Guardian of the North: The Remarkable Nord 1500

On the morning of October 5th, 1959, an urgent communique from the Russian Embassy in France sent shockwaves across the West. It wasn’t the Americans, but the French who had unveiled the world’s fastest fighter jet, setting a record as the fastest jet fighter and the fastest moving human ever. This plane, the Nord 1500, not only intensified the Cold War but also rendered the Soviet supersonic bomber program obsolete overnight.

The Nord 1500’s secret weapon was its revolutionary dual-engine system: a Ramjet and a turbofan that propelled it beyond Mach 3, making it even faster than the renowned mig-25 fox bat. But what led the French to such an avant-garde design?

Many reporters, upon witnessing the Nord 1500 taxiing on the grassy field before its record-breaking flight, commented that it appeared as if a Ramjet engine had a cockpit haphazardly attached to its top. This wasn’t far from the truth. The French had prioritized the engine platform over its secondary function as a Soviet bomber interceptor. This focus was evident in its design, with a massive air intake to channel as much air as possible into the Ram Jet. The intake would fuel both the Ram Jet and its turbofan, essentially two distinct engines on a single compact plane.

The Ramjet, a marvel of its time, couldn’t operate until the plane reached a certain speed. Therefore, a conventional turbojet would propel the plane to the sound barrier. Once the jet surpassed Mach 1, the Ramjet would activate, pushing it to Mach 2.1, with designs aiming for even Mach 3.

The Nord 1500 also boasted a delta wing, reducing drag and enabling faster speeds. Its cockpit, though seemingly awkwardly placed, provided excellent visibility. Designed for high-speed pursuits, it wasn’t meant for dogfights but to chase down swift Soviet bombers.

But why did the French feel the need for such an audacious design? As the 1950s dawned, the looming threat of Russian supersonic bombers carrying nuclear payloads pressed France to seek innovative interception methods. The government initiated a competition, inviting aerospace firms to present their best concepts. Using their research from the delta wing nordgerfont concept, Nord Aviation swiftly developed a jet fighter version. By August 24, 1953, two prototypes were commissioned, primarily for research.

The first, the Griffin 1501, took flight in 1955, achieving a maximum speed of Mach 1.15 in its first supersonic flight in January 1956. However, it was the Griffin 2 that set the record on October 5th, 1959, reaching a staggering speed of 2320 kilometers per hour and a peak speed of Mach 2.19 at an altitude of 15,000 meters.

Yet, despite its groundbreaking performance, challenges loomed for Nord Aviation. The material used for the aircraft couldn’t withstand the intense heat generated by the engines. While titanium could have been a solution, it was scarce and costly during that era. Moreover, France’s military engagements in Africa, especially Algeria, and the challenges in Vietnam had stretched its military budget. The Nord 1500, with its high costs, was deemed unnecessary against adversaries using cheaper aircraft. As a result, the project was shelved in favor of more traditional aircraft like the Dassault Mirage.

However, the Nord 1500’s legacy didn’t end there. Much of its research and even its test pilot contributed to the development of the iconic Concorde, setting records once again in the realm of passenger aviation.