Aérospatiale SA-360 Dauphin facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Aérospatiale SA-360 Dauphin |
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| Aérospatiale SA-360 Dauphin of the german police. | |
| Role | Helicopter |
| National origin | France |
| Manufacturer | Aérospatiale. |
| First flight | 1972 |
| Introduction | 1976 |
| Produced | 1976-1977. |
| Number built | 36 examples. |
The Aérospatiale SA-360 Dauphin is a cool French helicopter that was built to carry people and do different jobs. It has one powerful turboshaft engine, which is like a jet engine that spins a propeller. This helicopter can carry up to eight passengers. While some were used by armies, most Dauphins were used for everyday civilian tasks like transport or rescue missions. This helicopter was also the starting point for the even more famous Aérospatiale SA-365 Dauphin 2.
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What is the Aérospatiale SA-360 Dauphin?
The Aérospatiale SA-360 Dauphin is a type of helicopter designed and built in France. It was made by a company called Aérospatiale. This helicopter was created to be a fast and comfortable way to travel. It could carry a pilot and up to seven passengers.
How Was the Dauphin Designed?
The Dauphin was designed to be very sleek and modern for its time. It had a special tail rotor called a "fenestron." This is a fan-like tail rotor that is built into the tail of the helicopter. It makes the helicopter quieter and safer, especially when it's on the ground. The Dauphin also had a single powerful engine. This engine helped it fly quickly and efficiently.
What is a Turboshaft Engine?
A turboshaft engine is a type of jet engine that spins a shaft. This shaft then connects to the helicopter's main rotor blades. It's a very strong and reliable type of engine. It allows helicopters like the Dauphin to lift off the ground and fly at good speeds.
When Was the Dauphin Made?
The first SA-360 Dauphin helicopter flew for the very first time in 1972. After some testing, it was introduced and started being used in 1976. However, not many of these helicopters were made. Only 36 examples were built between 1976 and 1977.
Why Were So Few Made?
Even though the SA-360 Dauphin was a good helicopter, Aérospatiale soon developed an even better version. This new version had two engines instead of one. Having two engines makes a helicopter safer and more powerful. This new model was called the Aérospatiale SA-365 Dauphin 2. Because the Dauphin 2 was so much better, the original SA-360 was not produced for very long.
What Was the Dauphin Used For?
Most of the SA-360 Dauphin helicopters were used for civilian jobs. This means they were used by companies or individuals, not by the military.
Civilian Uses of the Dauphin
- Passenger Transport: Many Dauphins were used to fly people from one place to another. This could be for business trips or even for tourism.
- Corporate Travel: Some companies used the Dauphin to transport their executives quickly.
- Emergency Services: A few Dauphins might have been used for tasks like search and rescue or medical transport, though this was more common for its two-engine successor.
Military and Police Use
While most were civilian, some SA-360 Dauphins were used by armed forces or police departments. They could be used for patrolling, observation, or light transport duties. The image in the infobox shows a Dauphin used by the German police.
The Legacy of the Dauphin
Even though the SA-360 Dauphin was not made in large numbers, it was a very important helicopter. It was the starting point for the entire Dauphin family of helicopters. The Aérospatiale SA-365 Dauphin 2 became incredibly popular and was used all over the world for many different jobs. It showed how good French helicopter design could be.
