Aérospatiale Alouette III SA-316B
South African Air Force Aérospatiale Alouette III
Description
Role: light utility/transport helicopter
Crew + passengers: 2 + 5
Dimensions
Length: 12.54 m (42 ft 2 in) (main rotor to tail rotor)
Fuselage length: 10.03 m (32 ft 11 in)
Height: 3.09 m (10.14 ft)
Rotor diameter: 11.02 m (36.2 ft)
Weights
Empty: 1,108 kg (2,442 lb)
Maximum internal fuel:
Maximum take-off: 2,200 kg (4,850 lb)
Powerplant
Engines: 1 x Turbomeca Artouste IIIB turboshaft driving a three blade main rotor and three blade tail rotor
Power: 1 x 425 kW (570 shp)
Performance
Maximum speed: 210 km/h (130 mph)
Combat range (internal fuel): 540 km (335 miles)
Ferry range (external fuel):
Service ceiling:
Maximum rate of climb: 270 m/min (885 ft/min)
Armament
Gun:
Missiles:

The Aérospatiale Alouette III is a light utility helicopter originally manufactured by Aérospatiale of France. It was mostly used for military purposes, although civilian versions also flew.

History

The Alouette (skylark) III is the successor to the Aérospatiale Alouette II, compared to which it is larger and has more seating. In turn, both of these helicopters can trace their ancestry back to the Sud-Est Aviation SE-3120 Alouette piston powered prototypes, the first of which flew for the first time on 31 July 1951.

The first version of the Alouette III, the SE-3160, first flew on 28 February 1959, powered by the Turboméca Artouste turboshaft. The SE-3160 remained in production until 1969, when it was replaced by the SA-316B.

The SA-316B had a strengthened transmission and a greater maximum takeoff weight, but retained the Turboméca Artouste turboshaft.

The SA-319B entered production in 1968, powered by the Turboméca Astazou XIV turboshaft, which had a better "hot and high performance" and improved fuel economy.

The SA-316B and the SA-319B both remained in series production up to the early 1980s, when the main production line in France was closed down. However, HAL of India continues to licence-build Alouette IIIs as the Chetak . Versions of the Alouette III were also either licence-built or assembled by ICA in Romania, F+W Emmen in Switzerland and by Fokker and Lichtwerk in the Netherlands.

Production numbers are as follows:

• France: ca. 1500
• India: 300+ (Still in production.)
• Romania: 200
• Switzerland: 60

Users

• Albania (SA 319)
• Argentina (SA 316)
• Austria (SA 316)
• Austria (SA 319)
• Belgium (SA 319)
• Burundi (SA 316)
• Cameroon (SA 319)
• Chad (SA 316)
• Congo, Democratic Republic of the (SA 316)
• Congo, Republic of the (SA 316)
• Ecuador (SA 316)
• Ethiopia (SA 316)
• France (SA 316)
• France (SA 319)
• Ghana (SA 316)
• Greece (SA 319)
• Guinea-Bissau (SA 316)
• India (SA 319)
• Indonesia (SA 316)
• Iraq (SA 316)
• Ireland (SA 316)
• Jordan (SA 316)
• Lebanon (SA 316)
• Libya (SA 316)
• Malaysia (SA 316)
• Malta (SA 316)
• Mexico (SA 319)
• Pakistan (SA 316)
• Pakistan (SA 319)
• Peru (SA 319)
• Portugal (SA 319)
• Romania (SA 319)
• Rwanda (SA 316)
• South Africa (SA 316)
• Suriname (SA 316)
• Switzerland (SA 316)
• Tunisia (SA 316)
• Venezuela (SA 316)
• Zimbabwe (SA 316)

Versions

While the SA-316B has a 425 kW (570 shp) Turboméca Artouste IIIB turboshaft driving a three blade main rotor and three blade tail rotor, the SA-319B has a 450 kW (600 shp) derated Turboméca Astazou XIV turboshaft.

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

See also

• List of civil aircraft

South African Air Force Aérospatiale Alouette III	An Alouette III on the frigate La Motte-Picquet.	Close-up of the turbine of an Alouette III	An Alouette III of the 22S wing of the French Navy on the landing pad of Lanvéoc base
The landing bridge of the Jeanne d'Arc with Alouette III helicopters