TheSNCASE SE.3120Alouette( "Lark" ) was autility helicopterdeveloped inFrancein the early 1950s but which did not enter production. Designed in parallel with theSE.3110,the Alouette shared that machine's dynamic components, with the exception of the SE.3110's unusual twintail rotor,which was replaced by a single rotor, and the addition of a three-bladed gyroscopic stabiliser under the main rotor (similar to the stabiliser bar used byBellhelicopters. The Alouette featured an open-frameworkfuselagebehind acockpitthat was enclosed by abubble canopy.Skidundercarriageandtricycle gearwere both tested.[1]
| SE.3120 Alouette | |
|---|---|
| General information | |
| Type | Utility helicopter |
| National origin | France |
| Manufacturer | SNCASE |
| Status | Prototypes only |
| Number built | 2 |
| History | |
| First flight | 31 July 1951 |
The first flight took place on 31 July 1951 atBuc, Yvelineswith test pilot Henri Stakenburg at the controls.[2]On 2 July 1953,Jean Bouletflew one of the two prototype Alouettes to a world closed-circuit distance record for ahelicopterin this class, covering 1,252 km (778 mi) in 13 hours and 56 minutes.[2][3]Despite this impressive performance, the Alouette proved to be difficult to maintain, with its obsolete Salmson engine not being powerful enough, and with work on theturbine-poweredAlouette II(an unrelated design) already underway, development of the Alouette was soon abandoned.[2]
Specifications
editData fromJane's All The World's Aircraft 1953–54[3]
General characteristics
- Crew:1
- Capacity:2 passengers
- Length:10.45 m (34 ft 3 in)
- Height:2.90 m (9 ft 6 in)
- Empty weight:750 kg (1,653 lb)
- Gross weight:1,250 kg (2,756 lb)
- Powerplant:1 ×Salmson 9NH9-cylinder air-cooledradial engine,150 kW (200 hp)
- Main rotor diameter:11.60 m (38 ft 1 in)
- Main rotor area:105.7 m2(1,138 sq ft)
Performance
- Maximum speed:201 km/h (125 mph, 109 kn)
- Endurance:21⁄4hr
- Service ceiling:4,000 m (13,000 ft)
- Rate of climb:4.50 m/s (885 ft/min)
References
edit- ^de Narbonne 2011,pp. 78–79
- ^abcde Narbonne 2011,p. 79
- ^abBridgman 1953,p. 151
- Bridgman, Leonard(1953).Jane's All the World's Aircraft 1953–54.London: Jane's All the World's Aircraft Publishing Co. Ltd.
- de Narbonne, Roland (July 2011). "Juillet 1951, dans l'aéronautique française: Une alouette...fait quelque fois le printemps".Le Fana de l'Aviation(in French). No. 504. pp. 74–79.