History

 

The Gazelle, produced as part of an Anglo-French venture between Westland and Aerospatiale in 1968, was the first helicopter to carry a fenestron or fantail, which gives considerable noise reduction.

The rotor blades were made of composite materials, a feature now widely used on modern helicopters. The prototype flew for the first time on 7 April 1967.

The Gazelle remains one of the fastest helicopters ever built (with a maximum speed of 198 mph), it served with all four branches of the British Armed Forces - RAF, Royal Navy, Army and Royal Marines filling a variety of roles.

Some Variants

The SA 341B was equipped to a specification for the Army Air Corps. Designated Gazelle AH Mk 1, the first aircraft entered service in 1973. Since that time it has been used with major success in every theatre in which the British Army has served, from its amphibious role in the battle for the Falkland Islands to the deserts of Kuwait and Iraq to the mountains of the more recent Kosovo campaign.

The SA 341C was also purchased for the British Armed Forces as a pilot trainer for the Royal Navy.

The SA 341D HT3 RAF training version; Astazou IIIN engine; stability-augmentation system; Schermuly flares installation; first deliveries to service in 1973.

The SA 341E was used for communications duties and VIP transport and was designated Gazelle HCC4.

The SA 341F basic French army version; Astazou IIIC engine.

The SA 341G civil commercial version; Astazou IIIA engine; officially certificated for passenger service on 7 June 1972; subsequently became the first helicopter to obtain US approval for operations under IFR Cat.1 conditions with a single pilot; also developed into a so-called 'Stretched Gazelle', with rear section of the cabin modified to provide additional 20cm legroom for the rear passengers.

The SA 341H military export version; Astazou IIIB engine; subject to licence-production agreement signed on 1 October 1971 with SOKO in Yugoslavia .