The Norvigie two-seat observation post and liaison aircraft evolved from the civil NC.856 tourer and served in the observation crew training and reserve formations of the ALAT, and during 1963, twenty were transferred to the Armee de l’Air for the communication role after being re-engined with Lycoming O-320 or O-360 engines of similar output to the SNECMA-Regnier 4LO-4.

The first prototype NC.856 powered by a 105 hp Walter Minor 4-OOO flew on 12 March 1949, and after the liquidation of the parent company, the SNCA du Centre, development was taken over by the SNCA su Nord, a second prototype with a Regnier engine being flown on 15 March 1951. One hundred and 12 machines were subsequently manufactured for the ALAT, the first on on 12 March 1953.

Engine: 135 hp SNECMA-Regnier 4LO-4
Max speed: 118 mph at SL
Cruise: 105 mph at 3280 ft
ROC: 984 fpm
Range: AOP – 110 mi / Liaison – 332 mi
Empty weight: 1430 lb
Loaded weight: 1947 lb AOP
MTOW: 2198 lb
Wingspan: 39 ft 4.5 in
Length: 25 ft 3 in
Height: 7 ft 4.5 in
Wing area: 181.372 sq.ft

The Nord 3400 Norbarbe was a French two-seat observation and casualty-evacuation aircraft built by Nord Aviation for the French Army Light Aviation.

The Nord 3400 was designed to meet a French Army requirement for a two-seat observation aircraft, with a secondary casualty-evacuation role. The 3400 was a braced high-wing monoplane with a fixed tailwheel landing gear and an enclosed cabin with tandem seating for a pilot and observer. The prototype F-MBTD first flew on 20 January 1958, powered by a 179 kW (240 hp) Potez 4D-30 engine. A second prototype with an increased span and wing area followed, being powered by a 194 kW (260 hp) Potez 4D-34 engine. A production batch of 150 was ordered by the French Army in the same configuration as the second prototype.

The wings may be folded for storage.

The first Nord 340 was accepted by the ALAT on 9 July 1959 and the 150th and last was delivered in March 1961.

Nord 3400-01
First prototype F-MBTD
Engine: 179 kW (240 hp) Potez 4D-30
Wing span: 12.7 m (42 ft)
Wing area: 19.5 sq.m (210 sq ft)

Second prototype
Engine: 194 kW (260 hp) Potez 4D-34

Nord 3400
Powerplant: 1 × Potez 4D-30, 180 kW (240 hp)
Propeller: 2-bladed Ratier Type 24-56 adjustable-pitch
Propeller diameter: 2.25 m (7 ft 5 in) diameter adjustable-pitch propeller
Wingspan: 13.11 m (43 ft 0 in)
Wing area: 20.82 sq.m (224.1 sq ft)
Aspect ratio: 8.2
Airfoil: NACA 23015[4]
Length: 8.42 m (27 ft 7 in)
Height: 3.1 m (10 ft 2 in)
Empty weight: 920 kg (2,028 lb) equipped
Max take-off weight: 1,350 kg (2,976 lb)
Fuel capacity: 220 L (58.1 US gal; 48.4 imp gal) in two self-sealing rubber tanks (160 kg (353 lb))
Maximum speed: 235 km/h (146 mph, 127 kn)
Cruise speed: 200 km/h (120 mph, 110 kn)
Stall speed: 70 km/h (43 mph, 38 kn) <
Range: 1,000 km (620 mi, 540 nmi)
Rate of climb: 7 m/s (1,400 ft/min)
Wing loading: 65 kg/sq.m (13 lb/sq ft)
Power/mass: 0.192 kW/kg (0.117 hp/lb)
Take-off run: <100 m (328 ft)
Landing run: <100 m (328 ft)
Crew: 2