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Aérospatiale Alouette II

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"Alouette II" redirects here. For the Canadian satellite, seeAlouette 2.

TheAérospatiale Alouette II(French pronunciation:[alwɛt],"lark";company designationsSE 313andSA 318) is a French lighthelicopteroriginally manufactured bySud Aviationand laterAérospatiale.It was the first production helicopter powered by agas turbineengine instead of the heavier conventionalpiston powerplant.

SE 313/SA 318 Alouette II
An SE.3130 Alouette II (ex-Swiss Air Force)
General information
TypeLighthelicopter
National originFrance
ManufacturerSud Aviation
Aérospatiale
StatusLimited service
Primary usersFrench Army
Number built1,300+
History
Manufactured1956–1975
Introduction date2 May 1957
First flight12 March 1955
VariantsAérospatiale SA 315B Lama
Developed intoAérospatiale Alouette III
Sud Aviation SE.3130 Alouette II
ZU-ALO; Private operator inSouth Africa
SA 318C Alouette II Astazou at theBorderland Museum Eichsfeldin Central Germany.

On 12 March 1955, the prototype SE 3130 performed itsmaiden flight.The Alouette II was a widely used type and popular with operators, with over 1,300 rotorcraft eventually being constructed between 1956 and 1975. The type was predominantly used for military purposes in observation, photography,air-sea rescue,liaison and training, but it has also carried anti-tank missiles and homing torpedoes. As a civilian helicopter, the Alouette II has been used for casualty evacuation (with two external stretcher panniers), crop-spraying and as a flying crane, with a 500-kilogram (1,100 lb) external underslung load.

A high-altitude derivative, theSA 315B Lama,was developed and entered operational service in July 1971. The Alouette II also was further developed into the larger and more powerfulAlouette III.In 1975, production of the type was terminated, having been effectively succeeded by these newer rotorcraft. Despite it being long out of production, considerable numbers of Alouette II were still in service at the start of the 21st century.

Development

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Although Sud-Est's previous helicopter design, theSE 3120 Alouette,broke helicopter speed and distance records in July 1953, it was too complex an aircraft to market successfully. With the records falling, the French government started showing interest, but with their financial backing, the state gave an ultimatum that within two years a helicopter had to be in production, otherwise all rotary wing activities would cease. SNCASE came up with seven helicopter designs powered byturboshaftengines: X.310A – X.310G. EarlierJoseph Szydlowski,the founder ofTurbomeca,had successfully managed to develop theArtouste,a 260 hp (190 kW) single shaft turbine engine derived from hisOrédonturbine. The X.310G design was chosen and, together with an improved version of the Artouste engine, was fast-tracked towards production as theSE 3130 Alouette II.[1]

A West German Alouette II Astazou patrolling the border withEast Germany,1985

On 12 March 1955, the prototype SE 3130 performed its maiden flight;[2][3][4]within three months, on 6 June, a pre-production Alouette II, flown byJean Boulet,established a new helicopter altitude record of 8,209 m (26,932 ft).[5][6][7]According to the manufacturer, such early demonstrations of the Alouette II had served to promote the performance and advantages of turbine helicopters over their piston-engined counterparts.[1]

In April 1956, the first production Alouette II was completed, making it the first production turbine-powered helicopter in the world.[1][4]Upon completion, several of the initial production models were dispatched for a series of evaluation flights in theAlps.[1]On 13 June 1958, a single SE 3130, again flown by Boulet, re-took the altitude record, reaching a height of 10,984 m (36,027 ft).[6][8][9]In 1964, a new version of the Alouette II was introduced, theSA 3180 Alouette II Astazou(originally called "Alouette Astazou" ), using theTurbomeca Astazou IIAengine in place of the Artouste II. In 1975, production of the Alouette II ended after more than 1,300 had been built; in 1969, a new high-altitude variant, theAérospatiale SA 315B Lamahad been developed to replace it in this niche capacity.[1][10]A slightly larger and more powerful helicopter in the form of theAérospatiale Alouette IIIhas also entered production, which had negatively impacted upon the demand for the older II model.[11]

Design

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The Aérospatiale Alouette II is a French light helicopter, incorporating many innovations of its time.[7]It was powered by a singleTurbomeca Artouste IIturboshaftengine capable of generating a maximum output of 400 hp. The speed of the main rotor is controlled by an automated fuel supplygovernor,eliminating the necessity of a twist-grip throttle and a conventional link between the throttle and the collective-pitch.[7]Instead, the Alouette II uses a simple control lever arrangement, which acts to directly regulate the collective-pitch and actuate the governor while immediately and automatically applying the correct level of power to conform with flight condition. Without aclutch,the transmission is considerably simplified in both design and maintenance aspects.[7]

