The SNCASE SE.3120 Alouette ("Lark") was a utility helicopter developed in France in the early 1950s but which did not enter production. Designed in parallel with the SE.3110, the Alouette shared that machine's dynamic components, with the exception of the SE.3110's unusual twin tail rotor, which was replaced by a single rotor, and the addition of a three-bladed gyroscopic stabiliser under the main rotor (similar to the stabiliser bar used by Bell helicopters. The Alouette featured an open-framework fuselage behind a cockpit that was enclosed by a bubble canopy. Skid undercarriage and tricycle gear were both tested.[1]
The first flight took place on 31 July 1951 at Buc, Yvelines with test pilot Henri Stakenburg at the controls.[2] On 2 July 1953, Jean Boulet flew one of the two prototype Alouettes to a world closed-circuit distance record for a helicopter in this class, covering 1,252 km (778 mi) in 13 hours and 56 minutes.[2][3] Despite this impressive performance, the Alouette proved to be difficult to maintain, with its obsolete Salmson engine not being powerful enough, and with work on the turbine-powered Alouette II (an unrelated design) already underway, development of the Alouette was soon abandoned.[2]
SpecificationsEdit
Data from Jane's All The World's Aircraft 1953–54[3]
Bridgman, Leonard (1953). Jane's All the World's Aircraft 1953–54. London: Jane's All the World's Aircraft Publishing Co. Ltd.
de Narbonne, Roland (July 2011). "Juillet 1951, dans l'aéronautique française: Une alouette...fait quelque fois le printemps". Le Fana de l'Aviation (in French). No. 504. pp. 74–79.
External linksEdit
aviafrance.com
August 28, 2023
sncase, 3120, alouette, lark, utility, helicopter, developed, france, early, 1950s, which, enter, production, designed, parallel, with, 3110, alouette, shared, that, machine, dynamic, components, with, exception, 3110, unusual, twin, tail, rotor, which, replac. The SNCASE SE 3120 Alouette Lark was a utility helicopter developed in France in the early 1950s but which did not enter production Designed in parallel with the SE 3110 the Alouette shared that machine s dynamic components with the exception of the SE 3110 s unusual twin tail rotor which was replaced by a single rotor and the addition of a three bladed gyroscopic stabiliser under the main rotor similar to the stabiliser bar used by Bell helicopters The Alouette featured an open framework fuselage behind a cockpit that was enclosed by a bubble canopy Skid undercarriage and tricycle gear were both tested 1 SE 3120 AlouetteRole Utility helicopterNational origin FranceManufacturer SNCASEFirst flight 31 July 1951Status Prototypes onlyNumber built 2The first flight took place on 31 July 1951 at Buc Yvelines with test pilot Henri Stakenburg at the controls 2 On 2 July 1953 Jean Boulet flew one of the two prototype Alouettes to a world closed circuit distance record for a helicopter in this class covering 1 252 km 778 mi in 13 hours and 56 minutes 2 3 Despite this impressive performance the Alouette proved to be difficult to maintain with its obsolete Salmson engine not being powerful enough and with work on the turbine powered Alouette II an unrelated design already underway development of the Alouette was soon abandoned 2 Specifications EditData from Jane s All The World s Aircraft 1953 54 3 General characteristicsCrew 1 Capacity 2 passengers Length 10 45 m 34 ft 3 in Height 2 90 m 9 ft 6 in Empty weight 750 kg 1 653 lb Gross weight 1 250 kg 2 756 lb Powerplant 1 Salmson 9NH 9 cylinder air cooled radial engine 150 kW 200 hp Main rotor diameter 11 60 m 38 ft 1 in Main rotor area 105 7 m2 1 138 sq ft Performance Maximum speed 201 km h 125 mph 109 kn Endurance 21 4 hr Service ceiling 4 000 m 13 000 ft Rate of climb 4 50 m s 885 ft min References Edit de Narbonne 2011 pp 78 79 a b c de Narbonne 2011 p 79 a b Bridgman 1953 p 151 Bridgman Leonard 1953 Jane s All the World s Aircraft 1953 54 London Jane s All the World s Aircraft Publishing Co Ltd de Narbonne Roland July 2011 Juillet 1951 dans l aeronautique francaise Une alouette fait quelque fois le printemps Le Fana de l Aviation in French No 504 pp 74 79 External links EditEurocopter website aviafrance com Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title SNCASE SE 3120 Alouette amp oldid 1115710710, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
