The Alouette II SA-318C Helicopter- General description

Of conventional configuration but sturdy design, the Eurocopter Aerospatiale Alouette II is one of the first true light multi-purpose helicopters and has excelled in a variety of roles. This adaptability was facilitated by its reliable turboshaft engine, easy maintenance, and landing gear which could be either of wheel or skid type, or floats, with provision for emergency flotation gear. In the USA, it has an unparalleled safety record and there has never been an internal failure of any Alouette II engine.
It is an extremely smooth machine in flight which makes for an excellent photo and survey aircraft and the fully glazed cabin gives an unbeatable view. The structure of the Alouette II is very reminiscent of the early Bell models, in that it has a plexiglass cockpit and open-framework fuselage. It is however, a completely different aircraft with entirely different performance specifications and configuration.
The Alouette II's close sibling, the Lama, looks to the untrained eye, exactly like the Alouette II but is extremely popular as an external load helicopter for construction, seismic, forestry, and other types of work. Both the Alouette II and the Lama are well know throughout the helicopter industry for their load capacities and altitude performance. Since high density altitudes are common here in Texas in the warm months (and most of our months seem to be warm) Brazos feels the Alouette to be the safest choice in light turbine helicopters for our workload.
The French Alouette II has undoubtedly been one of the most successful civil and military light helicopters. It was derived from the SE.3120 built by Sud-Est soon after the war. The prototype had a three-blade rotor, and a 200hp reciprocating engine. Two other prototypes followed, one of which was a three-seater.
The aircraft originally had no outstanding features, but the situation changed with the introduction of the Artouste II turbine. The SE.3130 made its first flight on 12 March 1955, as did a second model immediately afterwards. Just three months after its maiden flight, the aircraft achieved world fame by setting an altitude record of 26,679 feet, showing its ability to operate in mountainous areas.
The Alouette II originated as the Sud-Est SE 3120 Alouette (Lark), a three seat light helicopter designed mainly for agricultural purposes. The first SE 3120 prototype was flown on 31 July 1952, powered by a 149kW Salmson 9NH radial engine, and a year later established a new international helicopter closed-circuit duration record of 13 hours 56 minutes. The basic airframe was then completely redesigned to take the 269kW Turbomeca Artouste I turboshaft, and the first of two prototypes, designated SE 3130, was flown on 12 March 1955, followed by three pre-production aircraft in 1956.
The Alouette II was granted a French Certificate of Airworthiness on 2 May 1956, and was soon in demand on the international market. In 1957 Sud-Est merged with Sud-Aviation, at which time the designation of the Alouette II was altered to SE 313B, remaining unchanged after Sud's take-over by Aerospatiale.
From the beginning, the Alouette II proved a most successful design and was found particularly suitable for operations in higher altitudes. Thus, during the period 9-13 June 1958, an Artouste-powered Alouette II set up a helicopter altitude record of 35,688 feet for all classes, and a height record of 31,145 feet in the 1000/1750kg category. By September 1960 no fewer than 598 Alouette IIs had been ordered by customers in 22 different countries and the type was being assembled by Republic Aircraft in the USA and Saab in Sweden. It also became the first French aircraft of any kind, and the first helicopter in the world, to be granted an American certification.
sursa: hothelicopters.com