Following the end of World War Two, the French Air Force found itself with two military transports, the German Junkers Ju 52, which for a short while, was manufactured in France. The second aircraft was surplus American Douglas C-47 Skytrains
Neither were efficient for loading cargo, with side doors, so, in 1947, looking to modernize the military, France's competition for aircraft manufacturers to develop a modern medium-weight cargo aircraft resulted in SNCAN coming up with an innovative design that featured rear clamshell doors.
https://simpleflying.com/nord-noratlas-history/
This plane (Fairchilid c119 Boxcar) was used in the film Flight of Phoenix too.
ReplyDeleteThe Bristol Freighter solved the cargo loading issue with front clamshell doors:
ReplyDeletehttps://www.curbsideclassic.com/uncategorized/rampside-outtake-silver-city-airways-bristol-type-170-freighter/