File:Sud SA.318C Alouette II ‘A41’.jpg

English: c/n 1958

Built 1967 for the Belgian Army where she flew with the serial A41 and the callsign OT-ACB. She joined the museum in 2008. The Helicopter Museum Weston-super-Mare, North Somerset, UK 2nd October 2020

The following information is from The Helicopter Museum website:-

“Originally developed as a four seat piston-engined helicopter, the Alouette 1 first flew in 1953 but was soon completely redesigned to take advantage of the new turboshaft engine. Pioneered by Joseph Szydlowski, founder of the French company Turbomeca, his new 360shp Artouste engine took advantage of the jet engine principle, adding a shaft to the basic concept to drive the helicopter rotor system. As the SE130 Alouette 2, the new helicopter first flew on 12 of March 1955 and in 1956 became the first turbine-powered helicopter in the world to enter production. Almost immediately one of the first aircraft carried out the world's first high altitude mountain resuce, evacuating the victim of a heat attack from a 4,000m high plateau in the French Alps on 3rd July 1956 The extra performance available revolutionised the use of the helicopter, particularly in hot countries and mountainous regions and versions of the Alouette 2 were soon setting world records, including an initial altitude record in 1958 of 10,984m (36,131ft). In 1972 one variant, the SA315B Lama, established a new aboslute altitude record for helicopters of 12,442m (40,820ft) on 21st June 1972. The official record still stands today In 1961 the SA3180 (later SA318C) variant was introduced with the more powerful Astazou engine and the type continued to be manufactured until 1975. 1324 Alouette 2s were built over the 20 years it was in production.

The aircraft on display is an SA318C, built in 1967 and previously operated by the Belgian Army in the reconnaissance, communications, medivac and training role. It was delivered to the Museum on 19th February 2008.