Shrieking Gazelles

[Savoia]

SA342M1V F-MGBG (2061) as seen at Valence Chabeuil on 23rd February 2012 (Photo by Laurent Quérité)




SA341D XZ936 (WA1743) as seen at Portland on 22nd November 1988 (Photo by Steve Mills)

Syrian Gazelle departure

[Savoia]

SA341H YU-HEI (012) as seen at Bournemouth Hurn on 20th October 2000 (Photo by Chris England)




SA341B G-HSDL (WA1227) as seen in Burnley, Lancashire in March 2020 (Photo Darren Scully)

[Zishelix]

Demobbed SA.341F s/n 1338, now ALAT Dax Museum exhibit (one of their seven Gazelles http://www.aviationmuseum.eu/Blogvor...t-helicoptere/), seen at last year's 24 Hours of Le Mans.



(Photo: David Merett)

[Savoia]

SA341B as seen in Barrisdale, Scotland c.2019 (Photo by Jasper Dalgliesh)




SA341G G-GZLE (cn.1145) as seen at Kemble Aerodrome on 12th July 2003 (Photo by Chris Lane)

[Savoia]

ZU-RLU Attends Aircraft Crash

South African Gazelle ZU-RLU attended an aircraft accident yesterday in KwaZulu-Natal.

A South African home build 'Sling 4' light fixed-wing crashed in the Umkhomazi River valley yesterday. Following reports of the crash, a South African Police Ecureuil and a privately-owned Gazelle (ZU-RLU) attended the crash site. Sadly, the pilot and sole occupant of the aircraft, South African canoeist Mark Perrow, perished in the crash.




SA341G ZU-RLU (cn.1097) seen with a South African Police Ecureuil in the Umkhomazi River valley,
KwaZulu-Natal on 15th March 2020

Flashback of a recently posted video featuring ZU-RLU




SA341B over Barrisdale in Scotland c.2019 (Photo by Jasper Dalgliesh)




SA341D ZB625 (WA1905) at RAF Fairford on 25th July 1993 (Photo by Simon Brooke)

[Zishelix]

XW849 (s/n 1016) of 847 Naval Air Squadron on a training mission in May 2004.


(Photo: Peter Nicholson)

Thanks to The Gazelle Squadron this one of the oldest Gazelles is still airworthy nicknamed 'Gladys'! https://thegazellesquadron.com/rooms.html

[Savoia]

As least on this occasion they are following the 'proper' protocol in respect of the aircraft name gender!

[Zishelix]

N69TH

The only photo I found so far (a poorly scanned print from a newspaper) of the short lived s/n 1219 SA.341G N69TH

[Savoia]

SA342L 241 (cn.1854) as seen at Casement Baldonnel Aerodrome on 15th May 1997 (Photo by Ray Barber)




SA341D G-ONNE (WA1089) as seen at Leicester Airport on 16th March 2020 (Photo by Rory Auskerry)


SA342J YU-HES (cn.1057) as seen at Dunkeswell Aerodrome on 16th March 2020




SA342M F-MGEX as seen in Mainfonds, Val-des-Vignes on 4th August 2019 (Photo by Jean Pierre Dewam)

Fabrice wrote: Yes, this is the basic priciple with ALAT Gazelles: 341s retain their original c/ns, and the 342s bear a number adding 2000 to the original Aerospatiale c/n... with one exception (it wouldn't be funny otherwise): SA342M c/n 1732 is numbered...1732!

Grazie Fabrice!


Fabrice, am I doing the right thing by adding 'F-M' before the three letter code on all ALAT aircraft, as in F-MGEX above? Even though 'F-' might be seen as a civilian designation, is it correct that the 'M' at the beginning of the four-letter sequence is exclusive to the French military?

SA341C ZU-HBH (WA1418) short manoeuvring
clip during anti-poaching demo in South Africa

[Fabrice]

Yes Sav, you're absolutely right; F-Mxxx stands for the ALAT and Gendarmerie regs. Only the last three letters are displayed.

As well, French Air Force and Navy also have their own registration blocks, so have the Sécurité Civile, the French Customs or DGA/EV (the three latter ones in the F-Zxxx series).

[Savoia]

Grazie Fabrice, molto apprezzato!

[Zishelix]

For those who'd like to upgrade accuracy of their 1:4 scale Gazelle model





https://www.scale-cockpits.at/bilder...azelle1zu4.htm

[Savoia]

I think Elipix recently completely one exactly like that!

[Helipixman]

I wish mine was a 1:4 scale model. I am doing a 1:48 scale model of the Alouette II at present and then the same scale Gazelle... These will add to my nearly 500 models completed and approx 25 in reserve to do. I am running out of space in my house and garage to display them all.

[Savoia]

A large garden shed with shelving against each wall and a back-to-back shelving 'island' in the middle .. should resolve your space issue .. for now!

