SA316 Alouette III @·AIRCRAFTUBE

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    Aerospatiale SA-316B Alouette III
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    Begian Alouette III on the Godetia (Oostende 2009)
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    Hindustan HSA.316 Chetak of the Indian Coast Guard (2007)
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    SA316B Alouette III of the Indian Navy
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    Alouette III of the Argentine Navy on USS Bunker Hill
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    Aerospatiale SA-319B Alouette III
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    Alouette IIICS5 of the Pakistan Naval Air Arm
  • Aerospatiale SA-316B Alouette III (Armed Forces of Malta) Aerospatiale SA-316B Alouette III (Armed Forces of Malta)
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    Alouette III on the frigate La Motte-Picquet
  • Alouette III of the Danish Navy on HDMS Beskytteren in 1977 Alouette III of the Danish Navy on HDMS Beskytteren in 1977
    Alouette III of the Danish Navy on HDMS Beskytteren in 1977
  • Alouette III Alouette III
    Alouette III

Sud-Aviation SA316 Alouette III

The Aérospatiale Alouette III (Lark) is a single-engine, light utility helicopter developed by Sud Aviation. It was manufactured by Aérospatiale of France, and under license by Hindustan Aeronautics in India as Hal Chetak and Industria Aeronautică Română in Romania. The Alouette III is the successor to the Alouette II, being larger and having more seating.

Development

If the Alouette II showed brilliant performance (as early as 1956, a SE.3130 had made mountain rescues above 4,000 meters), the helicopter began to lose power above 3,000 meters. The research department of Sud-Aviation Helicopters thus undertook the study of a more powerful version, with improved aerodynamics, allowing to increase the capacity of the helicopter. The result was a machine of semi-monocoque construction that could carry seven people (one pilot and six passengers), resting on a tricycle Messier fixed landing gear with steerable front wheel and whose fuselage was fully enclosed. Most of all, the new machine was equipped with a powerful 870 hp (thermal) Artouste III B "Turbomeca" turbine , which was limited to 550 (mechanical) hp by both turbine and helicopter gearboxes . The thermal margin allowed to maintain full mechanical power up to 5,000 meters, and at sea level, up to an outside air temperature above 50° Celsius.

The ability to perform winch evacuations (capacity 175 kg) and the suitability of the cabin for sanitary missions (it could accommodate two stretchers in the cabin, a sitting patient and a medical assistant), made the Alouette III a popular aircraft for all kinds of rescue missions. Its power reserves and the possibility of taking 740 kg of cargo in the cabin plus 750 kg of external loads facilitated its adoption in mountainous countries, but the overall qualities of the Alouette III also justified orders by countries with neither high altitudes or hot weather, like the Netherlands or Ireland.

Built at La Courneuve (France), the first version of the Alouette III, the SE 3160 prototype, first flew at Le Bourget (Paris) on 28 February 1959, piloted by Jean Boulet and Robert Malus. The SA 316A (SE 3160) entered production in 1961 and remained in production until 1968, when it was replaced by the SA 316B. The last and 1437th Alouette III left the Marignane assembly lines in 1979, when the main production line in France was closed down. The last Alouette III from Aérospatiale was delivered in 1985.

Over 500 units were manufactured under licence in Romania, India and Switzerland. Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) obtained a license to build Alouette IIIs as the HAL Chetak in India. Over 300 units were produced by HAL as it continued to independently update and indigence the helicopter over the years, and a variant is still in production though in diminishing volumes. Versions of the Alouette III were also either license-built or assembled by IAR in Romania (as the IAR 316), F+W Emmen in Switzerland, and by Fokker and Lichtwerk in the Netherlands.

Production numbers are as follows:

  • France: 1,453
  • India: 300+ (Still in service)
  • Romania: 200+
  • Switzerland: 60

Operational history

Argentina

The Argentine Naval Aviation purchased 14 helicopters. One SA316B was on board the ARA General Belgrano when she was sunk by the HMS Conqueror's torpedoes during the Falklands War with Great Britain in 1982 and a second one played an important role during the Invasion of South Georgia. On 2 December 2010, the last example was retired at a ceremony held at BAN Comandante Espora, Bahía Blanca.

Australia

From April 1964 to 1967, three machines were delivered from France for local assembly in Australia. These were used by the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) at the Woomera Rocket Range for light passenger transport and the recovery of missile parts after test launches at the Range.

