09/30/2007. This small single-seat tilting-duct VTOL research aircraft
was initially known by the name Cadet. Two were built, the first,
finished in 1967, was a mechanical and aerodynamic testbed for ground
testing only. The second made its tethered first hover flight in July
1968 and a year of tethered flight testing was followed by stability
tests in a wind tunnel. By 1971 all work on the aircraft was suspended.
The Nord 500 was powered by two 317 shp Allison 250-C18 turboshaft
engines located in the fuselage, driving two five-blade ducted pusher
propellers. The ducts could be tilted to a horizontal position,
complete with the wing section to which they were attached.
