The Eurocopter SA 316B Alouette III

The Eurocopter
SA 316B Alouette III

General Description
The Alouette III's fully articulated three-bladed main rotor helps to reduce noise and vibration. The tail boom is of semi-monocoque contruction carrying a stabilizer with two lateral fins and a guarded three-bladed tail rotor. Ground operations are facilitated by the tricycle landing gear's castering nose wheel.
The aircraft's versatility is enhanced by:

Fittings for various items of optional equipment such as hoist, cargo hook, flotation gear, etc.
External power receptacle.
Integral hoisting rings, jacking pads and footsteps for access to rotor head.
3 adjustable and quick removal bench seats with back rests and safety belt.
Cargo tie down rings.
Provision for dual controls.
Adjustable front ventilation system and adjustable ventilators on doors.
Data case under front seats.
2 jettisonable sliding rear doors.

The Alouette III is powered by a Artouste III B1 (870 HP) turbine engine with a 4 kW, 28.5 volt DC starter-generator, supported by a 40 amp hour battery.
Specifications
The following performance figures are based on the mean values obtained with a new engine. Unless otherwise stated, they are given for clean aircraft, in zero wind at sea level and with standard atmospheric conditions. Use for reference only, not for actual flight calculations.

Specification Unit Ac/Wt Ac/Wt Ac/Wt

Weight (standard aircraft 2,732 lbs.) lb 3,750 4,190 4,850

VNE kts 113 113 113

Cruising speed kts 108 105 100

Fuel consumption at cruising speed U.S. gal./nm 0.54 0.56 0.59

Rate of climb, oblique flight ft/min 1,712 1,417 846

Range nm 281 275 267

Endurance hr 3.35 3.25 3.0

Hovering ceiling I.G.E.
ISA ft 19,520 16,080 9,350

Hovering ceiling I.G.E.
ISA + 20 degrees ft 17,060 13,165 7,050

Hovering ceiling O.G.E.
ISA ft 18,370 15,090 4,920

Hovering ceiling O.G.E.
ISA + 20 degrees ft 16,240 12,795 2,790

Service Ceiling ft 20,670 17,552 10,500

Dimensions of the SA 316B Alouette III