March 12 Marks the 70th Anniversary of the Alouette II

March 12 Marks the 70th Anniversary of the Alouette II, the World’s First Mass-Produced Turbine-Powered Helicopter

On this day in 1955, the prototype of the multi-purpose Alouette II helicopter took its maiden flight. Developed by the French company Societe nationale des constructions aeronautiques du Sud-Est (SNCASE), the Alouette II became the world’s first mass-produced helicopter equipped with a gas-turbine powerplant. In 1957, SNCASE merged into the Sud-Aviation corporation, which later became part of SNIAS in 1970. Following another restructuring in 1985, the company was renamed Societe Nationale Industrielle Aerospatiale, commonly known as Aerospatiale.

The helicopter was designed with the principle of “nothing excessive,” featuring a simple truss structure and an aerodynamically shaped cockpit with extensive glazing, ensuring excellent visibility. Testing and refinements were relatively brief, and by 1957, large-scale production had commenced, continuing until the spring of 1975. In total, over 1,350 units were built across 12 main variants. Additionally, a version adapted for mountainous conditions, named the SA.315 Lama, was produced in France until 1991. Licensed production also took place in India and Brazil, bringing the total number of units built to 1,450.

The production model SE.313B Alouette II was powered by a single Turbomeca Artouste IIC6 turboshaft engine, delivering a maximum output of 530 horsepower. The helicopter had a length of 9.66 meters, a rotor diameter of 10.20 meters, and a maximum takeoff weight of 1,600 kg. It could accommodate one pilot and four passengers, reach a top speed of 185 km/h, and cover distances of over 560 km.

The Alouette II family of helicopters earned a reputation for being highly reliable and easy to maintain, making them widely popular worldwide. At least 120 civilian and military operators from 46 countries acquired these helicopters, including Austria, Angola, Argentina, Afghanistan, the United Kingdom, India, Indonesia, Germany, South Africa, the United States, and Switzerland.

The Alouette II proved to be incredibly versatile, used for various operations, including maritime and land-based monitoring, passenger transport, mountain rescue, police operations, and military or special missions. Many of these helicopters remain in service across different countries to this day.