Despite being a light helicopter, the Alouette II possesses a reasonable lift capacity and can carry underslung loads on an external sling; during one high-profile public demonstration, one helicopter was able to air-lift a compactCitroentruck weighing in excess of half a ton without visible difficulty. While flying at sea level, the Alouette II uses only 300 of the powerplant's available 400 hp; accordingly, performance can be maintained while operated at a high altitude and within tropical conditions where the additional power would come into play.[7]It was capable of flying at altitudes of up to 2,286 meters above sea level while possessing an average climb rate of 250 meters per minute and a typical maximum range of 563 miles.[12]Various alternativelanding gearconfigurations could be fitted, including skids, wheels, orpontoons.[10]

The Alouette II is capable of accommodating a seating arrangement for up to five personnel, including the pilot; access to the cabin was provided via a pair of side-hinged doors.[7]The compact cockpit was provided with a dome-shaped windscreen which provided for excellent levels of external visibility.[12]The Alouette II also made innovative use of armaments. It was the first helicopter worldwide to be equipped with anti-tank munitions in the form of theSS.11MCLOSwire-guidedanti-tank missile.[13][3]In addition to anti-tank missiles, theFrench Armychose to arm their Alouette IIs withmachine guns,while theFrench Navyoutfitted theirs withaerial torpedoesto conductanti-submarine warfare(ASW) duties.[4]

Under operational conditions, the Alouette II often proved to be a relatively maintenance-intensive rotorcraft.[14]It required a high level of regular lubrication, the main rotorhead alone featuring 20 grease nipples that had to be re-lubricated after every five flight hours, while the drive shaft for the tail rotor was similarly demanding. Due to its high susceptibility to dust ingestion, some operators would have to remove the Alouette's rectangular sand filters after every landing in order to clean them.[14]

Operational history

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An Alouette II in flight, 2010

On 3 July 1956, prior to even entering civil service, the Alouette II was responsible for breaking new ground when it became the first helicopter to perform amountain rescuemission, having been deployed to evacuate a mountaineer who had suffered from cardiac arrest at over 4,000 m (13,000 ft).[15]On 3 January 1957, the Alouette II was called upon again in order to rescue the crew of a crashedSikorsky S-58,which had been searching for missing mountaineers Jean Vincendon and François Henry onMont Blanc.[1]

On 2 May 1957, following a series of airborne trials, the Alouette II was awarded a French domesticcertificate of airworthiness,which cleared the type to enter service with civil operators.[4]Initial production was allocated to fulfil those orders placed by the French military, as well as by civilian customers. During 1957, the first deliveries of the Alouette II were made to the French Army.[16]Shortly thereafter, large-scale orders for the type were received from several foreign nations, including theUnited Kingdom,Federal Republic of Germany,andAustria.[10]

Almost immediately upon entering service, French forces commenced active combat operations using their fledgling Alouette II fleet; the type being placed into heavy use in theAlgerian War,during which it made valuable contributions to France's activities in the theatre.[17]When used as a troop-transport, up to four fully equipped soldiers could be airlifted at a time. Additionally, a number of Alouette IIs were modified to become what has been argued by some to have been the world's first helicoptergunships;in this capacity, it would have been typically armed withNord Aviation-builtSS.10orSS.11anti-tank missiles.[17]

An SE.3130 Alouette II, formerly V-54 of theSwiss Air Force,now on the UK civil register as G-BVSD. It was built in 1964.

The nation ofRhodesiaemerged as a prolific user of both the Alouette II and its enlarged sibling, the Alouette III.[17]Early operations were flown with an emphasis on its use by theArmyandBritish South Africa Police,includingparamilitaryand aerial reconnaissance operations. Throughout the 1960s, the type progressively spread into additional roles, includingaerial supply,casualty evacuation,communications relays, and troop-transports.[18]Rhodesian aerial operations would typically involve flying under relatively high and hot conditions, which reduced the efficiency of aircraft in general; however, the Alouette II proved to be both hardy and relatively resistant to battle damage.[12]In order to extend the inadequate range of the type, fuel caches were strategically deployed across the country to be used for refuelling purposes.[18]

In order to improve performance, Rhodesia's Alouette II fleet was subject to extensive modifications, including changes to their refuelling apparatus, gun sights, cabin fittings, armouring, and armaments.[19]Over time, theRhodesian Security Forcesdeveloped an innovative deployment tactic of rapidly encircling and enveloping enemies, known as theFireforce,for which the Alouette II served as a core component.[17]The quick-reaction Fireforce battalions were centred atCentenaryandMount Darwin;emphasis was placed on locating both rotorcraft and troops as close to a current or anticipated theatre of operations as would be feasibly possible.[20]

By 1975, at which point production of the type was terminated, in excess of 1,300 Alouette IIs had been constructed. The rotorcraft was also in use in over 80 countries, including 47 separate armed forces.[15]The Alouette II was produced and soldunder licenceby Brazil, Sweden, India and in the United States.[10]While succeeded in some respects by theSA 315B Lama,which was itself a derivative of the Alouette II; the French Army ultimately replaced their Alouette II fleet with a newly developed observation and reconnaissance helicopter in the form of theAérospatiale AS350 Écureuil.[21]

