Arms and Armour

Aérospatiale Gazelle

The Aérospatiale Gazelle (company designations SA 340, SA 341 and SA 342) is a five-seat helicopter developed and initially produced by the French aircraft company Sud Aviation, and later by Aérospatiale. It is the first helicopter to feature a fenestron tail instead of a conventional tail rotor, as well as being the first helicopter to be adapted for single-pilot operations under instrument flight rules. The Gazelle was developed during the 1960s as a successor to the Alouette II as well as to meet a French Army requirement for a new lightweight observation helicopter. The Gazelle is considerably larger than the preceding Alouette series, yet is still powered by a single Turbomeca Astazou turbine engine. Innovations in the design of the Gazelle, aside from the fenestron, included an emphasis on minimal maintenance requirements, the use of a articulated rotor system, (feather, drag and pitch hinges), and rotor blades manufactured with composite materials. The rotor blades took a considerable amount of time to develop. In February 1967, France and the United Kingdom inked a cooperation agreement, which would see Westland Aircraft produce the Gazelle on British soil and partner with Sud Aviation on future refinements and upgrades to the Gazelle. On 7 April 1967, the Gazelle performed its maiden flight. The first operational Gazelles were introduced in 1971. Initially, manufacturing lines for the type were established in both France and Britain, but later on, it was also manufactured under license by SOKO in Yugoslavia and the Arab British Helicopter Company (ABHCO) in Egypt. Multiple armed variants, oriented towards roles such as anti-tank gunship (SA 342M), light support (SA 341F), and anti-air variants were promptly produced for various branches of the French armed forces. The Gazelle was flown by all branches of the British armed forces—the Royal Air Force, Royal Navy (including in support of the Royal Marines) and the British Army in a variety of roles. The Gazelle has been procured and operated by a wide range of export customers.

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See also

• ▸Feraklos Castle
• ▸Ballerina skirt
• ▸Elizabeth Fort

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