Sud Aviation SA-316 Alouette III

utility helicopter family by Sud Aviation

The Sud Aviation SA-316 Alouette III is a French helicopter built between 1961 and 1985 by Sud Aviation and later by Aérospatiale. It is a modernized variant of Alouette II helicopter. Alouette III was built for civil and military users for light liaison duties, light transport, search and rescue, and sometimes for air attack.

Sud Aviation SA-316 Alouette III
Alouette III of the French Sécurité Civile.
Role Helicopter
National origin France
Manufacturer Sud Aviation.
First flight february 1959
Introduction 1961
Status Active
Primary user French Army
Number built 1453

The most famous users were Indian Air Force, French Gendarmerie, and French Sécurité Civile. Some were used by Ireland air force.

Bibliography change

  • Jackson, Robert, Helicopters: Military, Civilian, and Rescue Rotorcraft (The Aviation Factfile). London: Grange Books Ltd, 2005. ISBN 1-84013-812-2.
  • Boulay, Pierre, Les hélicoptères français, Paris, France : Larivière éditions, 1998. ISBN 2-907051-17-2