The SA 341 / SA 342 Gazelle is the first helicopter that practically applied the fenestron tail.
With its abilities, features, and achievements, this rotorcraft has a unique place in the
hearts of aviation enthusiasts.
Now, we are investigating the Gazelle, one of the most successful helicopters in history.
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The Gazelle is a true utility helicopter.
Besides transporting troops and materials, it can successfully perform many other duties,
such as anti-tank, training, air observation post for artillery fire direction, airborne
forward air controller, casualty evacuation, liaison, and communication relay.
This rotorcraft has valiantly fought in many significant wars.
In the early 1960s, while the French had required a new lightweight observation helicopter intended
to replace its Alouette IIIs, many countries had begun to seek a new replacement for their
Alouette IIs.
To make use of this new opportunity, Sud Aviation started working on a new model, which would
be larger and more versatile.
Soon, the UK, which was looking for a new rotorcraft to replace its Sioux AH.1s, was
immediately interested in this project.
So, British Westland and French Sud Aviation companies signed a joint development and production
work share agreement in 1967.
When the helicopter's first prototype, called SA 340, made its maiden flight on April 7,
1967, it still had the Alouette II's conventional tail rotor and a Turbomeca Astazou III engine.
The fenestron tail, the hallmark of this helicopter, was fitted to the second prototype in 1968.
Initially, the Gazelle prototypes had the main rotor system based on the rigid rotor
technology developed by Messerschmitt-Bölkow-Blohm for the Bo 105.
But, it caused some control problems, especially at high speeds.
So, the production variants were fitted with a semi-articulated main rotor.
During that time, Sud Aviation merged with both Nord Aviation and Société d'études
et de réalisation d'engins balistiques under the Aérospatiale company.
The Gazelle became operational in France and the UK in 1973.
Besides Aérospatiale and Westland, the Yugoslavian SOKO and Egyptian Arab British Helicopter
companies produced the Gazelle under licence.
In the early 1980s, China also intended to manufacture the helicopter locally.
But, due to deteriorated relations with the West after the 1989 Tiananmen Square incident,
this plan was never materialized.
Before that, China had already acquired some Gazelles.
The Chinese Army had generally used these helicopters to develop anti-armour warfare
tactics.
The initial French Army variant of the helicopter is SA 341F with a 590 shaft horsepower Astazou
IIIC engine.
Some of these helicopters were equipped with 20mm M621 cannons.
These guns are mounted to the fuselage sides with their ammunition supply placed in the
cabin.
The SA 342L variant has an 870 shaft horsepower Astazou XIV engine.
It can carry the HOT anti-tank missiles or 68mm SNEB rocket pods beside the 20mm guns.
But, due to its inadequate sighting system, the anti-tank capability of the L variant
is limited.
During the 1991 Gulf War, some of them were fitted with ATAM, the air-to-air missile version
of the Mistral MANPADS, and renamed Gazelle Mistral.
It was an improvised solution.
Later, by using this experience, the French Army took delivery of a dedicatedly developed
air-to-air capable variant of the helicopter called Gazelle Celtic.
The SA 342M with the same engine as the L variant is the French Army anti-tank version
with four HOT missiles.
It also has the SFIM APX M397 stabilized sight.
Its M1 variant has the Viviane camera that allows both day and night operation capability.
Some French Army SA 342Ms are retrofitted with the AS350 Ecureuil's main rotor blades
to improve performance.
The French Army variants have the NumALAT digitalized battlefield system to improve
their network-centric warfare capabilities.
The Gazelle's of the French 4th Special Forces Helicopter Regiment carry the 7.62mm six-barrel
M134 minigun.
The SA 341B, a.k.a Westland Gazelle AH.1, is the British Army variant with a 600 shaft
horsepower Astazou IIIN2 engine.
It can carry 68mm SNEB rockets or TOW anti-tank missiles.
Besides the Army, the Fleet Air Arm operated a small number of the Gazelle AH.1s.
The actual dedicated Fleet Air Arm variant was Westland Gazelle HT.2, also known as SA
341C.
Different from the army version, it had a stability augmentation system and a hoist.
The SA 341D, a.k.a Westland Gazelle HT.3 is the training helicopter variant.
Only one example of the Westland Gazelle HCC.4, also known as SA 341E, was ever produced for
the Royal Air Force for communications duties.
Before going to war in Afghanistan in 2002, the British Army required unmanned aerial
vehicles, which were still not licenced to fly in UK airspace.
So, a Gazelle AH.1 was fitted with the MX-15 electro-optic/ infrared sensor turret to simulate
the unmanned aerial vehicle operations.
The remaining British Gazelles have been equipped with the QinetiQ direct voice input system.
The nicknames of the Gazelle in the British Army Air Corps are Whistling Chicken Leg and
the Tinny-Winny.
The SA 342K is the military export version for hot and dry areas.
It has shrouds over the air intake.
The SA 342H with a 550 shaft horsepower Astazou IIIB engine is the Yugoslavian production
variant of the Gazelle.
Its scout version is the HI-42 Hera.
The attack version, HN-42M Gama, can carry the 9M14 Malyutka anti-tank missiles, whose
NATO reporting name is AT-3 Sagger.
Besides, it can be fitted with the air-to-air variant of the 9K32 Strela-2 MANPADS, whose
NATO reporting name is SA-7 Grail.
The SOKO company also produced the SA 342L variant under licence, called HN-45M Gama
2.
There are also two fictional attack variants of the Gazelle.
One of them is the unforgettable Blue Thunder.
The other was used in the movie of Rambo III, in which John Rambo shot it down with an arrow.