[Rotorspot]

Fabrice wrote: Yes, this is the basic priciple with ALAT Gazelles: 341s retain their original c/ns, and the 342s bear a number adding 2000 to the original Aerospatiale c/n... with one exception (it wouldn't be funny otherwise): SA342M c/n 1732 is numbered...1732!

This must be because this airframe started life as SA341F.

[Zishelix]

#1732 was the first SA342M

[Rotorspot]

#1732 could well be the first SA342M, having been modified from a 341F. This helicopter, built in 1977, spent some time at the French test centre CEV. The first production 342M appeared in 1980. It is strange that all of the 1980 342Ms have c/n's lower than #1732 (even as low as 1458).

[Fabrice]

Yes, this could be an explanation: 1732 originally produced as a 341, then used as a prototype for all the 342Ms batch, and avoiding the c/n change. But once again, I don't know if this Gazelle has been leaving the factory as a 341, or if she has been directly built as a 342.

[Savoia]

SA341B's attached to the Blue Eagles as seen at Biggin Hill in 2004 (Photo by Alistair McQuarrie)

This shot of XX409 (below) has in fact appeared before near the beginning of the thread, but somehow ended-up in my 'to post' folder. As its been a while I am showing her again.


SA341B XX409 (WA1351) as seen in Chantilly, France on 9th September 1989 (Photo by Fred Willemsen)

This craft was sold off by the Army and bought by Paramount/MW. She later ended-up in Australia where she became VH-OIX.

[Savoia]

Serbian Air Force Gazelles




SA342MV as seen during Exercise Tafilalet in Morocco in 2019 (Photo courtesy 5RHC)


Gaz Bits


In recent days, 'someone' has taken delivery of this batch of Gazelle blades. We are awaiting further info

[Zishelix]

Shopping time

[Zishelix]

3 CBAS Gazelles in San Carlos, Falklands – painting

[Savoia]

SA341G HA-LFD (cn.1145) as seen at Duxford on 28th September 2011 (Photo by Steve Mills)

[Savoia]

SA341G G-PAGS (cn.1155) as seen at Heythrop Park in Oxfordshire on 8th August 2004

This Gaz has previously featured on Shrieking Gazelles as G-BLAP and G-SFTH. She went on to become YU-MMY and HA-LFC .. a sister ship of sorts to HA-LFD which appears in the previous post.


Qatari Gaz


SA342L QA05 as seen in Doha Qatar




SA342M F-MGET as seen fitted with the Dillon M134D Minigun

And a closer look at Dillon's Gatling below:

[Savoia]

This Lebanese Air Force SA342L from No. 8 Squadron was deployed over multiple locations in Lebanon on 22nd March 2020 on
'Covid Operations'. The aircraft was fitted with a custom speaker from which public information announcements were made

Can anyone take a guess as to the purpose of the 'missile' on the craft's starboard side? It this perhaps a counterweight for the speaker?

A new Gaz project for one of our Avia members!
Shown here is the first start of the craft's Astazou XIV (ie. SA342)


Junior Gazellers

'XB Junior' (XBJ) piloting N341DT
We welcome XBJ to Avia's 'Junior Gazellers' club

Post-compressor wash engine run and hover for 2-WILD


You are welcome to like and follow our FB page:

[xbdt]

Yes, my son can fly the Gazelle as long as you want! He has been able to hover since he was 9 yrs old. Now (at 13 yrs) he can not only hover but also perform the complete approach and landing all alone. :-) Next step will be learning the take offs.

[Savoia]

Fantastico XB!

Please share with XBJ how incredibly proud we are of him and how wonderful it is to see 'Gaz-appreciation' being passed on to the next generation.

[xbdt]

FFW to 18:32 to see Gazelle Sharks

[Savoia]

This specially 'speaker-adapted' SA342L from No. 8 Squadron Lebanese Air Force was seen again yesterday on 23rd March 2020 engaged in public announcement 'COVID Operations'

While people in China, Italy, France and elsewhere are having orders barked at them by drones, telling them to scurry away into their homes like a scene out of some dystopian drama, at least the citizens of Lebanon get to have this done to them by a Gazelle.

As no one is 'talking to me' about the item bolted onto the starboard stores carrier I'm going to go with my initial assumption .. that this is a counterweight.




SA341B RA-05709 (WA1184) as seen near Ust'-Uda (south of Bratsk) in Russia on 24th March 2020

With our thanks to Avia member Kirill for sharing with us this photo from his flight with '709' earlier today. Also for sharing with us how he stays awake!

Gazelle deck landing

[Jensen Jordan Lubowa]

Savoia, why is the booster pump on this gazelle in OFF position in flight, I thought must be at ON ???

[Zishelix]

I'm going to go with my initial assumption .. that this is a counterweight.

Or additional device for those who disobey!

[Savoia]

Ha ha .. indeed. Only that one day what we laugh at in jest today .. may become more real than we care to believe.

