1959


Aerospatiale Alouette III

Derived from Alouette II






Aerospatiale Alouette III

Developed as the successor of the Alouette II, the Alouette III is a larger single-engine, light utility helicopter. First flew as the Sud-Aviation SE3160 on February 28, 1959. Production ceased in France in 1983 after c.1450 of SA316 and SA319 types built for 120 customers in 80 countries.

Also manufactured under licence by Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) in India as Chetak and Industria Aeronautică Română (IAR) in Romania.

By end 2018, the Alouette III fleet accumulated more than 7 million flight hours with nearly 180 helicopters still in service around the world


  Alouette III News


60 years of Helicopter Operations in Ireland

60 years of Helicopter Operations in Ireland

29-Jul-23 - The 16th annual Bray Air Display took place on Saturday 29th and Sunday 30th July 2023 in Dublin with the Irish Air Corps celebrating 60 years of Helicopter Operations #Ireland
French Navy Retires Alouette III

French Navy Retires Alouette III

10-Dec-22 - The French Navy retired the Alouette III helicopter after 60 years of service. #AlouetteIII
Portugal Retired Alouette III

Portugal Retired Alouette III

29-Jun-20 - Portuguese Air Force retired the Alouette III helicopter after 57 years of service and 300,000 flight hours. They were replaced by the Leonardo AW119Kx Koala
French Navy Leased Interim Helicopters

French Navy Leased Interim Helicopters

06-Feb-20 - France launch development of the H160M Guépard as the future helicopter of the armed forces. The French Navy will lease 12 Dauphin from Heli-Union and obtain 4 new H160 from Babcock for SAR as an interim measure after the retirement of the Alouette III #Interim
Pakistan Navy Alouette III on USS Makin Island

Pakistan Navy Alouette III on USS Makin Island

20-Jan-17 - An ill sailor from PNS Tariq, on patrol in the Gulf of Aden, was evacuated to the USNS Amelia Earhart (T-AKE 6) and then flown to the USS Makin Island (LHA-8) for medical treatment.
    More News ...



  Derivatives & Versions of Alouette III


ModelYearHistory
SE3160 / SA316A Alouette III

1959
1959 The Sud-Aviation SE3160 prototype flew in 1959 and remains in production until 1969. In 1970 became known as Aerospatiale SA316A. Equipped with o ...
IAR 316

1968
1968
SA316B Alouette III

1968
1968 One Turbomeca Artouste IIIB engine. Also license built in Romania as the IAR-316B and in Switzerland by F+W Emmen
same helicopter as the SE3160 only strengthened main and tailrotor transmissions with could carry more payload
HAL Chetak

1969
1969 The Chetak is a version of the Alouette III built by HAL in Bangalore, India under a Jun 1962 licence. Production began in 1969, following earlie ...
SA319B Alouette III

1969
1969 Powered with a 649 kW (870 shp) Turbomeca Astazou XIV turboshaft engine derated to 447 kW (660 hp)
F+W SA316B Alouette III

1972
1972 Assembled in Switzerland for the Schweizer Luftwaffe
SA316C

1972
1972
SA360 Dauphin

1972
1972 The single engine Dauphin 1 (sic) ( sometimes Dauphine and English Dolphin ) first flew on June 1, 1972 and broke 3 world speed records in 1973. ...




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