The NAC-1 Freelance, originally the BN-3 Nymph, is a British four-seat touring monoplane.
NAC-1 (BN-3) Freelance | |
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Norman NAC-1 Freelance at Cotswold Airport, England, in 2018 | |
Role | Four-seat monoplane |
National origin | United Kingdom |
Manufacturer | Britten-Norman NDN Aircraft Norman Aircraft Company |
Designer | Desmond Norman |
First flight | 17 May 1969 (BN-3) 29 September 1984 (NAC-1)[1] |
Status | Operational in 2003, now stored |
Number built | 2 |
Designed by Desmond Norman when with Britten-Norman, the BN-3 Nymph was an all-metal high-wing braced monoplane powered by a 115 hp Lycoming O-235 engine. It was designed to allow it to be assembled in under-developed countries which would build the aircraft under a technology transfer scheme.[2]
With the demise of the original Britten-Norman company, Norman took the design with him to his new company NDN Aircraft. NDN planned to build and sell the Nymph with a lengthened cabin as the NAC-1 Freelance. The Nymph was reworked as the prototype Freelance and first flew in that configuration on 29 September 1984.[1] In 1985 NDN Aircraft was renamed the Norman Aircraft Company (NAC) and components and fuselage sections for six aircraft were built. Following the failure of the company to win a military order with the NDN Firecracker military trainer the company was closed down.
Data from Jane's All The World's Aircraft 1969–70[2]
General characteristics
Performance