[Savoia]

SA342L HA-LFQ (cn.1854) as seen at Aérodrome Saint-Hubert in Belgium on 1st September 2013 (Photo by Mur Meldeier)

A little flashback from 2013. Seen here .. Stefano avec Petit Nigel!




SA341B ZA776 (WA1818) as seen at RNAS Yeovilton on 3rd August 1985

[Savoia]

SA341H RA-1341K (cn.003) as seen at Zhukovsky Airport in Moscow on 23rd August 2003




XX436 and G-ZZEL at RAF Cosford on 10th June 2018 (Photo by Rich Cooke)

[Savoia]

SA341 F-ZWRL (Prototype 02) as seen at Madrid–Torrejón Airport in 1972 (Photo by Juan Gonzalez)

[Savoia]

SA342L ZU-RMZ (cn.1423) as seen at Wonderboom Airport on 14th March 2020 (Photo by Bruce Perkins)

SA341F2 N918GZ (cn.1672) departure, probably Chino Airport, California

[Savoia]

SA342MV F-MGAP as seen at Phalsbourg in 2017




SA342L L815 in Lebanon on 29th March 2020




SA342M as seen at Aéroport Valence Chabeuil on 28th September 2014 (Photo by Marc Duthet)




SA341D G-DMSS XW858 (WA1089) as seen at Wycombe Air Park on 9th June 2007 (Photo by Paul Chandler)

This aircraft is now flying as G-ONNE.


Gaz Bits


This Gazelle main rotorhead was delivered to a UK customer late last week


Gaz Merch





Get your Navy Wings Gaz merch here: https://navywingsflightstore.org/sea...page&q=gazelle

SA341B in Ripe, East Sussex on 21st March 2020

[Fabrice]

The camouflaged Gazelle seen in Valence is not a 342M, it's a SA 341F2 (former ALAT) used as a demonstrator by Aerotec. I'm not even sure she's kept airworthy. You can see see latches in the middle of the Astazou cowling, which doesn't exist on the SA 342.

[Savoia]

Grazie mille Fabrice!

[Zishelix]

341F indeed. S/n 1415

[Savoia]

SA341B as seen over Argylishire in Scotland c.2019 (Photo by Jasper Dalgliesh)

SA341C ZU-HBH (WA1418) during anti-poaching
K9 unit training in South Africa

SAF Gaz at Ponikve Airport in Serbia

[Zishelix]

Float Gaz

I have recently added this photo to my collection:



I assume it's s/n 1063 while it was N6958.

UK Gazelle Imports


G-BLAN SA341G (1063) ex F-WTNT, N6958 imported by Specialist Flying Training and registered to them on 16th November 1983. Became G-RIFF and crashed at Hall Lane Farm, Runcorn on 7th March 1990.

http://www.aviafora.com/forums/forum...=3233#post3233

[Savoia]

Great photo Zis! So interesting, because some months back I was asking about images of the Gaz with floats.

[noscoavia]

Pontoon floats, as shown fitted to 1063, were part of the large consignment of 's' & 'u/s' parts, ground equipment and general items that came with BLAN/O/P from Texas to SFT.

During the 1984 'Airport open day', a pair of pontoon floats were inflated and exhibited individually aside of G-SFTG, for the static display.

A black and white image of this display could probably still be found, with an internet search. I have a copied image somewhere in my 'collection database,' but not currently with me.

The crosstube arrangement is also interesting, as I do not remember seeing those.

[Helipixman]

I am assuming the floats used on the Gazelle can also be used on the Alouette, they look identical ?

[Savoia]

SA342L1 12920 (cn.133) as seen at Belgrade-Batajnica Airport on 2nd September 2012 (Photo by Max Bryansky)

SA341G ZU-RLU (cn.1097) flying along Blythedale Beach
in Natal, South Africa in March 2020

[Savoia]

SA342M F-MGND 3617 (cn.1617) as seen at Aérodrome du Luc Le Cannet on 23rd May 2016 (Photo by Federico La Sala)


SFT Flashback


SA341G G-SFTH (cn.1155) as seen at Southampton's Eastleigh Airport in 1986

SA341F2 N918GZ (cn.1672)
hammerhead turn in California

ETPS Gazelle display

Elipix wrote: I am assuming the floats used on the Gazelle can also be used on the Alouette, they look identical ?

For sure these are Alouette floats, just like the Gazelle's original tail rotor and stabilisers.


SE3130 Alouette II OH-HIS (cn.1945) as seen in Finland (date unknown)

[Savoia]

SA341G D-HOYE (cn.1043) NFI




SA341D XW898 (WA1191) as seen at Cranfield on 5th July 1987 (Photo by Stephen Duquemin)

[Savoia]

SA342L1 YU-HEA (cn.118) as seen in Belgrade on 27th May 2018 (Photo by Srđan Popović)

SA342M F-MGCF at La Ferté-Alais in 2018