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Westland GAZELLE AH.1
Image: MARK J. CAIRNS
Westland Gazelle AH.1 XZ332 is a British-built SA341B, part of the Army Air Corps' fleet that supported internal security operations in Northern Ireland from the mid-1970s.
The Gazelle helicopter's compact size, fenestron tail and quick acceleration made it an efficient scout and liaison helicopter in tight landing sites and poor weather.
XZ332 was built in 1977 (c/n 1661) for the British Army, later moving to instructional duties by 2011 before joining the Ulster Aviation Society’s Heritage collection of 'Troubles'-era helicopters.
Image: MARK J. CAIRNS
The Gazelle Helicopter in brief
The SA341B / Gazelle AH.1 combined a five-seat cabin with a single Turbomeca Astazou IIIN2 engine and a shrouded tail rotor (fenestron).
British service began in 1974 after Westland production at Yeovil.
The Army used the AH.1 for reconnaissance, liaison, route checks, convoy overwatch and, when required, as a rapid courier for personnel and equipment.
The type’s low noise signature, visibility and handling suited short-leg flying between fortified posts and ad-hoc pads.
How Gazelle Helicopters were used in N. Ireland
During the Troubles in Northern Ireland, British Army Gazelle helicopters were not typically armed. Their primary roles were:
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Observation and Surveillance: Gazelles were used as "eyes in the sky" for ground patrols, providing a vantage point to spot ambushes, monitor movement, and direct troops. Their agility and good visibility from the cockpit made them excellent for this.
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Airborne Forward Air Control (FAC): They could be used to direct the actions of ground troops or other aircraft.
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Liaison and Transport: They were also used for moving personnel and equipment, especially in areas where roads were vulnerable to ambushes and roadside bombs.
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Casualty Evacuation (CASEVAC): While not their primary role, they could be used to quickly extract wounded soldiers from a difficult location.
They were frequent companions to Lynx or Puma helicopters—either flying ahead to check the route and pad, or orbiting during approach and departure.
Threats and NI Adaptations
Crews varied timing, height and routing to reduce predictability.
Troubles-specific fit-outs typically included:
• Nightsun Searchlight
• Navigation Aids
• Door-mount for a GPMG machine-gun when required.
In tight compounds the Gazelle’s small footprint allowed landings where larger types could not; elsewhere it acted as an airborne lookout during underslung load work and casualty extraction.
All helicopters flying in Ulster during the Troubles were considered consistent and legitimate targets from terrorist groups of the time.
Gazelles took small-arms fire and, on occasion, heavier fire during approach and hover.
Incidents drove changes to approach profiles, deconfliction, and defensive equipment.
XZ332 — Service Notes and Timeline
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1974 — Gazelle AH.1 enters British Army service
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1977 — XZ332 built (c/n 1661)
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1988 — Appears at Bournemouth Air Show
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1996 — Displayed at Middle Wallop
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2011 — To SEME Arborfield as ground-instructional
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2023 — Added to UAS' helicopter collection
The Ulster Aviation Society received the aircraft in February 2024 along with the Lynx, nick-named "Damien".
Hollywood Fun Fact!
The Aérospatiale SA-341G variant of the Gazelle served as the basis for the futuristic "Blue Thunder" super helicopter, a star in its own right for both the 1983 film starring Roy Scheider and subsequent, short-lived TV series of the same name, starring James Farentino and Dan Carvey.
Manufacturer: Westland
Model: Gazelle AH.1 SA 341B
Registration: XZ332
UAS Location: Hangar 1
Operating Life: 1974-2011
Maximum Speed: 190mph
Cruise Speed: 164mph
Engine: Turbomeca Astazou IIIN2
Service Ceiling: 16,000ft
Length & Height: 11.97m x 3.15m
Rotor Diameter: 10.5m
Range: 224 miles
Fuel Capacity: 162 Gallons
Empty Weight: 917Kg
Max Take-Off Weight: 1.8T
Special Equipment: Night Sun Searchlight, Radio location via ARC 340 radio, 68mm SNEB Rockets.
Served with: British Army
The entire fuselage was covered in a mock-up armour plating, two engine nacelles added, tail-boom ribbing, chin-mounted 20mm Gatling Gun, and side-mounted surveillance pods with microphones, cameras and Nightsun-like spotlights (similar to the Northern Ireland Gazelle helicopters), shortened landing skids, and fictional stealth capability called "Whisper Mode".
The Gazelle’s sleek design and agility made it the perfect choice to be transformed into the iconic, heavily-armed machine, albeit with a new angular cockpit.