Aérospatiale SA 360 Dauphin
| SA 360 Dauphin | |
|---|---|
| Aérospatiale SA365C2 Dauphin of the German police | |
| General information | |
| Type | Utility helicopter |
| National origin | France |
| Manufacturer | Aérospatiale |
| Number built | 2 prototypes + 34 production examples |
| History | |
| Manufactured | 1976–77 |
| Introduction date | 1976 |
| First flight | 2 June 1972 |
| Developed into | Eurocopter AS365 Dauphin |
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The Aérospatiale SA 360 Dauphin is a single-engine French utility helicopter that was developed and produced by aerospace manufacturer Aérospatiale.
Developed during the early 1970s as a replacement for the company's Alouette III helicopter, as well as to fill in an apparent gap in the company's existing product line, falling within the six to ten-seat helicopter category. Performing its maiden flight on 2 June 1972, the prototypes demonstrated the type's performance capacities by setting three world airspeed records for helicopters in the 1,750 kg – 3,000 kg class. The Dauphin was marketed towards both civilian and military customers.
Production of the SA 360 Dauphin was cancelled after the production run had been completed. Aérospatiale adapted the design into a twin-engine derivative of the SA 360, the Dauphin 2, which proved to be commercially successful, having been in production for in excess of 40 years.