During July 2018, a single Alouette II was involved in thehelicopter prison escapeof the French gangsterRédoine Faïd.The rotorcraft, which had been hijacked by gang members who held the pilot hostage at gunpoint, flew into the courtyard ofRéau prison,before flying toRoissyin the north-eastern suburbs of Paris; the event allegedly occurred in under ten minutes from take-off to escape.[22][23]

Variants

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  • SE 3130 Alouette II– Initial version powered byTurbomeca Artouste IIseries engine rated at 300 kW (400 hp) for takeoff, with maximum weight of 1,500 kg (3,300 lb).[24][25]
  • SE 313B Alouette II– Version of SE 3130 powered by Turbomeca Artouste IIC5 or IIC6 engine rated at 300 kW (400 hp) for takeoff, with maximum weight raised to 1,600 kg (3,500 lb).[24][25]
  • SE 3131 Gouverneur– Refined executive version with enclosed tailboom,[26]which was abandoned in favour of theAlouette III.[27]
  • SE 3140 Alouette II– Proposed version, it was going to be powered by a 298 kW (400 hp)Turbomeca TurmoII engine. None were built.
  • HKP 2 Alouette II–Swedishlicence version of the SE 3130
  • SA 3180 Alouette II Astazou– Version powered byTurbomeca Astazou IIA or IIA2engine rated at 390 kW (523 hp) for takeoff and 353 kW (473 hp) continuous, but restricted to 300 kW (400 hp) by rotor transmission limitations, with maximum weight of 1,500 kg (3,300 lb).[24][25][28]
  • SA 318B Alouette II Astazou– Version of SA 3180 with maximum weight raised to 1,600 kg (3,500 lb).[24][25][28]
  • SA 318C Alouette II Astazou– Version of SA 3180 with maximum weight raised to 1,650 kg (3,650 lb)[24][25][28]
  • SA 315B Lama– designed to meet an Indian armed forces requirement for operation in "hot and high" conditions; it combined the Artouste powerplant and rotor system of the Alouette III with a reinforced Alouette II airframe.
  • Republic Lark:Proposed production in theUnited StatesbyRepublic Aircraft,powered by a 600 shp (447 kW)AiResearch TSE-331-7[29]turboshaft.

Operators

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Tunisia
Turkey

Former operators

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Austria
Belgium
Benin
Brazil
Biafra
Cambodia
Cameroon
SE 3130 Alouette II in its former French markings
Central African Republic
Republic of the Congo
Djibouti
Dominican Republic
France
An Aérospatiale SE 3130 Alouette II of the German Army
Germany
Guinea-Bissau
Indonesia
Israel
Ivory Coast
Katanga
Khmer Republic
Laos
A SAAF Alouette II
Lebanon
Madagascar
Mexico
Netherlands
Peru
Portugal
Rhodesia
Romania
Senegal
British Army Air Corps Alouette II
South Africa
Spain
Sweden
Switzerland
Turkey
United Kingdom
Zimbabwe

Specifications (SE 313B Alouette II)

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Orthographically projected diagram of the Aérospatiale Alouette II
Closeup of an SA 318C Alouette II Astazou'sTurbomeca Astazou IIAturboshaftengine

Data fromJane's All The World's Aircraft 1966–67[2]

General characteristics

  • Crew:1
  • Capacity:4 passengers
  • Length:9.66 m (31 ft 8 in) (overall, blades folded)
  • Height:2.75 m (9 ft 0 in)
  • Empty weight:895 kg (1,973 lb)
  • Max takeoff weight:1,600 kg (3,527 lb)
  • Fuel capacity:580 L (150 US gal; 130 imp gal)
  • Powerplant:1 ×Turbomeca Artouste IIC6turboshaft,400 kW (530 shp) derated to 269 kW (360 hp)
  • Main rotor diameter:10.20 m (33 ft 6 in)
  • Main rotor area:81.7 m2(879 sq ft)

Performance

  • Maximum speed:185 km/h (115 mph, 100 kn) at sea level
  • Cruise speed:170 km/h (110 mph, 92 kn)
  • Range:565 km (351 mi, 305 nmi) (with maximum fuel)
  • Endurance:4.1 hours
  • Service ceiling:2,300 m (7,500 ft)
  • Rate of climb:4.2 m/s (820 ft/min)

See also

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Wikimedia Commons has media related toAérospatiale Alouette II.

Related development

Related lists

References

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Citations

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  2. ^abTaylor 1966, p. 61.
  3. ^abBoyne 2011, p. 74.
  4. ^abcdMcGowen 2005, p. 74.
  5. ^"FAI Record ID #9876 – Altitude without payload. Class E-1 (Helicopters), turbineArchived17 December 2014 at theWayback Machine"Fédération Aéronautique Internationale(FAI).Retrieved: 21 September 2014.
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  7. ^abcdefFlight8 July 1955, p. 54.
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Bibliography

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