The Aerospatiale SA.319 Alouette III is a light helicopter developed in France in the 1950s which gained world wide popularity. It served in many roles and remained in service and low level production into the 21st Century.

The Aerospatiale Alouette III was a development of the earlier Alouette II with a more powerful engine and accommodation for up to five crew and passengers.

Development began in the mid 1950s following the success of the Alouette II and the prototype SA.316 Alouette III made its first flight on 28 February 1959. The SA.319 is the same helicopter with a slightly more powerful engine.

The Alouette III was very successful, being employed in many civil and military roles including aerial observation, air-sea rescue, liaison, training and transport. Over 2,000 were manufactured, in France (where 1,347 were made between 1961 and 1979) and under licence in India, Switzerland and Roumania.

This model represents an Alouette III of EH 3/67, Armee de l’Air, in about 1975.

Heller 1/72 kit. Completed in March 2018.