The Aérospatiale SA.360C Dauphin is a single engine medium-weight
transport helicopter for up to two crew and eight passengers powered by
a Turboméca Astazou XVIIIA Turbine engine. Development of the
single-engine SA.360 started under the Sud-Aviation banner as a
replacement of the Alouette III, and was to be called the "Business
Alouette". The aircraft featured a four-bladed main rotor and a
thirteen-bladed fenestron in the tail. It was fitted with fixed,
tailwheel undercarriage with spatted mainwheels. The fuel tank was meant
to go in the rear of a relatively small cabin before the idea arose to
place the fuel tanks in the lower structure, thus increasing the cabin
size. On 2 June 1972, the SA.360 prototype, c/n 001 F-WQSL, flew first.
By its maiden flight the SA.360 was fitted with one 980 hp Turboméca
Astazou XVI turboshaft. On 29 January 1973, the second SA.360 prototype,
the SA360 c/n 002 F-WSQX flew first. As a result of the evaluation of
the test flights, a number of modifications were incorporated into the
design. These included increased engine power by use of an 1050 hp
Turboméca Astazou XVIIIA turboshaft, and replacement of the original
rotor blades with composite plastic blades. S.N.I.A.S. engineers hoped
to reduce vibration and ground resonance. On 4 May 1973, the modified
SA.360 c/n 001 was flown first as a SA.360 A. In 1974, production
commenced with the SA.360 C, with the first production SA.360 C flying
in April 1975. DGAC France Type Certificate No. 80 was received on 18
December 1975 and customer deliveries of the SA360 C started in January
1976. With customer deliveries running. S.N.I.A.S. SA360 C c/n 1001 was modified into a SA360 A navalised
version for tests with Marine Nationale and this SA360 A was a period operated by
Aéronavale Flotille 35F. The SA360C c/n 1003 and c/n 1012 were modified into
the SA361H military version of the Dauphin (is civil equivalent being
the SA361F). The SA361H was an overpowered version of the SA360, intended
specifically for hot- and-high operating conditions, powered by an 1300 hp Turboméca Astazou XX
turboshaft. The SA361H flew first on 12 July 1976. Airframe c/n 1012 was further modified by Aérospatiale for the military market into
the SA361HCL (Hélicoptère de Combat Léger) version. The main differences were the use of a 1400 hp Astazou XXB engine and
the Starflex rotorhead that had been developed for the Ecureuil. In 1978, production of the SA360 was terminated for
lack of orders with only two prototypes and thirty-four production aircraft of the SA360 C Dauphin built. The lack of
orders was actually caused by the introduction of the twin-engined SA 365C Dauphin II.
On 1 January 1970, Sud-Aviation was merged with a number of other French aerospace
companies to form the S.N.I.A.S. (Société Nationale Industrielle Aérospatiale). From 1984, SNIAS operated under the name of
Aérospatiale. The helicopter divisions of MBB from Germany and Aerospatiale from France merged in January 1992 to form
the Eurocopter Group. As a result of the merger between the Eurocopter parents Aérospatiale-Matra; DaimlerChrysler Aerospace (DASA)
and Construcciones Aeronàuticas Sociedad Anonima (CASA) in July 2000, the Eurocopter group became a division of the new formed
EADS (European Aeronautic Defence and Space company). Taking off into 2014, EADS was rebranded as "Airbus Group". Uniting
all its activities under a single brand, its helicopter division Eurocopter was rebranded as Airbus Helicopters on 8 January 2014.
In 1977, the S.N.I.A.S. SA360 C c/n 1025 was
test flown with test registration F-WXFA. In 1980, the aircraft was
registered N3597C in the USA as an Aérospatiale SA-360C Dauphin. In
September 1980, the SA360 C was re-registered N213EH with New York
Helicopters. In service with New York Helicopters, the Dauphin was
equipped with a number of emergency floats, what wasn't easy with its
tricycle gear. On 1 February 1982, the aircraft was damaged in an
accident at Hitchocock, but returned in service after repair. On 3 June
1988, registration N213EH was cancelled as exported to France. On 18
April 1988, registration F-GHCK was reserved by Artemis Aviation for the
SA360 C Dauphin. On 28 July 1988, the Aérospatiale AS360 C Dauphin was
registered F-GHCK with SA Professionnel Air System (UP), Paris. On 6
December 1995, the 1977-built SA360 C Dauphin F-GHCK was registered with
Hélifrance SA, Paris. On 29 January 1996, the aircraft was registered
with Sarl HELIGATOR, Paris, as operator and BNP Bail SA. Paris, as
owner. From September 1997, the Dauphin F-GHCK was operated by
Héli-Inter SA. On 10 October 1997, Aérospatiale SA.360 C Dauphin F-GHCK
was damaged beyond repair in a fatal crash when it ditched into the sea
during the landing at Monaco heliport. In 2002, the fuselage of the
helicopter was presented to the Lycée Aero de Grenoble, but it ended
first in a barn in the mountains, the famous aviation museum barn
Tarentaise, to prevent it for scrapping.
On 22 July 1989, Aérospatiale SA360 C Dauphin F-GHCK was seen at Toussus-le-Noble
Airport in the UP colors.
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