Author and Aviator
Links
Squadron badge
Heeresflieger
Staffel 10
Flying the Alouette II was, without doubt, the most fun I had in my aviation career. In addition to just being a wonderful helicopter, contributing to this statement are factors such as being young and carefree, and that the aircraft was generally flown without a co-pilot. At times, I could forget that I was in uniform and rather thought I joined an aero club.
Mind you, this is also the danger time, with overconfidence rampant amongst the “fearless and unbreakable” pilots. Well, I survived this period without accident.
Alouette II
Powerplant:Turbomeca Artouste IIC turbine, with 402 shp (shaft horsepower)],
Performance: pilot and 4 passengers up to 560 km, cruises at 90 kts (165 km/h)
Weight and dimensions:Empty weight 895 kg, takeoff weight 1650 kg. Main rotor 10.20 m, length 9.70 m, width 2.08 m, height 2.75 m.
- Role: Light helicopter
- Manufacturer: Sud Aviation/Aérospatiale
- First flight: 1955-03-12
- Introduced: 1957-05-02
- Primary users: France
- Germany
- Produced: 1956-1975
- Number built: 1300+
- Variants: Aérospatiale Alouette III
- Aérospatiale Lama