IMFO
Originally developed as a replacement to Aérospatiale's Alouette helicopter, some aspects of the Gazelle such as its purpose and layout were based on the previous model. The Gazelle featured several important innovations. It was the first helicopter with a fenestron or fantail; this is a shrouded multi-blade anti-torque device housed in the vertical surface of the Gazelle's tail, where it replaces a conventional tail rotor. The fenestron, while requiring a small increase in power at slow speeds, has advantages such as being considerably less vulnerable to damage, safer for people working around the helicopter and with low power requirements at cruising speeds, and has been described as "far more suitable for high-speed flight".
General characteristics
Crew 1
Passengers 4
Propulsion 1 Turboshaft Engine
Engine Model Turbomeca Astazou XIVM
Engine Power 858 shp
Speed 280 km/h 151 kts 174 mph
Service Ceiling 4.100 m 13.450 ft
Range 650 km 351 NM 404 mi.
Empty Weight 1.000 kg 2.204 lbs
max. Takeoff Weight 2.000 kg 4.409 lbs
Rotor Blades (main/tail) 3/Fenestron
Main Rotor Diameter 10,50 m 34 ft 5 in
Tail Rotor Diameter 0,70 m 2 ft 4 in
Length (Fuselage) 9,53 m 31 ft 3 in
Length 11,97 m 39 ft 3 in
Height 3,19 m 10 ft 6 in
First Flight 07.04.1967
Production Status out of production
Total Production ca. 700
MORE INFO
The Aérospatiale Gazelle (company designations SA 340, SA 341 and SA 342) is a French five-seat helicopter, commonly used for light transport, scouting and light attack duties. It is powered by a single Turbomeca Astazou turbine engine and was the first helicopter to feature a fenestron tail instead of a conventional tail rotor. It was designed by Sud Aviation, later Aérospatiale, and manufactured in France and the United Kingdom through a joint production agreement with Westland Aircraft. Further manufacturing under license was performed by SOKO in Yugoslavia and the Arab British Helicopter Company (ABHCO) in Egypt. Since being introduced to service in 1973, the Gazelle has been procured and operated by a number of export customers. It has also participated in numerous conflicts around the world, including by Syria during the 1982 Lebanon War, by Rwanda during the Rwandan Civil War in the 1990s, and by numerous participants on both sides of the 1991 Gulf War. In French service, the Gazelle has been supplemented as an attack helicopter by the larger Eurocopter Tiger, but remains in use primarily as a scout helicopter.
Latest News
- Hey man, could you re-upload this to include the little bounce that happened on the skids when the pilot landed, curious how much they flex. Cheer
-Just checked my AAC log book and found this aircraft (XZ329) is the very first entry! 😄 It was being used as a trainer at Middle Wallop UK. This was my first flight as a trainee AAC Observer and was piloted by Sgt (possibly SSgt) Clement on 3rd April 1985 as a famil flight. Great aircraft!
- XZ329 was first flown on 24 June 1977 and flown from the Westland Helicopters factory at Yeovil, Somerset to RNAY Wroughton, Wiltshire for short term storage, before on 8 August 1977 it was ferried to the Westland Helicopters factory at Weston, Somerset for modification works.
On 12 September 1977 it was again sent to RNAY Wroughton for short term storage. In December 1977 it finally made it into service with 664 squadron Army Air Corps at AAC Aldergrove, then with 656 squadron based at Farnborough, Hampshire which was deployed on operation AGILA in Rhodesia during 1979-1980.
After 1982 it was based at the AAC centre at Middle Wallop, Hampshire where it was used by a range of squadrons, however we are unsure of the exact assignments.
It was assigned to Middle Wallop until it was sent to RAF Shawbury, Shropshire for long term storage after being deemed surplus to requirement on 30 January 1998.
- This bought back some bitter-sweet memories. A friend of mine, now sadly deceased, owned an ex-Army Gazelle. It came with an extensive history log, right from delivery, all flights, all work carried out, etc. I don't know whether he was bluffing, but he always said it was illegal for him to take passengers unless they were recorded as ground crew or flight engineers. I certainly miss flying in the old rocket bubble!
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