Aérospatiale Super Frelon

The Aérospatiale SA 321 Super Frelon is a medium- heavy transport helicopter of the French manufacturer Aerospatiale. The tasks of the helicopter include the areas of transport, rescue (SAR ) and anti-submarine combat.

History

Mid -1950s studied the French army for a new large-scale helicopter, whereupon SNCASE the proposed project X 316 and in early 1956 was awarded the contract to build two as Sud- Aviation SA 3200 Frelon designated prototypes. This helicopter of the 7- ton class graduated on June 10, 1959, Jean Boulet, Roland Coffignot, Joseph Turchini and Jean -Marie Besse on board in Le Bourget its first flight. However, equipped with a four -blade rotor and a short tail boom helicopter did not meet expectations, and as a revised and significantly greater in the draft now in Sud Aviation renamed company was developed in April 1960. The official development of the SA 3210 now called the helicopter began in April 1961 under the guidance of chief engineer René Mouille, with Sikorsky were tasked with the development of the six-blade rotor and Fiat with the gearbox. The first prototype made on 7 December 1962 in Marignane with the same crew on board its first flight. The first flight of the second prototype, a marine version with support floats followed on 21 May 1963 According to some world record attempts with the prototypes and four pre-production aircraft began in September 1964, series production of the SA 321 of the first aircraft delivered to the Navy -. Had army and air forces now lost interest - took place in August 1966, but was being made ​​due to a crash until the end of 1967 with full capacity.

The SA 321 is also often referred to as "Bumblebee ", as the helicopter is so hard, little agile and slow. Apart from the delivery to France, the helicopter was purchased in the 1960s by Israel and South Africa. Later also featured Libya ( last delivery in 1981 ), and Iraq the machine into service. Between 1975 and 1977 13 SA 321Ja were shipped to China, where the Changhe Aircraft Industry Group has developed under the name Z-8 a ( unlicensed ) copy but was mass produced until the 1990s. This has been continually improved and now forms the basis for civil execution AC313. In France, the last copy SA 321 was officially put on 30 April 2010 out of service.

Variants

Specifications

Arming

• 2 × MBDA AM- 39 " Exocet " - radar- controlled

• Alliant Techsystems 4 × Mk.46 - lightweight torpedo (diameter 324 mm )
• 4 × AST / General Electric Mk.44 torpedo (diameter 324 mm )
• 4 × ET52 ASW torpedo (China only )

• 8 × mines (250 kg)