Sud-Est/Aérospatiale SE.3160 Alouette III
In service for over half a century, the Alouette III is a single-engine, light utility helicopter designed for simplicity, ruggedness, and efficiency. The prototype SE.3160 first flew at Bourget airport near Paris on Feb. 28, 1959. It was piloted by famed French test pilot Jean Boulet and flight test engineer Robert Malus. A second prototype landed on Mont-Blanc at 4,810 m (15,780 ft) in June 1960, then accomplished rotations at higher than 6,000 m (19,700 ft) in the Himalayas in November 1960 with two passengers, a publicity stunt which attracted international attention.
All variants of the Alouette (meaning “lark”) were well-known for their exceptional high-altitude performance.
The Portuguese Air Force operated the SE.3160 (later renamed the Sud Aviation SA.316) from 1963 to 2019. Originally, 142 helicopters were purchased to replace the Alouette II and were used for tactical transport, medical evacuation, flight training, and combat air support missions.
The Rotores de Portugal (Rotors of Portugal) is Portugal’s national helicopter flight demonstration team created in 1976 and operated by Esquadra 552 (Squadron 552) of the Portuguese Air Force out of Beja Air Base, Portugal, with three Alouette IIIs.
The Alouette III has seen service in every corner of the world, having flown in military forces of over 70 countries and with many civilian operators. It was marketed and sold in the United States by LTV Aerospace Corp.’s Vought Helicopter division. Around 2,000 examples have been built in France, Switzerland, Romania and India.
Description: Ken Bartie
Photo credits: Contando Estrelas, Airbus
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2021 History Calendar Index