Aérospatiale SA-321 Super Frelon facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Aérospatiale SA-321 Super Frelon |
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| French Navy Super Frelon. | |
| Role | Helicopter |
| National origin | France |
| Manufacturer | Sud Aviation and after Aérospatiale. |
| First flight | December 7th, 1962. |
The Aérospatiale SA-321 Super Frelon is a large helicopter from France. It was designed to carry troops and supplies, and also to hunt for submarines. The name "Super Frelon" means "Super Hornet" in French. This powerful helicopter was first built by a company called Sud Aviation, and later by Aérospatiale.
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What is the Super Frelon?
The Super Frelon is a heavy-duty helicopter. This means it can carry a lot of weight or many people. It was built for different jobs, like moving soldiers and equipment, or finding and fighting submarines. When it's used to find submarines, it's called an ASW helicopter, which stands for Anti-Submarine Warfare.
How Big is It?
This helicopter is quite large! It has three powerful engines, which help it lift off the ground and fly fast. It also has a special boat-like hull, which means it can land on water. This feature was very useful for naval operations, allowing it to work closely with ships at sea.
When Was It First Built?
The Super Frelon made its very first flight on December 7th, 1962. After many tests, it started being used by different countries. It was a big step forward for helicopter design in France.
Who Used the Super Frelon?
The Super Frelon was mainly used by the French Navy. They used it for many years to protect their ships and move people around. But France wasn't the only country to use this impressive helicopter.
Other Countries That Used It
- Israel: The Israeli Air Force used the Super Frelon for transport and search-and-rescue missions. They found it very useful for carrying troops and supplies.
- South Africa: The South African Air Force also used these helicopters for transport and other military tasks.
- China: China bought some Super Frelons and later started building their own version under a special agreement.
Super Frelon in China
In China, the Super Frelon became the basis for a new helicopter called the Avicopter AC313. This shows how important the original Super Frelon design was, as other countries wanted to use and even build their own versions of it. The AC313 is a modern helicopter that still uses some of the ideas from the Super Frelon.
