On February 28, 1959, Sud-Aviation tested a SE 3180 Alouette III prototype. Modified with a more powerful 550-horsepower engine and stronger gearboxes and transmission, the SE 3160 (SE 316A, and later SA 318) went into production in 1960. Some twenty versions of this helicopter, the last versions with a Turbomeca Astazou 870-horsepower engine, remained in production until 1975. Like its predecessor, the Alouette III succeeded in both military and civilian roles, especially as a crop sprayer. When production of the aircraft ended in 1983, seventy-four countries operated 1,455 Alouette IIIs.
The popular Alouette III is an enlarged development of the Alouette II series and remains in widespread service worldwide.
Like the Alouette II, the Alouette III traces its development back to the Sud-Est SE 3101 piston powered prototypes, the first of which flew for the first time on July 31 1951. The largest member of the Alouette series, the III flew as the SE 3160 on February 28 1959. Compared with the Alouette II, the Alouette III is larger and seats seven, but in its initial SA 316A form is also powered by a Turboméca Artouste turboshaft.
This SA 316A Alouette III remained in production for almost a decade until 1969, when it was replaced by the improved SA 316B, with strengthened transmission and a greater max takeoff weight, but the same Artouste III turboshaft.
Further development led to the SA 319 Alouette III Astazou, which as its name suggests is powered by a 450kW (600shp) Turboméca Astazou XIV turboshaft. The more powerful Astazou engine conferred better hot and high performance and improved fuel economy.
The SA 319 entered production in 1968. The SA 319 and SA 316B remained in production side by side through the 1970s and into the 1980s. HAL of India continues to licence build Alouette Ills as the Chetak, mainly for that country’s military, while similarly 230 were built by ICA-Brasov in Romania through to 1989. The Romanians also developed a two seat anti-tank attack helicopter based on the Alouette as the IAR-317 Skyfox, but this aircraft flew in prototype form only.
Country of origin: France
Crew: 1 pilot
Rotor diameter: 36 ft. 2 in.
Length: 42 ft. 1 in.
Armament: Some versions with 7.62- mm machine guns and at least one variant with a single 20-mm cannon.
Provisions for carrying four AS-11 or two AS-12 antitank missiles.
Powerplant: 319B 870-horsepower Turbomeca; 319 Astazou XIV turboshaft
Airspeed: SA 316B cruise 115 knots and SA 319B cruise 120 mph
Range: 290 nautical miles
Cargo capacity: Up to 6 passengers, or 1,650-pound slingload
Notes: First flew in 1959 as SE 3160; later production aircraft designated SA 316B. Larger cabin, more powerful engine, and greater performance than Alouette II. Some 1,455 Alouette IIIs, of all versions, delivered to more than seventy countries when production ceased in 1985. Built under license in India, Switzerland, and still in production in Romania.
