Max Holste / Nord MH.260 Super Broussard

Primary-Source Technical Documentation Archive — Nord-Aviation, 1962–1963

The Max Holste MH.260 Super Broussard, later produced as the Nord 260 by Société Nationale de Constructions Aéronautiques (Nord-Aviation), was a rugged, high-wing, unpressurized regional turboprop developed in France during the late 1950s and early 1960s. Engineered for short-takeoff-and-landing (STOL) performance on unpaved airstrips, the Nord 260 bridged the gap between the piston-powered MH.250 prototype and the pressurized Aérospatiale/Nord 262 that followed. Only 10 production units were built, making original factory documentation exceptionally rare.

This archival collection brings together three original Nord-Aviation publications issued between September 1962 and February 1963 — the complete primary-source maintenance and instruction manual set for the Nord 260 / Super Broussard.

Document Manifest

• Manuel d'Entretien — Planches (Maintenance Manual — Plates / Diagrams)
  Ref: N° 26C-10-09-503 · Exemplaire N° 28 · Septembre 1962
  Nord-Aviation, Société Nationale de Constructions Aéronautiques
  Language: French
• Manuel d'Entretien — Texte, Tome 1 (Maintenance Manual — Text, Volume 1)
  Ref: N° 260-10-09-603 · Exemplaire N° 5 · Septembre 1962
  Nord-Aviation, Société Nationale de Constructions Aéronautiques
  Language: French
• Manuel d'Instruction de l'Avion Nord 260 — Tome II, Partie: Texte (Aircraft Instruction Manual — Volume II, Text Section)
  Bi-turbopropulseur Bastan IV · Exemplaire N° 22 · Février 1963
  Language: French

Aircraft Technical Profile

Aerodynamic & Structural Design

• High-wing cantilever monoplane — all-metal twin-spar torsion box construction
• Aspect ratio ≈ 10 — optimized for high lift at low approach and takeoff speeds
• All-aluminum semi-monocoque fuselage with unpressurized square cross-section for maximum freight/passenger volume
• Slot-type ailerons and double-slotted trailing-edge flaps; fabric-covered control surfaces over aluminum frames

Propulsion

• Two Turbomeca Bastan IV single-shaft turboprop engines
• Power output: ≈ 986 hp (735 kW) per engine
• Ratier-Figeac three-blade, variable-pitch, fully feathering metal propellers
• Deeply underslung engine nacelles for optimal ground clearance and maintenance access

Handling & Stability

• High-wing layout provides strong inherent lateral/dihedral stability, mitigating Dutch roll
• Large vertical stabilizer and rudder preserve yaw authority at low airspeeds (engine-out Vmc)
• Retractable tricycle undercarriage with wide-track main gear retracting into fuselage-mounted fairings — reduced crosswind tipping risk on unpaved fields

Performance Data

Programme History

Financial constraints at Avions Max Holste forced a corporate restructuring; Nord-Aviation assumed production and formally redesignated the aircraft the Nord 260. Engineering lessons compiled from Nord 260 service bulletins directly informed a complete redesign, culminating in the Aérospatiale/Nord 262 — a pressurized, circular-fuselage successor better suited to modern airline networks. The Nord 260 thus occupies a pivotal position in French regional aviation history: a rare, short-lived platform whose engineering legacy outlasted its own production run.

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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