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ALOUETTE III
Image: MARK J. CAIRNS
History of the Alouette III helicopter
The SA316 Alouette III is a single-engine, light utility helicopter developed by Sud Aviation and later manufactured by Aérospatiale of France.
A successor to the Alouette II being larger and having more seating, it was originally powered by a Turbomeca Artouste IIIB turboshaft engine.
Recognised for its mountain rescue capabilities and adaptability, the first version the SE 3160 prototype flew on 28 February 1959.
Production of the SA 316A began in 1961 and the type remained in production until the early 1980's when the main production line in France was closed down.
However, HAL of India continues to licence-build Alouette IIIs as the Chetak. Versions of the Alouette III were also either licence-built or assembled by IAR in Romania (as the IAR 316), F+W Emmen in Switzerland, and by Fokker and Lichtwerk in the Netherlands.
In June 2004, the Alouette III was retired from the French Air Force after 32 years of successful service. In the same year, the Swiss Armed Forces announced the retirement of the Alouette III, from the front line by 2006, and entirely by 2010. Venezuelan Air forces retired their Alouette IIIs in the late 90s.
At Baldonnel on 21 September 2007 the Alouette III was retired from the Irish Air Corps. During 44 years of successful service, the fleet amassed over 77,000 flying hours. As well as routine military missions, the aircraft undertook some 1,717 Search and Rescue Missions, saving 542 lives and flew a further 2,882 Air Ambulance flights.
Image: MARK J. CAIRNS
History of the UAS’ Alouette Helicopter 202
Alouette III “202” joined the Heli Flight of the Irish Air Corps on the 24th March 1972 after her delivery flight from Marignane, France. During an operational life spanning over two decades, tasking was destined to include such missions as search & rescue, air ambulance, military support operations and VIP flights.
202’s flying career came to an abrupt end on the 20th October 1995, after ditching in the county Donegal lake of Lough Eske, whilst on a joint army and police search operation for a missing man, and interrupting a wedding being photograph at the end of the dock.
Fortunately, her crew scrambled clear and #202 was subsequently recovered. During her 23 years of service #202 logged 7152 flying hours.
It was decided not to return #202 to flight and she was transferred to the Engineering Wing of the Irish Air Corps as an instructional airframe on the 12th January 1996.
When the Alouette III fleet was being retired, enquiries were made regarding the potential acquisition of an example for the collection.
#202 was refurbished and repainted by Air Corps volunteers before it was presented to the Ulster Aviation Society by the Irish Government in a ceremony held in the Irish Air Corps main base at Baldonnel, on the 27th May 2009.
UAS Restoration Team on the Alouette
UAS Volunteers who have worked on Alouette 202's restoration over the years, with the team led by David Mellon, include Leonard Craig, John Dunphy and Alan Moller.