Aérospatiale Alouette III

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SA 316 / SA 319 Alouette III
An Alouette III of the 22S wing of the French Navy on the landing pad of Lanvéoc base
Role Light utility helicopter
Manufacturer Sud Aviation
Aérospatiale
First flight 28 February 1959
Introduction 1960
Status Active
Primary users French Armed Forces
Indian Armed Forces
South African Air Force (historical)
Swiss Air Force (historical)
Produced 1961-1985
Number built 2,000+
Developed from Aérospatiale Alouette II
Variants Aérospatiale Gazelle

The Aérospatiale Alouette III (French pronunciation: [alwɛt], Lark) is a single-engine, light utility helicopter developed by Sud Aviation. It was manufactured by Aérospatiale of France, and under licence by Hindustan Aeronautics Limited 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

Contents

[edit] Development

The first version of the Alouette III, the SE 3160 prototype, first flew on 28 February 1959. Production of the SA 316A (SE 3160) began 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 licence to build Alouette IIIs as the HAL Chetak in India. Over 300 units were produced by HAL as it continued to independently update and indigenize the helicopter over the years, and a variant is still in production though in diminishing volumes. Versions of the Alouette III were also either licence-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: 1453
  • India: 300+ (Still in production)
  • Romania: 230
  • Switzerland: 60

[edit] Operational history

[edit] 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 (Islas Malvinas) 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.[1][2]

[edit] Australia

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

[edit] France

French Navy Alouette III on the frigate La Motte-Picquet

The Alouette III entered in 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.[3] 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).[4]

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.

[edit] Ireland

At Baldonnel 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.[5]

[edit] 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.

[edit] 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.[6]

[edit] Portugal

Portuguese Air Force's helicopter operating in African theatre during the war.

The Alouette III saw service in the Portuguese Colonial War, during 1960s and 1970s with large utilization in Angola, Mozambique, and Portuguese Guinea, where it proved its qualities.

[edit] Rhodesia

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The Alouette III was originally purchased by the Rhodesians pre UDI. Later a large number of Alouette IIIs were covertly obtained from various sources to increase the capability of No. 7 Squadron and also to replenish the squadron for various losses suffered both by accidents and while on combat missions.

In the 1970s South African Air Force (SAAF) Alouette III helicopters were attached to No. 7 Squadron, Rhodesian Air Force. The Alouette III was also the choice of the South African Air Force which meant that training facilities and expertise could be shared. The Portuguese Air Force had also purchased Alouette IIIs.

For Fireforce missions a gunship version of the Alouette III was fitted with a Matra MG 151/20 20 mm cannon. The 'K-Car', as it was known, was operated usually with a crew of three, (pilot, gunner and fireforce commander). The 'K-Car' was used as a mobile command post to allow the army commander of the heli-borne troops to direct their operations from the air above them.

Ammunition for the 20mm Cannon was carried in a special bin in the left hand baggage compartment and fed to the cannon via a feed tray through the rear bulkhead. The spent brass was collected in a compartment below the cabin floor. The ammunition bin was supposed to be able to carry 440 rounds of 20mm ammuninition, but typically, only 400-410 rounds were loaded. The gunner in the 'K-Car' was also a technician and therefore he was not only the gunner, but also responsible for all the maintenance of his aircraft.

A Rhodesian Alouette III, 'K-Car' had the distinction of shooting down a Botswana Defence Force Islander on 9 August 1979 with its 20mm cannon.

The standard troop carrying/utility version of the Alouette III in the Rhodesian Air Froce were called 'G-Cars'. They were used by No. 7 Squadron for the troop transport, light air/ground fire support, SAR, casualty evacuation (CASEVAC) and a variety of other roles.

Rhodesian practice was to operate the 'G-Car' with a gunner/technician and to mount twin Mk 2 .303 Brownings machine guns, with about 400 rounds per gun. As with the 'K-Car', not only did the technician fly in combat and operate the aircraft's weapons, he was also responsible for all the maintenance of the helicopter too.

In the troop carrying role, a "Stick" of four soldiers was the standard load for the RhAF Alouette III. The seating configuration was two in the rear of the cabin, beside the gunner/technician and behind the pilot, with the "Stick commander" in the centre and his MAG gunner beside him. The other two riflemen were in the front on the rear-facing bench seat. Experience in combat led the Rhodesians to remove all but the pilot's door on the 'G-Car' and to reverse the front passengers to widen the available floorspace and gain flexibility. With the doors removed, it was easier for the soldiers to leave the helicopter quickly. Reversing the front seats opened up floor area and therefore more space for internal cargo was available. The standard Sud Aviation front seats in the 'G-Car' were replaced in the Rhodesian Air Force by a "home made" rear-facing bench seat. While carrying troops, casualties on a stretcher could be carried laterally across the rear of the cabin, one on the floor and another stretcher on a rack above it.

In September 1974 Rhodesian Air Force Alouette IIIs were fitted with anti-STRELA shrouds on the engines, the tail pipe was turned up to deflect the hot exhaust gasses into the rotor downwash and they were given matt paint finishes. This was done to reduce the Infra Red signature of the helicopter and proved to be highly successful for the type.