Belgium

Marine / Air Force : Three SA.316B.

Chile

The Chilean Navy ordered a batch of ten SA-319Bs in 1977. The aircraft were delivered by the middle of 1978 and made operational just before the peak of the Beagle conflict with Argentina, making the first real organic maritime ship borne tactical helicopter operated by Chile's naval forces. They were equipped with a radar and armed with rockets, guns, depth charges and a single light anti-submarine torpedo. A sole SA-319B was damaged during the frantic training period in 1978, but it was placed in storage and repaired back to airworthy condition later. All ten Chilean Navy SA-319Bs were operational and in excellent conditions at the end of the eighties, when they were replaced by Super Puma helicopters, and were bought by civilian operators.

Denmark

Eight machines were delivered to the Royal Danish Navy from 1962 to 1967. They were primarily tasked with SAR and reconnaissance in support of the navy's Arctic patrol ships. In 1982, they were replaced by the Westland Lynx.

France

The Alouette III entered service with the French Armed forces in 1960. The French Army ordered 50 Alouette IIIs in June 1961.

In June 1960, an Alouette III carrying seven people made take-offs and landings on Mont Blanc in the French Alps at an altitude of 4,810 meters (15,780 feet), an unprecedented altitude for such activities by a helicopter. The same helicopter again demonstrated the type's extraordinary performance in November 1960 by making take-offs and landings with a crew of two and a payload of 250 kg (551 lbs) in the Himalayas at an altitude of 6,004 meters (19,698 feet).

In June 2004, the Alouette III was retired from the French Air Force after 32 years of successful service, being replaced by the Eurocopter EC 355 Ecureuil 2.

The French Navy still uses the Alouette III for Search and Rescue and Logistics missions.

Ireland

The Irish Air Corps operated Alouette IIIs between 1963 and 2007; for much of this period they were the only helicopters in the Corps. The first two were delivered in 1963, a third in 1964 and five further aircraft between 1972 and 1974. At Baldonnel Aerodrome on 21 September 2007, the Alouette III was retired from the Irish Air Corps. During 44 years of successful service, the Irish Alouette III fleet amassed over 77,000 flying hours. As well as routine military missions, the aircraft undertook some 1,717 search-and-rescue missions, saving 542 lives and flew a further 2,882 air ambulance flights. The oldest of the Alouettes, 195, is kept in 'rotors running' condition for the Air Corps Museum.

India

Hindustan Aeronautics Limited built over 300 units of the helicopter under licence as the HAL Chetak. They were primarily in service with the Indian Armed Forces in training, transport, CASEVAC (Casualty Evacuation), communications and liaison roles. The Chetak is being replaced by HAL Dhruv in the armed forces. An option to re-engine the HAL Chetak with the Turbomeca TM 333-2B engine for high-altitude operations in the Himalayas was considered, but not pursued.

In 1986, the Government constituted the Army's Aviation Corps and most Chetak operating in AOP Squadrons were transferred from the Air Force on 1 November 1986. The Air Force continues to fly armed Chetaks in the anti-tank role as well as for CASEVAC and general duties.

HAL also exported Chetak helicopters to Namibia and Suriname. India has also donated used Chetak helicopters to other countries such as Bangladesh and Nepal.

Pakistan

Pakistan purchased 35 Alouette III helicopters and used them in the Indo-Pakistani War of 1971, mainly for liaison and VIP-transport. Two Alouette IIIs of the Pakistan Air Force (PAF) were shot down during the war.

Portugal

Portugal was the first country to use the Alouette III in combat. In 1963, during the Overseas Wars in Angola, Mozambique and Portuguese Guinea, Portugal began using Alouette IIIs in combat, mainly in air assault and medevac operations, where it proved its qualities. Besides the basic transport version (code named canibal, plural canibais), Portugal used a special version of the Alouette III with a MG 151 20 mm autocannon mounted in the rear in order to fire from the left side door; it was designated helicanhão (heli-cannon) and code named lobo mau (big bad wolf).

