Forca Aerea Portuguesa, June 29, 2020 - On June 18, the Alouette III helicopter marked 57 years in the service of the Air Force.
The aircraft, operated by Squadron 552 "Zangões" at Air Base No 11 (Beja), reached the historic mark on the day when its service period ended.
The first Alouette flight in the Air Force took place in Luanda (Angola) on June 18, 1963.
Over the course of more than five decades, the Alouette III fleet totaled more than 300,000 flight hours, distributed in various operational and instructional missions, being operated since 1978 by "Zangões", faithful depositaries of all the traditions of the existing light helicopter squadrons in Portugal.
The numerous achievements and contributions of this helicopter to the service of the Air Force and Portugal, from the beginning of its operation to the present day, remain in the memory of many Portuguese, both for the missions carried out during the Colonial War and in the maintenance of peace in Timor or for public interest missions, tactical transport and helicopter pilot training in our country.
Now, the Alouette III gives way to the new AW119MKII Koala.
The aircraft, operated by Squadron 552 "Zangões" at Air Base No 11 (Beja), reached the historic mark on the day when its service period ended.
The first Alouette flight in the Air Force took place in Luanda (Angola) on June 18, 1963.
Over the course of more than five decades, the Alouette III fleet totaled more than 300,000 flight hours, distributed in various operational and instructional missions, being operated since 1978 by "Zangões", faithful depositaries of all the traditions of the existing light helicopter squadrons in Portugal.
The numerous achievements and contributions of this helicopter to the service of the Air Force and Portugal, from the beginning of its operation to the present day, remain in the memory of many Portuguese, both for the missions carried out during the Colonial War and in the maintenance of peace in Timor or for public interest missions, tactical transport and helicopter pilot training in our country.
Now, the Alouette III gives way to the new AW119MKII Koala.
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La bonne vieille bête de somme part en retraite bien méritée. Les 316 et 319 ont été mises à toutes les sauces et se sont toujours montrées à la hauteur ! 👍 |
See also |
Alouette III in Força Aérea Portuguesa
Esq 552 Esquadra de Transporte 552 Força Aérea Portuguesa Portuguese Air Force