Several Alouettes were brought down by fire from the ground, but considering the intensity of operations, losses were surprisingly low. This was probably due to the highly skilled pilots' tactics of using ultra low level flying and terrain to keep out of the line of enemy fire.

At one stage, 27 SAAF helicopters were deployed in Rhodesia. Within No. 7 Squadron, the SAAF Alouettes were designated as belonging to Alpha Flight.

[edit] South Africa

The Alouette III helicopter served for 44 years and flew more than 346.000 hours in the South African Air Force (SAAF). The official withdrawal of Alouette III in SAAF took place on 30 June 2006 at Swartkop in Pretoria.[7]

The SAAF received 118 Alouette III helicopters between 1962 and the late 1970s. They were used extensively throughout the Bush War.

[edit] Switzerland

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

[edit] Venezuela

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

[edit] 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 licence 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) Turboméca Astazou XIV turboshaft 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.[8] 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.[9]
  • IAR 317 Airfox: A Romanian helicopter gunship project based on the IAR 316. Only three prototypes were ever built.
  • Atlas XH-1 Alpha: A Two-seat attack helicopter project. It was used in the development of the Denel AH-2 Rooivalk.

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

[edit] Operators

[edit] Current military operators

 Albania
 Angola
Austrian Alouette III over the Alps
 Austria
 Bangladesh
 Belgium
 Bolivia
 Burkina Faso
 Burma
 Burundi
  • Four (1× SE3160 and 3× SA316Bs)[15]
 Cameroon
 Chad
 Republic of the Congo
 Côte d'Ivoire
 Dominican Republic
 Ecuador
 El Salvador
 Equatorial Guinea
 Ethiopia
 France
 Gabon
 Ghana
 Greece
 Guinea
 Guinea-Bissau
HAL Chetak from Indian Navy's INS Rana.
 India
  • Indian Air Force 87+ (55× French-built SE3160 and SA316B, 32+ Indian-built SA319B Chetak)[29]
  • Indian Navy 18+ (7× French-built SE3160, 7× French-built SA316B plus Indian built Chetaks)[30]
  • Indian Army over 120 in active service.
 Indonesia
 Iran
 Laos
 Libya
 Madagascar
 Malawi
 Malaysia
 Malta
 Mexico
 Morocco
 Mozambique
 Namibia
 Nepal
 Netherlands
 Nicaragua
Pakistan Naval Air Arm Alouette III on board PNS Tippu Sultan at Portsmouth in 2005
 Pakistan
 People's Republic of China
 Peru
Portuguese Alouette III in Africa during a MEDEVAC
 Portugal
 Romania
 Rwanda
 Saudi Arabia
 Seychelles
 South Korea
 South Vietnam
 Sri Lanka (SA316)
 Suriname
 Swaziland
  • Umbutfo Swaziland Defence Force 3 ex SAAF[51]
 Tunisia
 Venezuela
 Zaire
 Zambia
 Zimbabwe

[edit] Former military operators

Argentine Navy Alouette III aboard USS Bunker Hill
 Argentina
 Australia
  • Royal Australian Air Force – Three Alouette IIIs (RAAF serials A3-165 to 167) were in service from 1964 to 1967. The helicopters were used for general transport and support duties at the Woomeria Rocket Range in South Australia.
 United Arab Emirates (Abu Dhabi)
 Upper Volta
 Bophuthatswana
 Biafra
 Chile
Circa 1980, a Royal Danish Navy's Alouette III on a Hvidbjørnen-class inspection vessel.
 Denmark
 Ecuador
 France
 Guatemala
 Guyana
 Hong Kong
 Iraq
Irish Air Corps SA-316B Alouette III, 212 from 3 Operations Wing at RNAS Yeovilton in July 2006
 Ireland
 Jordan
Laos
Royal Lao Air Force (2)
 Lebanon
  • Lebanese Air Force Eighteen (11× SE3160, 7× SA316B) retired from military service; currently being used for crop spraying [63]
 Rhodesia
 Sierra Leone
Retired Alouette III (SA316B) of the Republic of Singapore Air Force on static display at RSAF Museum.
 Singapore
 South Africa (SA 316)
 Spain
Aérospatiale SA 316 Alouette III of the Swiss Air Force
 Switzerland
  • Swiss Air Force Total of 84: 24× SE3160 first delivered in 1964 (minus 6 accident write-offs) plus 60× SA316B first delivered in 1972 (minus 13 accident write offs). In late August 2010, 10 airframes were donated to Pakistan's National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) for search and rescue (SAR) work. On 10 December 2010, all the remaining 55 airframes (of which 20 were still airworthy) were retired at Alpnache Aerodome, replaced by 20× Eurocopter EC635 P2+[67]

[edit] Civilian operators

SA316B-1 used by Nagoya Fire Department, Kagamihara Aviation Museum.
 Chile
  • ALFA Helicópteros
 Italy
  • Air Walser srl
  • GIANA Helicopter – RTI
 Japan
 Pakistan
 United States

