Today in Aviation History: First Flight of the Aérospatiale Alouette II

On March 12, 1955, the Aérospatiale Alouette II made aviation history as the first helicopter powered by a gas turbine engine.

Austin Hancock
Austin Hancock
An SE.3130 Alouette II (ex-Swiss Air Force). Image via Wikipedia
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On this day in aviation history, March 12, 1955, the Aérospatiale Alouette II took to the skies for the first time. Designed by the French aerospace firm Aérospatiale, the SE 313/318 Alouette II made history as the world’s first helicopter powered by a gas turbine engine rather than a conventional piston powerplant. Though classified as a light helicopter, its impact in both military and civilian aviation has been anything but small.

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Sud Aviation SE.3130 Alouette II – ZU-ALO; Private operator in South Africa. Image via  Wikipedia

Originally developed for military applications, the Alouette II was designed for roles such as observation, reconnaissance, liaison, search and rescue, and pilot training. While the aircraft was capable of carrying anti-tank missiles and homing torpedoes, it was never used in a dedicated attack role. In civilian aviation, the Alouette II proved highly versatile, excelling in medical evacuation missions by transporting patients on externally mounted stretchers. It also became a mainstay in agricultural aviation as an effective crop duster and demonstrated impressive capability as a flying crane, able to lift up to 1,100 pounds in an underslung load.

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A West German Alouette II Astazou patrolling the border with East Germany, 1985. Image via Wikipedia

The SE 313/318 is crewed by a single pilot and can carry up to four passengers. It is powered by a Turbomeca Artouste IIC6 turboshaft engine, producing 530 shaft horsepower. With a maximum speed of 115 mph and a range of 351 miles, the helicopter can remain airborne for approximately 4.1 hours before requiring refueling. Produced between 1956 and 1975, the Alouette II remains in operation today. Both the Turkish and Tunisian Air Forces continue to employ the type, while numerous examples remain in civilian hands, serving in roles ranging from sightseeing and personal transport to construction and aerial work.

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Closeup of an SA 318C Alouette II Astazou’s Turbomeca Astazou IIA turboshaft engine. Image via Wikipedia

More than six decades after its first flight, the Alouette II endures as a testament to French aeronautical innovation, proving that a well-designed aircraft can transcend generations and continue to serve in diverse roles across the globe.

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An SE.3130 Alouette II, formerly V-54 of the Swiss Air Force, now on the UK civil register as G-BVSD. It was built in 1964. Image via Wikipedia
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Commercial Pilot, CFI, and Museum Entrepreneur, with a subject focus on WWII Aviation. I am dedicated to building flight experience so I can fly WWII Fighters, such as the P-51 Mustang, for museums and airshows, and in the USAF Heritage Flight. I lead and run the Pennington Flight Memorial, to honor local MIA Tuskegee Airman F/O Leland “Sticky” Pennington.
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