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Overview

1959: SA3160/ SA316/ SA319 B "Alouette III"

Encouraged by the success of the Alouette II – the very first turbine-powered helicopter to be produced in series - Sud Aviation went on to develop a more powerful and highly streamlined seven-seat machine with excellent visibility, which was capable of carrying 2 stretchers.

The Alouette III made its maiden flight on 28 February 1959 with Jean Boulet at the controls. The program was managed by René Mouille. In June, the prototype landed at an altitude of over 4,000 m in the Mont Blanc range and, in October 1960, at over 6,000 m in the Himalayas. On board were the pilot Jean Boulet, 2 passengers, and 250 kg of equipment. The innovative feature of the helicopter was its gas turbine engine: the Artouste, rated originally at 880 horsepower, but derated to 550 horsepower. The version with the more powerful Astazou gas turbine engine made its first flight on 10 July 1967.

The first two customers of this version, which was certified on 15 December 1961, were from outside France but the French Army placed an order for 50 Alouette IIIs in June 1961.

The Alouette III was specifically designed to fly at high altitudes and quickly earned a well-merited reputation for performing rescue missions. It was the first helicopter with a real multi-mission capability and performances matched to its missions, whether in its civil or military version.

Although the last and 1437th Alouette III left the Marignane assembly lines in 1979, close to 500 more were to be manufactured under license in Romania, India and Switzerland. The last Alouette III was delivered in 1985. Even today, there are still several dozen Alouette IIIs operating in about thirty countries.

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