Photograph:
Max Holste Super Broussard VH-HFA (c/n 295) at Avalon, VIC in 1999 (David C Eyre)
Country of origin:
France
Description:
Light utility transport
Power Plant:
One 336 kw (450 hp) Pratt & Whitney R-985-AN Wasp nine-cylinder air-cooled radial engine
Specifications:
- Wingspan: 13.7 m (45 ft 1 in)
- Length: 8.59 m (28 ft 2½ in)
- Height: 2.8 m (9 ft 2 in)
- Wing area: 24.39 m² (273.4 sq ft)
- Max speed at 1,000 m (3,280 ft): 259 km/h (161 mph)
- Economical cruising speed: 230 km/h (143 mph)
- Initial rate of climb: 249 m/min (785 m/min)
- Service ceiling: 5,334 m (17,500 ft)
- Max range at 1,000 m (3,280 ft) at 212 km/h (132 mph): 1,199 km (745 miles)
- Empty weight: 1,650 kg (3,637 lb)
- Loaded weight: 2,700 kg (5,953 lb)
History:
The MH.1521 Broussard is a light utility transport seating six designed and built by Avions Max Holste at Reims, France the prototype being flown for the first time on 17 November 1952. Over the years the type saw extensive service with the French military services in a variety of roles and in a number of areas administered by France, including Madagascar, Morocco, Maurentania and Senegal. A total of 335 examples was built over a period of seven years. It was used in the ambulance role, accommodating two casualty stretchers, two sitting casualties or medical attendants, and the seats could be removed for it to be used as a light freighter.
Basic production model was the MH.1521 model. A variant known as the MH.1522 was developed featuring double-slotted wing flaps and full-span leading edge slots to improve take-off and landing performance, but only one was built. The Broussard was used by the French military forces in a similar utility role as the de Havilland Beaver, moving stores, munitions, food and personnel as required. A number of former French territories received the type upon the French Government granting them independence, these aircraft being used to set up new air forces.
After retirement from French service the type has seen use with civil operators in France, the United Kingdom, and the USA. A couple went to Argentina for military parachute training. First of the type seen in this region was F-BFOB in the late fifties, this aircraft making a demonstration tour alongside a Nord Noratlas. In 1997 an example, a 1521M, was imported to Maryborough, QLD where it became VH-HFA (c/n 295) and was painted in French Air Force markings. The aircraft was occasionally seen visiting air events in Queensland, and on one occasion visited the Australian International Airshow at Avalon, VIC in 1999. In 2014 it was retired and donated to the Queensland Air Museum at Caloundra where it has been restored and placed on display.