In the Overseas Wars, the Portuguese usually launched air assaults with groups of six or seven Alouette III: five or six canibais - each usually carrying five paratropers or commandos - and a lobo mau heli-cannon. The Portuguese practice was for the troops to jump from the canibais when the helicopters were hovering two-three meters above the ground - famous images of these disembarking troops became an iconic image of the war. The landing of the troops was covered by the lobo mau. While the troops performed the ground assault, the canibais moved away from the combat zone, while the lobo mau stayed to provide fire support, destroying enemy resistance and concentration points with the fire from its 20 mm autocannon. Once the ground combat had finished, the canibais returned; firstly to collect the wounded, then the rest of the troops.

At present, the Portuguese Air Force maintains a number of Alouette IIIs in service, mainly for training and SAR. They also equip the aerobatic team Rotores de Portugal.

Rhodesia

At its peak, No. 7 Squadron, Rhodesian Air Force, operated 34 Allouette III, along with a smaller number of Alouette II, in the troop transport, casevac and battlefield support roles. They played a major part in the Rhodesian Forces' "Fire Force" doctrine, both deploying ground troops, acting as observation and command post and providing mobile fire support as gunships.

South Africa

The Alouette III served for over 44 years and flew more than 346,000 hours in the South African Air Force (SAAF), particularly during counterstrike operations in Angola. The aircraft was officially withdrawn from SAAF service at AFB Swartkop near Pretoria in June, 2006.

In early 2013, an interim court order blocked the proposed sale of South Africa's retired Alouette fleet to the Zimbabwean Air Force.

Suriname

In 1999, the Surinam Air Force retired and sold its two Alouette III helicopters from active service. They have been on duty since 1986 in this small South American country bought from Portugal. Three new HAL Chetak Indian version Alouette III's were delivered to the Suriname Air Force on 13 March 2015, while the pilots and technicians of the Surinam Air Force were under training in Bangalore, India for some time.

Switzerland

In 2004, the Swiss Armed Forces announced the retirement of the Alouette III from front-line service by 2006 and entirely by 2010.

Venezuela

The Venezuelan Air Force retired its Alouette IIIs in the late 1990s.

Variants

  • SA 316A : the first production version. Original designation SE 3160.
  • SA 316B : powered by a 425 kW (570 shp) Turboméca Artouste IIIB turboshaft engine, with strengthened main and tail rotor for greater performance. The SA 316B was built under licence in India as the HAL Chetak, and again under license in Romania as the IAR 316.
  • HAL Chetak : Indian production version of the SA 316B.
  • IAR 316 : Romanian production version of the SA 316B.
  • The SA 319B was a direct development of the SA 316B, it was powered with a 649 kW (870 shp) Turbomeca Astazou XIV turbo shaft engine, but it was derated to 447 kW (660 hp).
  • The SA 316C was powered by a Turbomeca Artouste IIID turboshaft engine. The SA 316C was only built in small numbers.
  • G-Car and K-Car : Helicopter gunship versions for the Rhodesian Air Force. The G-Car was armed with two side-mounted Browning .303 or a single 7.62mm MAG machine guns. The K-Car was armed with a 20 mm MG 151 cannon, fitted inside the cabin, firing from the port side of the helicopter.
  • SA.3164 Alouette-Canon: Modified in 1964 as a gunship version armed with a 20mm gun in the nose and external hardpoints for missiles mounted on each side of the fuselage. Only one prototype was built.
  • IAR 317 Airfox: A Romanian helicopter gunship project based on the IAR 316. Only three prototypes were ever built.
  • Atlas XH-1 Alpha: South African two-seat attack helicopter project. It was used in the development of the Denel Rooivalk.

    • When used as an aerial ambulance, the Alouette III can accommodate a pilot, two medical attendants and two stretcher patients.

Current military operators

  • Angola : Angola Defence Force
  • Austria : Austrian Air Force
  • Bolivia : Bolivian Air Force
  • Burkina Faso : Burkina Faso Air Force
  • Burundi : Burundi National Army
  • Cameroon : Cameroon Air Force
  • Chad : Chad Air Force
  • Democratic Republic of the Congo : Congo Democratic Air Force
  • Ethiopia : Ethiopian Air Force
  • France : French Navy
  • Gabon : Gabonese Air Force
  • Greece : Hellenic Navy
  • India :
    • Indian Air Force
    • Indian Navy
    • Indian Coast Guard
  • Indonesia : Indonesian Army
  • Ivory Coast : Ivory Coast Air Force
  • Malaysia : Royal Malaysian Air Force
  • Malta : Maltese Air Wing
  • Namibia : Namibian Air Force
  • Nepal : Nepalese Army Air Service
  • Pakistan :
    • Pakistan Air Force
    • Pakistan Army
    • Pakistan Navy
  • Portugal : Portuguese Air Force
  • South Korea : Republic of Korea Navy
  • Suriname : Surinam Air Force
  • Swaziland : Swaziland Air Force
  • Tunisia : Tunisian Air Force
  • Zimbabwe : Air Force of Zimbabwe

