 14 CFR § 43.13, EASA Part-M, or equivalent international regulations. Operators of active aircraft must use current, revision-controlled publications from the Type Certificate holder or an authorized distributor.
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