The Austrian Air Force bade farewell to its Sud Aviation (later Aérospatiale) Alouette III fleet at a fly-out ceremony in the Austrian Alps, ending a service career spanning almost 60 years.
The event was attended by the Austrian Minister of Defence, Klaudia Tanner, members of the Bundesheer (armed forces) including air force commander Gerfried Promberger and representatives from the United States and Leonardo Helicopters.
The first of 29 Alouette III helicopters – split between 15 SE3160s and 14 SA316Bs – entered service with the Austrian Air Force in 1967, taking on a broad variety of roles including search and rescue (SAR), troop and equipment transport, aerial firefighting, medevac and reconnaissance, during which it amassed 198,000 flying hours on both domestic and overseas operations.
The type’s time was called in December 2021, when Austria signed a government-to-government agreement with neighbouring Italy for the acquisition of 18 Leonardo AW169M light utility helicopters, comprising six AW169B training models and 12 advanced multi-role variants, the latter offering integrated mission equipment and weapons systems. The deal also included aircraft ground equipment, spare parts, technical publications, technical support and basic and advanced training, including simulators.
The SA316B has proven itself a reliable and capable platform for the Bundesheer and its 57-year service record is testament to that. Austria’s phasing-out of the type – a move previously made by Belgium, Denmark, France, the Netherlands, Portugal, the Republic of Ireland and Switzerland – means that the Armed Forces of Malta is now Europe’s sole Alouette III operator.
The Austrian Air Force continues to operate a varied, albeit now more modern, rotary wing fleet, comprising Bell OH-58 Kiowas, Agusta Bell AB 212s, Leonardo AW169s and Sikorsky S70 Black Hawks.
