Aerospatiale Gazelle
| SA 341/SA 342 Gazelle | |
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| Gazelle SA 342M of the French Army's Light Aviation (ALAT), Army's Helicopters Squadron (EHADT) | |
| Role | Utility helicopter / Armed helicopter |
| National origin | France |
| Manufacturer | Sud Aviation later Aérospatiale/Westland Aircraft/Soko |
| First flight | 7 April 1967 (SA.340) |
| Introduction | 1973 |
| Status | In service |
| Primary users |
French Army British Army Egyptian Air Force Lebanese Air Force |
| Produced | 1967-1996 |
| Number built | 1,775 |
| Unit cost |
$198,500 (1973)
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| Developed from | Aérospatiale Alouette III |
 In-cockpit footage of Gazelle flight
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Blue Eagles display team of the Army Air Corps performing aerobatic maneuvers
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The Aérospatiale Gazelle is a French five-seat helicopter, commonly used for light transport, scouting and light attack duties. It is powered by a single 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.
The Gazelle originated in a French Army requirement for a lightweight observation helicopter intended to replace the Aérospatiale Alouette III; early on in the aircraft's development, the decision was taken to enlarge the helicopter to enable greater versatility and make it more attractive for the export market. In 1966, Sud Aviation began working on a light observation helicopter to replace its Alouette II with seating for five people. The first prototype SA 340 flew for the first time on 7 April 1967, it initially flew with a conventional tail rotor taken from the Alouette II. The tail was replaced in early 1968 with the distinctive fenestron tail on the second prototype. Four SA 341 prototypes were flown, including one for British firm Westland Helicopters. On 6 August 1971, the first production Gazelle conducted its first flight. On 13 May 1967, a Gazelle demonstrated its speed capabilities when two separate world speed records were broken on a closed course, achieving speeds of 307 km/h over 3 kilometres and 292 km/h over 100 kilometres.
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Wikipedia