SNCASE SE.3200 Frelon

SE.3200 Frelon
Role Military transport helicopter
National origin France
Manufacturer SNCASE
Sud Aviation
First flight 10 June 1959
Number built 2
Developed into Aérospatiale SA 321 Super Frelon

The SNCASE SE.3200 Frelon (Hornet) is a French helicopter built in the late 1950s. Intended to serve as a multirole helicopter for the French Army, Air Forces and Navy, two prototypes were built and flown before the project was dropped in favour of the SA 3210 Super Frelon.[1]

Design and development

The SNCASE SE.3200 Frelon was a heavy helicopter designed to equip the French Armed Forces, replacing the Sikorsky S-58 built under license by SNCASE (Société nationale des constructions aéronautiques du Sud-Est).

The specifications called for an aircraft of less than 5 tonnes gross weight. The prototypes were powered by three Turbomeca Turmo IIIB 750/800 shp turbines to avoid all risk of engine failure: production aircraft were to have used the 1000 hp Turmo IIC. The engines drove a single four blade rotor.[2]

Fuel was held in two large external tanks having a capacity of 1100 liters each. This left the fuselage clear for large loads. The rear fuselage was a swing-tailed unit, which opened to provide clear entry for payloads such as vehicles.[1] The Frelon was able to carry light vehicles, up to 24 fully equipped troops, or 15 stretchers and two attendants if used as an air ambulance. It was equipped with a fixed tricycle landing gear.[3]

Only two prototypes were built, the first one flying on 10 June 1959 at Paris – Le Bourget Airport.

Specifications

Data from [2][4]

General characteristics

Performance

See also

Related development
Aircraft of comparable role, configuration and era
Related lists

References

Wikimedia Commons has media related to SNCASE helicopters.
  1. 1 2 Munson, K.; "Helicopters: and Other Rotorcraft Since 1907", revised Edition, Blandford (1973), Page 159
  2. 1 2 Frelon SE.3200 Flight 27 May 1960
  3. ↑ http://aerostories.free.fr/giravia/helico/liron/liron04/ in French
  4. ↑ Sud Frelon Progress Flight 8 July 1960
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