SNCASE SE.3130



 Medical helicopter


History

After some unfruitful tests with, the SNCASE, the shortly after WW2, develops two helicopters, the SE.3110, the SE.3110 first flown by Jacques Lecarme on June 10, 1950 and the SE.3120 first flew by Jean Boulet on July 31, 1951. This helicopter been driven by a piston engine Salmson 9NH of 203 CH allocated two records in closed loop (speed at 103,913 km/h and distance with 1252,572 km). Charles Marchetti, head of the SNCASE helicopters engineering and design department, then conscious of the problems arising from the piston engine (weight, power and encombrement), had the brilliant idea to test for the 1st time in France a turboshaft on a helicopter. It was envisaged to transform the SE.3120, called officially Alouette I, to carry out this project. Charles Marchetti decided whereas it was necessary to create a new helicopter around the engine. Thus was born Alouette II.
Of simple design with a tubular frame (inflated with nitrogen to detect the splits thanks to an indicator in end of tail), the aircraft can transport 5 people. Motorized by Artouste II, which mechanically actuates the main rotor and tail rotor, the SE.3130-01 registered F-WHHE, first flew in Buc airfield on March 12, 1955, by J. Boulet and Henri Petit. Undeniable qualities of Alouette II gave the idea to the engineers to try to beat a record. It was done on June 6, 1955, in Buc, with the 02 flyed by J Boulet which took along the aircraft to 8209 m, thus beating the record of altitude, E1b category, held so far by an American helicopter, also moved by a a french 'Artouste II' tuboshaft, the Sikorsky S-59 (XH-39) which had reached 7472 m on October 17, 1954.
Initial flight of 1st production Alouette II take place on April 24, 1954.
January 31, 1961, Sud-Aviation made take-off a remotorized version , SA.318C Alouette II Astazou and powered by a Turboméca Astazou IIA turboshaft of 530 CH.

Production

Alouette II, Both 3130 and 318 series, was delivered by Sud-Aviation/Aérospatiale to 1305 specimens distributed as follows:
- SE 3130 : 134 civil and 789 military.
- SA 318C : 208 civil and 174 military.
It was also produced under licence by Saab, in Sweden, with 2 specimens and by Republic Aviation in the United States with 20 built aircrafts.
Production taken end in spring 1975 with the last SA.318C.

Export

Alouette II was acquired by 126 civil and military customers in 46 countries of the world, in particular in Africa and South America and with taken part in local conflicts as in Namibia and Angola.

Career

The aircraft was by all French Armed Forces (Armée de l'Air, de Terre and Marine) like by the Gendarmerie and Sécurité Civile.
The operational career of Alouette II in French Armed Forces ends, for the SE.3130 Artouste, in December 1997 in the Marine, whereas some SA.318C Astazou still fly within the ALAT.
Some private users still fly Alouette II, like SE.3130 F-GIJJ in Villeneuve-sur-Lot.

Technical features
Length	9,75 m
Height	2,75 m
Main rotor diameter	10,20 m
Tail rotor diameter	1,81 m
Main rotor area	81,70 m2
Empty weight	895 kg
Gross weight	1600 kg
Max speed	185 km/h at sea level
Climb speed	252 m/mn at sea level
Ceiling	2150 m
Range	565 km at sea level
Turboshaft	1 Turboméca Artouste II of 530 ch

CAEA's specimen

CAEA's Alouette II is a SE.3130 and carries the n 182. It comes out of factory on January 7, 1958 and first flew two days later. Then, it's assigned to Armée de l'Air on January 16, 1958. After many assignments, in particular in COTAM in Cayenne and Pointe-à-Pitre, it finishes his career in the CIEH in Toulouse BA 101 for static exposure on June 26, 1995 with 7106 flight hours. A local team undertakes her restoration then and preserves in a state like " sortie d'usine ", only some parts miss tomake it fly. Then still any young person with his 40 springs, it integrates our collection (in 1998). Visible in the hangar

Lutin 80

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Alouette III