Aerospatiale (Nord) 262

The Nord 262 is a twin-turboprop regional transport aircraft developed by Nord Aviation in France during the early 1960s, later produced under Aérospatiale after the merger of French aerospace companies. It was designed as a successor to the Nord 1000 series and intended for short-haul regional routes, capable of operating from unprepared airstrips. The aircraft entered service in the mid-1960s and was adopted by a number of regional airlines and military operators worldwide. Its rugged construction, reliable Turbomeca Bastan engines, and relatively comfortable pressurized cabin made it well-suited for thin regional routes in Europe, Africa, and beyond. Production ended in the 1970s after approximately 110 aircraft were built. While largely retired from commercial service, some examples continued to operate in military and utility roles into the 21st century.