Former military operators

  • Abu Dhabi : Abu Dhabi Air Wing
  • Argentina : Argentine Naval Aviation
  • Bangladesh : Bangladesh Air Force
  • Belgium : Belgian Air Force
  • Bophuthatswana : Bophuthatswana Air Force
  • Burma : Burma Air Force
  • Chile : Chilean Navy
  • Denmark : Royal Danish Navy
  • Dominican Republic : Dominican Air Force
  • Ecuador : Ecuadorian Navy
  • El Salvador : Air Force of El Salvador
  • France :
    • French Air Force
    • French Army
    • Sécurité Civile
  • Ghana : Ghana Air Force
  • Guinea : Guinean Air Force
  • Guinea-Bissau : Air Force of Guinea-Bissau
  • Hong Kong : Hong Kong Auxiliary Air Force
  • Iraq : Iraq Air Force
  • Ireland : Irish Air Corps
  • Jordan : Jordanian Air Force
  • Lebanon : Lebanese Air Force
  • Libya :
    • Libyan Air Force
    • Libyan National Army
  • Madagascar : Malagasy Air Force
  • Malawi : Malawi Army Air Wing
  • Mexico :
    • Mexican Air Force
    • Mexican Navy
  • Morocco : Royal Moroccan Gendarmerie
  • Mozambique : Mozambique Air Force
  • Netherlands : Royal Netherlands Air Force
  • Nicaragua : Sandinista Air Force
  • Peru :
    • Peruvian Air Force
    • Peruvian Army
    • Peruvian Naval Aviation
  • Rhodesia : Rhodesian Air Force
  • Rwanda : Rwandan Defence Force
  • Saudi Arabia : Royal Saudi Air Force
  • Seychelles : Seychelles Air Force
  • Singapore : Singapore Air Force
  • South Africa : South African Air Force
  • South Vietnam : South Vietmanese Air Force
  • Spain :
    • Spanish Air Force
    • Spanish Army
  • Switzerland : Swiss Air Force
  • Upper Volta : Upper Volta Air Force
  • Venezuela : Venezuelan Air Force
  • Yugoslavia : Yugoslav Air Force
  • Zaire : Zaire Air Force

— — — = = — — —

This text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License
Source : Article Aérospatiale Alouette III of Wikipedia ( authors )
Parts of this text remain aircraftube.com©´s property, before their integration into Wikipedia.

Sud-Aviation SA316 Alouette III

  • Role : Light utility helicopter.
  • National origin : France.
  • Manufacturer : Sud Aviation and later, Aérospatiale.
  • First flight : 28 February 1959.
  • Introduction : 1960.
  • Produced : 1961-1985 (HAL Chetak still in production in 2016).
  • Number built : 2,000+.
  • Developed from : Sud-Aviation Alouette II.
  • Variants : IAR 316.
  • Developed into : Aérospatiale Gazelle.

    • Specifications (SA 316B)

  • Minimum crew : 1.
  • Capacity : 6 passengers.
  • Length : 10.03 m (32 ft 10¾ in).
  • Height : 3.00 m (9 ft 10 in).
  • Main rotor diameter : 11.02 m (36 ft 1¾ in).
  • Main rotor area : 95.38 m² (1026 ft²).
  • Empty weight : 1,143 kg (2,520 lb).
  • Gross weight : 2,200 kg (4,850 lb).
  • Maximum speed : 210 km/h (130 mph).
  • Cruising speed : 185 km/h (115 mph).
  • Range : 540 km (335 miles).
  • Rate of climb : 4.3 m/s (850 ft/min).
  • Powerplant : One Turbomeca Artouste IIIB turboshaft.
  • Power : 649 kW (870 shp) derated to 425 kW (570 hp).

— — — = = — — —

This text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License
Source : Article Aérospatiale Alouette III of Wikipedia ( authors )
Sud-Aviation SA316 Alouette III : Your comments on this subject
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