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The Aérospatiale Gazelle is a five-seat helicopter, commonly used for light transport, scouting and light attack duties. It is powered by a single turbine engine and was the first helicopter to feature a fenestron tail instead of a conventional tail rotor. It was designed by Sud Aviation, later Aérospatiale, and manufactured in France and the United Kingdom through a joint production agreement with Westland Aircraft. Further manufacturing under license was performed by SOKO in Yugoslavia and the Arab British Helicopter Company (ABHCO) in Egypt. Since being introduced to service in 1973, the Gazelle has been procured and operated by a number of export customers. It has also participated in numerous conflicts around the world, including by Syria during the 1982 Lebanon War, by Rwanda during the Rwandan Civil War in the 1990s, and by numerous participants on both sides of the 1991 Gulf War. In French service, the Gazelle has been supplemented as an attack helicopter by the larger Eurocopter Tiger, but remains in use primarily as a scout helicopter. ==Development== The Gazelle originated in a French Army requirement for a lightweight observation helicopter intended to replace the Aérospatiale Alouette III; early on in the aircraft's development, the decision was taken to enlarge the helicopter to enable greater versatility and make it more attractive for the export market.〔''Air International'' December 1977, pp. 277–278.〕 In 1966, Sud Aviation began working on a light observation helicopter to replace its Alouette II with seating for five people.〔Giorgio 1984, p. 98.〕 The first prototype SA 340 flew for the first time on 7 April 1967, it initially flew with a conventional tail rotor taken from the Alouette II. The tail was replaced in early 1968 with the distinctive fenestron tail on the second prototype.〔〔 Four SA 341 prototypes were flown, including one for British firm Westland Helicopters. On 6 August 1971, the first production Gazelle conducted its first flight.〔McGowen 2005, p. 124.〕 On 13 May 1967, a Gazelle demonstrated its speed capabilities when two separate world speed records were broken on a closed course, achieving speeds of 307 km/h over 3 kilometres and 292 km/h over 100 kilometres.〔 Early on, the Gazelle had attracted British interest, which would culminate in the issuing of a major joint development and production work share agreement between Aerospatiale and Westland. The deal, signed in February 1967, allowed the production in Britain of 292 Gazelles and 48 Aérospatiale Pumas ordered by the British armed forces; in return Aérospatiale was given a work share in the manufacturing programme for the 40 Westland Lynx naval helicopters for the French Navy. Additionally, Westland would have a 65% work share in the manufacturing, and be a joint partner to Aérospatiale on further refinements and upgrades to the Gazelle. Westland would produce a total of 262 Gazelles of various models, mainly for various branches of the British armed forces, Gazelles for the civil market were also produced.〔McGowen 2005, p. 125.〕〔Field 1973, p. 585.〕 In service with the French Army Light Aviation (ALAT), the Gazelle is used primarily as an anti-tank gunship (''SA 342M'') armed with Euromissile HOT missiles. A light support version (''SA 341F'') equipped with a 20 mm cannon is used as well as anti-air variants carrying the Mistral air-to-air missile (''Gazelle Celtic'' based on the ''SA 341F'', ''Gazelle Mistral'' based on the ''SA 342M''). The latest anti-tank and reconnaissance versions carry the Viviane thermal imagery system and so are called ''Gazelle Viviane''.〔("Gazelle viviane sa 342 M1." ) ''defense.gouv.fr'', Retrieved: 24 June 2013.〕 The Gazelle is being replaced in frontline duties by the Eurocopter Tiger, but will continue to be used for light transport and liaison roles. It also served with all branches of the British armed forces—the Royal Air Force, Royal Navy (including in support of the Royal Marines) and the British Army in a variety of roles. Four versions of the Gazelle were used by the British forces. The ''SA 341D'' was designated ''Gazelle HT.3'' in RAF service, equipped as a helicopter pilot trainer (hence HT). The ''SA 341E'' was used by the RAF for communications duties and VIP transport as the ''Gazelle HCC.4''. The ''SA 341C'' was purchased as the ''Gazelle HT.2'' pilot trainer for the Royal Navy; training variants have been replaced by the Squirrel HT1.〔("Squirrel HT1." ) ''Royal Air Force'', Retrieved: 25 June 2013.〕 The ''SA 341B'' was equipped to a specification for the Army Air Corps as the ''Gazelle AH.1'' (from ''A''rmy ''H''elicopter Mark ''1''). The Gazelle proved to be a commercial success, which led Aerospatiale to quickly develop and introduce the SA 341 Gazelle series, which was equipped with considerably more powerful engines. Licensed production of the type did not just take place in the UK, domestic manufacturing was also conducted by Egyptian firm ABHCO. Yugoslavian production by SOKO reportedly produced a total of 132 Gazelles.〔 As the Gazelle became progressively older, newer combat helicopters were brought into service in the anti-tank role; thus those aircraft previously configured as attack helicopters were often repurposed for other, secondary support duties, such as an Air Observation Post (AOP) for directing artillery fire, airborne forward air controller (ABFAC) to direct ground-attack aircraft, casualty evacuation, liaison, and communications relay missions.〔Crawford 2003, p. 35.〕 抄文引用元・出典: フリー百科事典『 ウィキペディア（Wikipedia）』 ■ウィキペディアで「Aérospatiale Gazelle」の詳細全文を読む スポンサード リンク
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