Aerospatiale Gazelle Light Multi-Purpose Helicopter (1971)
The multi-purpose Gazelle has found a home in domestic and export markets.
The Gazelle was designed as the successor and ultimate replacement of the Aerospatiale Alouette II series, also seeing quite the commercial export successes in the same roles. The Gazelle family was born from a joint production effort involving Westland (a British helo firm) and Sud Aviation (the French-based helo aviation firm). From there, varying models of mission-specific types were produced as needed for the British Army, Royal Navy and French Army among other civilian and export entities.
The base Gazelle design incorporated a rigid main rotor head along with composite rotor blades. Besides the excellent visibility all-glass canopy, the most identifiable feature in the series is the shrouded tail fan rotor, which in itself was a revolutionary piece of engineering for helicopter usage.
The French SA 342M model series is capable of arming itself with HOT anti-armor missiles for the anti-tank role. Other Gazelles, known as SA 342M ATAMs, were also converted to fire the Mistral air-to-air missiles to counter any aircraft threats. Over forty countries bought into the lightweight export-friendly helicopter series, ensuring its use would continue for many decades to come. Though far from being counted on as the newer more modern combat helicopters, the Gazelle series still finds a role to play on the battlefield. Text ©2003-2013 www.MilitaryFactory.com • All Rights Reserved • No Reproduction Permitted
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Specifications for the
Aerospatiale Gazelle
Light Multi-Purpose Helicopter
Country of Origin: France
Manufacturer: Aerospatiale - France / Westand - Britain
Initial Year of Service: 1971
Production: 1,500
Focus Model: SA 342L Gazelle
Crew: 2 + 3
Length: 31.27ft (9.53m)
Width: 0.00ft (0.00m)
Height: 10.43ft (3.18m)
Weight (Empty): 2,202lbs (999kg)
Weight (MTOW): 4,409lbs (2,000kg)
Powerplant: 1 x Turbomeca XIVM turboshaft engine delivering 640kW driving three blade main rotor and Fenestron shrouded tail rotor.
Maximum Speed: 165mph (265kmh; 143kts)
Maximum Range: 441miles (710km)
Service Ceiling: 1,532ft (467m; 0.3miles)
Rate-of-Climb: 2,400 feet per minute (732m/min)
Hardpoints: 2 (with wing stubs)
Armament Suite:
Mission specific armament includes:
2 x Rocket Pods
4 or 6 x HOT anti-tank missiles
Mistal air-to-air missiles
Reconnaissance Pods
2 x 7.62mm machine guns
1 x 20mm Giat Cannon (starboard side)
2 x Surface-to-Air Missiles of Various makes.
Variants:
SA 340-01 - Prototype Designation
SA 341 - Second Protoype Designation; Larger cabin; Composite blades.
SA 341B Gazelle AH.1 - Initial Production Models (British Army).
SA 341C Gazelle HT.2 - Initial Production Models (British Navy).
SA 341D Gazelle HT.3 - Trainer Variant
SA 341E Gazelle HCC.4 - Transport model for the Royal Air Force.
SA 341F - French Army Model
SA 341G - Civilian Variant
SA 341H - Military Export Model
SA 342J - Civilian Model
SA 342K - Military Export Model
SA 342L - Final Export Military Model
SA 342M - Final French Army Production Variant; Fitted with Astral AAMs.
Soko H-42 - Yugoslav-produced variant of SA 341H model.
Soko H-45 - Yugoslav-produced variant of the SA 342L model.
AH.Mk 1
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