[edit] Specifications (SA 316B)

AEROSPATIALE ALOUETTE III.png
Close-up of the turbine of an Alouette III

Data from Jane's All The World's Aircraft 1976-77 [68]

General characteristics

  • Crew: 2
  • Capacity: 5 passengers
  • Length: 10.03 m (32 ft 10¾ in)
  • Main rotor diameter: 11.02 m (36 ft 1¾ in)
  • Height: 3.00 m (9 ft 10 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)
  • Powerplant: 1 × Turbomeca Artouste IIIB turboshaft, 649 kW (870 shp) derated to 425 kW (570 hp)

Performance

  • Maximum speed: 210 km/h (130[69] mph)
  • Cruising speed: 185 km/h (115 mph)
  • Range: 540 km (335 miles)
  • Service ceiling: 3,200 m (10,500 ft)
  • Rate of climb: 4.3 m/s (850 ft/min)

[edit] See also

Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Alouette III

Related development

Related lists

[edit] References

Notes
  1. ^ Adiós Alouette
  2. ^ a b "Argentine Navy's Final Alouette III Retired". Air Forces Monthly (Key Publishing Ltd) (275): page 24. March 2011. ISSN 09557091. 
  3. ^ Donald, p. 22.
  4. ^ Donald, p. 22.
  5. ^ New Wings for the Irish Air Corps
  6. ^ http://bharat-rakshak.com/IAF/History/1971War/Appendix3.html
  7. ^ Alouette III final flight
  8. ^ Wood, J.R.T (2009). Counter-strike From the Sky: The Rhodesian All-arms Fireforce in the War in the Bush 1974–1980. 30° South Publishers. ISBN 1920143335. 
  9. ^ https://sites.google.com/site/stingrayslistofrotorcraft/sa-3164-alouette-canon
  10. ^ Andrade 1982, Page 11
  11. ^ Andrade 1982, page 21
  12. ^ Andrade 1982, page 22
  13. ^ Belgian military aviation OrBat
  14. ^ Andrade 1982, Page 35
  15. ^ Andrade 1982, Page 36
  16. ^ Cameroonian military aviation OrBat
  17. ^ Andrade 1982, Page 43
  18. ^ Andrade 1982, Page 50
  19. ^ Andrade 1982, Page 126
  20. ^ Andrade 1982, Page 56
  21. ^ Andrade 1982, Page 188
  22. ^ Andrade 1982, Page 63
  23. ^ a b c French military aviation OrBat
  24. ^ Helicopters of the Securite Civile (in French)
  25. ^ Andrade 1982, Page 77
  26. ^ Andrade 1982, Page 91
  27. ^ Greek military aviation OrBat
  28. ^ Andrade 1982, Page 95
  29. ^ Andrade 1982, Page 102/103
  30. ^ Andrade 1982, Page 103
  31. ^ Andrade 1982, Page 106
  32. ^ Andrade 1982, Page 149
  33. ^ a b Andrade 1982, Page 151
  34. ^ Andrade 1982, Page 153
  35. ^ Malaysian military aviation OrBat
  36. ^ Andrade 1982, Page 154
  37. ^ a b Andrade 1982, Page 157
  38. ^ Andrade 1982, Page 159
  39. ^ a b Andrade 1982, Page 161
  40. ^ Air Combat Information Group – Nepal
  41. ^ Dutch military aviation OrBat
  42. ^ Andrade 1982, Page 166
  43. ^ Andrade 1982, Page 173
  44. ^ Andrade 1982, Page 174
  45. ^ Andrade 1982, Page 178
  46. ^ Andrade 1982, Page 179
  47. ^ Portuguese military aviation OrBat
  48. ^ Young at 95!, Air Forces Monthly magazine, Dirk Jan de Ridder & Menso van Westrhenen, February 2009 issue, p. 54.
  49. ^ Andrade 1982, Page 187
  50. ^ Andrade 1982, Page 190
  51. ^ SAAF Alouettes for Swaziland
  52. ^ Andrade 1982, Page 227
  53. ^ Andrade 1982, Page 338
  54. ^ Andrade 1982, Page 343
  55. ^ Andrade 1982, page 15
  56. ^ Hatch 1990, p. 39
  57. ^ Andrade 1982, Page 335
  58. ^ Andrade 1982, Page 55
  59. ^ Andrade 1982, Page 98
  60. ^ Andrade 1982, Page 111
  61. ^ Andrade 1982, Page 61
  62. ^ Andrade 1982, Page 139
  63. ^ Andrade 1982, Page 147
  64. ^ Andrade 1982, Page 197
  65. ^ Andrade 1982, Page 206
  66. ^ Andrade 1982, Page 208
  67. ^ "Swiss Alouette III operations ended". Air Forces Monthly (Key Publishing Ltd) (274): page 15. February 2011. ISSN 09557091. 
  68. ^ Taylor 1976, p.39.
  69. ^ at sea level

[edit] Bibliography

  • Donald, David, ed. The Complete Encyclopedia of World Aircraft. New York: Barnes & Noble Books, 1997. ISBN 0-7607-0592-5.

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