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8 unusual facts about Aérospatiale Alouette III


Aérospatiale Alouette III

On 2 December 2010, the last example was retired at a ceremony held at BAN Comandante Espora, Bahía Blanca.

One SA316B was on board the ARA General Belgrano when she was sunk by the HMS Conqueror's torpedoes during the Falklands War with Great Britain in 1982 and a second one played an important role during the Invasion of South Georgia.

In 1999, the Surinam Air Force retired and sold it's two Alouette III helicopters from active service.

India has also donated used Chetak helicopters to other countries such as Bangladesh and Nepal.

Operation Daisy

An enemy force was sighted near Ionde on the 9 November and were engaged by Alouette helicopters and by an airborne assault by paratroopers.

Operation Meebos

It was attacked firstly by Alouette gunships followed by an airdrop by helicopter of ground troops which killed around 18 PLAN soldiers but the base was found to have been evacuated.

Portuguese Army Light Aviation Unit

In 2004, the Portuguese government prepared to open a new competition for the acquisition of light helicopters for both the UALE and the Portuguese Air Force, to replace the Alouette III, but the competition was eventually cancelled.

Weisshorn

An Alouette III helicopter from Air Zermatt crashed on a night flight on the Schali Glacier (south of the peak) on 31 July 1983.



see also