Belgian Wings
Belgian Air Force, past and present.
The Aeronautical Reference Site - De Luchtvaart Referentie Site - Le site référence de l'Aéronautique
Aerospatiale (Sud Aviation) SA.316B Alouette III
Single engine transport helicopter
In 1971 three Sud Aviation SA316B Alouette III helicopters were acquired for the Belgian Navy for use as supply aircraft for ships at sea. They are primarily deployed on the supply ship A960 Godetia (in the past also on the now retired A961 Zinnia). The three helicopters (Marine Flight) reported to N° 40 Squadron of the Belgian Air Force but were maintained and flown by Navy personnel. Since 1980 the Alouette's can deploy on other ships as well and as such have operated from Dutch ships in the Caribbean. Since 2004 the three helicopters are completely integrated within N° 40 Squadron of the Belgian Air Component.