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Karo-Aviation
visits Gilze-Rijen air base
Article and pictures by Peter Kooijman
Today December the 15 1025 was the day that the Royal Netherlands Air
Force officially retired the SE.3160 Alouette III from service.
In the coming month a few flights are still planned and from the first
of January it will all be over.
Several reasons are given for the retirement, going from a reduction in
types used by the Royal Netherlands Air Force, to the announcement of
Turbomeca that they are stopping the support for the engine overhauls,
regardless of the reason the end is imminent.
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SA.316B Alouette III A-292 was
seen at Gilze-Rijen with the special '1964-2014 50 years
Alouette III' markings, as the Alouette III is already more
than 50 years in service with the Royal Netherlands Air
Force. |
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The first of the seventy seven SE.3160 Alouette III ordered by the
Royal Netherlands Air Force arrived in the Netherlands in august
1964. The first series of fifty aircraft was ordered directly at Sud-Aviation.
And delivered between august 1964 and December 1965.
A second batch
of twenty seven aircraft was built by the firm “Lichtwerk” at Hogeveen, the Netherlands. These aircraft were built and delivered
between October 1967 and July 1969.
After the retirement from frontline service SE.3160 Alouette III
remained in service for VIP flights. In November 2004, the four
remaining SE.3160 Alouette III where modified by RUAG in Alpnach,
Switzerland, to the more powerful SA.316B standard and received a
blue colour scheme. Highlighting there use for VIP- and Royal
Flights.
At first operated by the Alouette Flight at Soesterberg
until 2008, On 27 August 2008, the remaining four SE.316B Alouette
III moved to Gilze- Rijen Air Base. At Gilze Rijen they were
operated by 300 squadron, part of the Defense Helicopter Command.
During the retirement ceremony all four SE.316B Alouette III where
present on the platform and ships A-292 and A-301 preformed a fly-by
before returning to the platform.
On their return they were given a
water salute by the fire department. After this it was possible to
take picture on the platform before they were returned to the hanger
Captain Robert de Lange, flight commander of the Alouette III, part
of the 300th Squadron at Gilze- Rijen, praises the Alouette as “a
very versatile helicopter, with a very large mode off deployment."
The best description for this type was in his few “servitude “.
The
farewell of this helicopter type will also for the Alouette pilots
mean the end of their career because no transition to other types
will follow.
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Returned to
its hanger, waiting for things to come. |
The four remaining SE.316B Alouette III
will transfer from the air force's 300 squadron to the Defence Materiel
Organization responsible for the sale of these surplus rotorcraft.
There
is talk about one SE.316B Alouette III going to the historical flight of
the Air Force although there is no official conformation about this
fact.
The Dutch SE.3160 Alouette III will internationally mostly be remembered
thanks to the demonstration team The Grasshoppers, which presented
spectacular shows in the Netherlands and abroad between 1973 and 1995.
For a more complete picture of the service history of the SE.3160
Alouette III with the Royal Netherlands Air Force have a look at our
history page.
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