Famous “firsts” (1960s-90s)

In 1953, Jean Cantinieau, an engineer at Société Nationale des Constructions aéronautiques du Sud-Ouest (SNCASO), was hired by AISA to develop a helicopter range. AISA thus provided the helicopter industry with its structure, equipment and controls.

Following AISA's bankruptcy in 1962, Jean Cantinieau returned to France where he joined Matra. He was an autodidact who designed and finalised the only version of "Bamb." This name was eventually discarded since the Walt Disney group opposed it and the aircraft was therefore called the "Faon" (fawn in French).

The Faon was an elegant small two-seater helicopter with 180 hp and no rear rotor – it only took a few flights before being abandoned in 1963 due to stability problems.

Key figures of the Faon:

• Two-seat light helicopter 
• Rotor diameter: 7.40 m
• Empty weight: 470 kg
• Total weight: 710 kg
• Engine: 1 Lycoming 180 hp
• Maximum speed: 130 km/h

In May 1963, test flight results encouraged a modification of the Super Frelon, with the aim of breaking helicopter speed records.

With help from Marcel Riffard, designer of racing airplanes, the aircraft was refined: rivet heads were covered with adhesive, door handles were removed, bubble windows were replaced with flat windows, the rear hatch was streamlined, the landing gear was replaced with skid pads and the main rotor hub was equipped with a hemispherical fairing.

The helicopter broke three speed records in July 1963, with three of the most well-known names in flight testing on board: Jean Boulet and Roland Coffignot (pilots) and Joseph Turchini (engineer).

Speed records:

• over 3 km, a speed of 341.23 km/h
• over 15-25 km, a speed of 350.470 km/h
• over 100 km closed circuit, a speed of 334.280 km/h.

In 1969, MBB (Messerschmitt – Bölkow – Blohm) was created by merging three companies. The group Messerschmitt – Bölkow, already in existance since the year before, and Hamburger Flugzeugbau GmbH, the aviation division of Blohm und Voss. In 1980, VFW (see Focke-Achgelis) joined MBB, and in 1989 MBB was integrated into Deutsche Aerospace AG.

In the early 1960s, the French and British armies both developed similar projects to acquire a military helicopter capable of transporting an infantry platoon with its equipment. The aircraft had to have de-icing capabilities and also be able to operate in tropical regions. Another requirement for the helicopter was that it be transportable by air.

The Puma performed its first flight on April 15, 1965 (flight crew: Boulet – Coffignot – Ricaud – Boutin). In order to resolve vibration problems, a new suspension system for the rotor – gearbox assembly – was developed by a team of engineers directed by René Mouille. This same system would then be applied to the other helicopters in the range.

In the agreements signed between the French and the British, it was decided that the French would manufacture the Puma (except for 48 Pumas built by Westland, known as the SA 330E, beginning in 1967).

A total of 705 Pumas would be delivered, without counting the versions manufactured in Indonesia and Romania. The Puma would receive its civil certification the year after the first machine was delivered to the French Army, in 1969. The first Puma would be delivered to the RAF in 1971.

The South Africans also developed a similar helicopter using various components of the Puma. Known as the Oryx, the aircraft first entered service in 1988.

The Bo105 was the very first light twin-engine helicopter in the world to enter commercial service. It had a rigid Bölkow-designed rotor that was flight-tested for more than 1,000 hours on an Alouette II – an example of Franco-German cooperation ahead of its time. The Bo105 made its maiden flight on February 16, 1967 with Wilfried von Engelhardt at the controls and, just four months later, the helicopter was unveiled at the Paris Air Show. It had a four-bladed rotor, with reinforced blades made of composite materials, and displayed excellent maneuverability.

The Bo105 program proved to be of major importance because it gave a jump-start to the helicopter sector in West Germany and other countries, thanks to its suitability for the numerous missions being developed at the time and to its twin engines, which enhanced safety. Nearly 1,500 Bo 105s were built, and its more recent versions are still in widespread service.

Multi-role in the full sense of the term, the Bo 105 was produced in 25 versions and served in the civil and military sectors performing a wide range of missions, from rescue missions to anti-tank combat.

The first flight of the SA 340 Gazelle was on 7 April 1967. This versatile light helicopter has paved the way for many technological developments, including: viscoelastic dampers, low frequency landing gear and main rotor hub NAT (Non Articulé en Traînée).

SA 341 A Gazelle with a Fenestron: The second prototype of the Gazelle (SA 341) made its first flight on 12 April 1968, and featured a Fenestron tail rotor fairing which housed the helicopter’s anti-torque rotor. In addition to reducing sound levels, the Fenestron’s presence increases the safety of ground personnel.

A Puma with tracks in April: Toward the end of the 1960s, a landing gear system with motorised tracks was tested on Puma pre-production model 06. This was intended to enable helicopter to taxi with the rotor stopped (in undergrowth, for example).

The helicopter was able to drive forwards or backwards at a speed of 4 km/h on soft, sandy or soggy soils. In the end, this set-up was not adopted for reasons of complexity and high manufacturing costs. 

In 1968, in response to an invitation for bids from the Indian government, the Helicopter Division decided to combine the airframe of an Alouette II with the dynamic components of the Alouette III. The helicopter performed its first flight on March 17, 1969 with Roland Coffignot and Gérard Boutin at the crew.

It was initially planned to land the helicopter on top of the Himalayas. But authorisation could not be obtained, and it was then decided that an attempt would be made to set a world record using the aircraft.

On 21 June 1972, Jean Boulet set the altitude record for all categories combined when he climbed to 12,442 metres. This officially certified record still stands today. The turbine also shut down due to the reduction in power, which means that the Lama also recorded the longest auto-rotation in the history of helicopter flying.

Until the Ecureuil B3 came along, the Lama was the king of aerial mountain work thanks to the amazing amount of power it could generate for its weight. A total of 447 Lamas would be delivered by Sud Aviation / Aerospatiale. India also was licensed to manufacture the Lama under the name Cheetah.

Société Nationale Industrielle Aerospatiale

Sud Aviation became SNIAS by merging with French Nord Aviation and SEREB companies. From 1984, SNIAS operated under the name of AEROSPATIALE. The first famous success started in October 1972 with the maiden flight of the liner Airbus A300 B.

With Matra, MBB and CASA, Aerospatiale played also a major role in the development of satellite launchers. Aerospatiale's helicopter division produced some families of helicopters still in production today: the Ecureuil, Dauphin and Super Puma.

AS350/355 Ecureuil

Following the commercial success of the Alouette II, a new helicopter with five seats needed to be developed.

The response was the Gazelle, which was adopted, in particular, by the British and French armies, but which did not enjoy the expected commercial success on the civil market because of its price.

The decision was therefore taken to develop a more economical aircraft.