The Gazelle
smashed three world
speed records: over a
straight 3 km course
(310 km/h); over a straight
15/25 km course (312 km/h);
and over a closed circuit
of 100 km (296 km/h).
1st June 1972
Maiden flight of the single-engine
SA360 Dauphin. This helicopter broke three
world speed records in May 1973.
Only 34 aircraft were built but the SA360
inspired the twin-engine version of the
Dauphin, which appeared a few years later.
21 June 1972
Jean Boulet
broke the world altitude
record (all categories
combined) with a Lama,
climbing to 12,442 meters.
This record, which still
stands today, was followed
by the longest autorotation
in helicopter history.
27 June 1974
Maiden flight of the Ecureuil, then called
the Business Alouette. This aircraft was designed
to be straightforward, practical, and competitive
in every way. The Starflex reduced the number
of parts on the rotor head to 70 (compared with
377 on the SA318 Alouette).
Maiden flight of the twin-engine
SA365 C Dauphin equipped with two 650 hp
Arriel engines. The SA365 C had versions
with wheels or skids.
1977
Creation of the first subsidiary, Samaero, in Singapore.
This event already showed the trend toward internationalisation
which Eurocopter has so successfully developed until now.
The company is now called Eurocopter South East Asia.
