arospatiale alouette ii

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the aérospatiale alouette ii is a french light helicopter originally manufactured by sud aviation and later aérospatiale. it was the first production helicopter powered by a gas turbine engine instead of the heavier conventional piston powerplant. on 12 march 1955, the prototype se 3130 performed its maiden flight. the alouette ii was a widely used type and popular with operators, with over 1,300 rotorcraft eventually being constructed between 1956 and 1975. the type was predominantly used for military purposes in observation, photography, air-sea rescue, liaison and training, but it has also carried anti-tank missiles and homing torpedoes. as a civilian helicopter, the alouette ii has been used for casualty evacuation (with two external stretcher panniers), crop-spraying and as a flying crane, with a 500-kilogram (1,100 lb) external underslung load.