The Gazelle is the first helicopter with a fenestron tail, considerably less vulnerable
to damage.
Its voice level is low.
The fenestron tail is safer for people working around the rotorcraft, and it has low power
requirements at cruising speeds.
But, this design requires a slight increase in power at slow speeds.
The rotor blades of the Gazelle are of composite materials, primarily fibreglass.
They reduce the vibration during the flight.
The main rotor can be changed in 30 minutes.
The fuselage is of honeycomb-shaped fibreglass between two light-alloy plates.
During the operation in the desert, the helicopter requires the installation of sand filters.
The Gazelle is agile, and in capable hands, it can carry out loops and barrel rolls.
But, this rotorcraft is hard to be flown by an inexperienced pilot.
The helicopter has no throttle or a trimming system.
There are hydraulic servo boosters on all flight control circuits to mitigate control
difficulties in case of equipment failure.
The Gazelle is the first helicopter for single-pilot operations under instrument flight rules.
It has an advanced duplex autopilot system developed by Honeywell.
The Gazelle is easy and low-cost to maintain.
Nearly 35 countries have preferred this helicopter for military purposes, 25 of which are still
operating it.
The SA 341L variant of the Gazelle has a length of 11.97 metres and a height of 3.19 metres.
The diameter of the main rotor is 15 metres.
The helicopter's empty weight is about 997 kilograms, while its maximum takeoff weight
is about 2,000 kilograms.
One 870 shaft horsepower Astazou XIV turboshaft engine provides a top cruising speed of 260
kilometres per hour.
The helicopter's range is 710 kilometres.
It can climb an altitude of nearly 4,100 metres, in other words, 13,450 feet.
The SA 341L can carry the AS.11, AS.12, HOT anti-tank missiles, rocket and gun pods.
The Gazelle reached 307 kilometres per hour speed over 3 kilometres and 292 kilometres
per hour speed over 100 kilometres on May 13, 1967.
They were the two separate world records.
But the helicopter was not content with them.
On May 13, 1971, a modified Gazelle reached a speed of 312 kilometres per hour over 25
kilometres.
But, what makes this helicopter a legend is its combat achievements rather than its speed.
The French Gazelles have performed essential roles over Afghanistan, Chad, Côte d'Ivoire,
Djibouti, Iraq, Libya, Mali, Somalia, Rwanda and the former Yugoslavia.
In the 1991 Gulf War, France lost three of them in combat.
But, with the beginning of the ground offensive on February 24, 1991, the Gazelles badly wore
out the Iraqi 45th Infantry Division and paved the way for the French 4th Dragoon Regiment's
assault.
In 2011, alongside the Tiger helicopter, the Gazelles, which took off from the FS Mistral
and FS Tonnerre amphibious assault ships, attacked pro-Gaddafi forces many times.
During the war, these helicopters fired 431 HOT anti-tank missiles.
The French Gazelles conducted many long-range assaults with their HOT missiles in Mali.
But generally, they did not participate in the close air support mission due to their
low ballistic protection.
One French Gazelle was shot down by the ground fire in Mali.
Besides the combat role, today, France uses its Gazelle Celtic to provide air cover over
the critical facilities against possible terrorist attacks.
During the last phase of the First Cold War, each division of the British Army of the Rhine
had its own army air corps regiment with two helicopter squadrons.
One of these squadrons was waiting for the anti-tank role, and the other for scout.
The scout squadrons had all Gazelles.
But also some of the anti-tank squadrons comprised Lynx AH.1s and Gazelle AH.1s.
Besides, the Berlin Brigade operated three of these helicopters to observe around the
Berlin Wall.
During the First Cold War years, the British Gazelles in West Germany flew over 660,000
hours.
These helicopters were used for airborne patrols in Northern Ireland between 1969 to 2007.
The Provisional IRA shot down two Gazelles in 1978 and 1990.
During the 1982 Falkland War, an Argentine Exocet sunk Atlantic Conveyor with Chinooks
on her.
So, alongside the Sea King, the Gazelles had to compensate for this loss, and they succeeded.
On May 21, 1982, two Royal Marines Gazelles were shot down on the first day of the landings
at San Carlos Water.
On June 6, 1982, another Gazelle was shot down by a Sea Dart missile fired from the
destroyer HMS Cardiff as a friendly fire incident.
During the 1991 Gulf War, the UK lost one Gazelle.
Besides, these helicopters played essential roles over the Balkans and Afghanistan.
The British Army also used the Gazelles in its aerobatic teams.
During the Iran-Iraq War, the Iraqis quickly realized that the Mi-25s were insufficient
for anti-tank missions.
So, they began to use them with the Gazelle carrying the HOT missiles in hunter-killer
groups.
While the Mi-25s dealt with infantry and air defence troops, the Gazelles attacked tanks.
The Syrian Gazelles managed to slow the Israeli ground attack for a while during the 1982
Lebanon War.
But, their physical effect was lower than their psychological one.
After Israel achieved complete air superiority, these helicopters lost their effectiveness.
Israel captured some Gazelles in this war and managed to rebuild two of them.
These helicopters served in the Israeli Air Force for a short time.
Later, one of them sold.
The other is still exhibited in the Israeli Air Force Museum.
The Syrian Gazelles are still fighting in the ongoing civil war.
The Kuwaiti, Serbian, Rwandan, Malian, Ecuadorian, Lebanese, and Moroccan have used the Gazelles
in combat.
For almost a half-century, it has fought over five continents and proved itself a true warrior.
In these 50 years, helicopter technologies have repeatedly levelled up.
But, no new rotorcraft have not been able to junk the Gazelle, which makes it a true
legend.
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