Shrieking Gazelles

[Savoia]

SA341G ZU-ROO (cn1301) as seen at Mossel Bay Airport on 26th November 2020 (Photo by Cassie Nel)

While the above photo was taken by Cassie Nel, it was sent to us by Duncan Gillespie who also sent us all the photos and videos relating to ZU-RLD's recent event. Grazie mille Duncan!




SA341B XW865 (WA1119) as seen at Calgary Airport on 16th July 2020




SA341B XX405 (WA1343) as seen at Aldergrove in Northern Ireland on 17th February 2021 (Photo by Jonas Verner)

[Savoia]

SA341F2 N2MF (cn.1448) as seen at North Las Vegas Airport on 19th January 2021 (Photo by Robert Domandl)




SA341B XX384 (WA1276) as seen at Gutersloh in Germany on 16th June 1999 (Photo by Joop de Groot)




F-MBWN as seen at Phalsbourg in May 1991 (Photo by Gilles Tariol)

Jakub, I am not sure if this was a Gulf War Gaz, but she seems to be wearing the appropriate markings.

I am also unsure as to which model this is (341F2?) and of her construction number. There was mention of 1438, but on Jos' list this is recorded as a 342L with Ecuadorian markings. Hopefully Fabrizio can assist us.




Arms Dealers Facing Prosecution

Erik Prince (American) and Amanda Perry (British) are among those accused by the United Nations of violating an arms embargo through their association with 'Operation Opus' which involved the supply of weapons and armaments to Libyan warlord Khalifa Haftar in 2019. Also supplied were a number of aircraft including three Gazelle helicopters.

https://www.foxnews.com/world/blackw...ions-un-report

https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/u...ftar-mjztpc29d

[Jakub Cikhart]

Great pic !!! It looks like it is 1483 not 1438, with BWN (I have it wrongly as BWH) with 34 tail code. I have it as an SA-341F1, 3e RHC, green camo, JVN, NAVSTAR (HAP). Really great great pic !!!

[Savoia]

Grazie Jakub!

That's really helpful to have the right construction number. 👍 I am wondering though whether it is an F2?

Jos has this aircraft as being on the US register as N341KJ, although I have never seen a photo of this.

[Savoia]

SA342M's at Étain-Rouvres Air Base in February 2021


SA342M F-MGEC near Étain-Rouvres Air Base in February 2021




SA341D XZ936 (WA1743) as seen at RAF Fairford on 22nd July 1989

[Savoia]

SA342L KAF501 (cn.1085) as seen at Ali Al Salem Air Base in Kuwait in July 2016 (Photo by S. Teliks)




SA342M as seen in Mali in 2013

[Fabrice]

Not in Mali, an pre-2009 picture. From 2009 on, all the ALAT Gazelles have been coded with lifelong regs, beginning with a G. On this one, the reg indicates the unit as per the old system, in this case Etain's 3ème RHC. It's a SA 341F2 btw (no doppler fairing under the aft fuselage, which makes the most noticeable difference with the ALAT 342s).

[Savoia]

Grazie Fabrizio! 👍

A lot of misinformation being sent with these photos, but we are so glad for your input.

[Savoia]

SA342MV F-MGBE (cn.2053) as seen at RAF Fairford on 20th July 2019 (Photo by Lee Adcock)

Estimated Blade Height Competition!

Approximately how high do you think GBE's forward main blade is from the ground?

a) 2 feet
b) 3 feet
c) 4 feet
d) 5 feet

Please offer your best estimate in the comments below.

Fabrizio, can you confirm that this aircraft is wearing Fennec blades. Also, can anyone say whether you can fit Fennec blades onto an SA341B for example and what the increased performance would be?




SA341B XZ333 (WA1622) as seen at RAF Mildenhall on 29th May 1988




Digital SA342MV's

Gazelles engaged in mercenary operations in the Cabo Delgado province of Mozambique in February 2021

The current mercenary rotary force in Mozambique consists of 2 x Gazelle, 2 x Alouette III and 1 x Bell 407.

[Tasty]

Between 3 and 4 feet and I confirm that this Gazelle is wearing Fennec blades (like all the 342M1 and MA).

I don’t know if you can fit these blades on a 341B but it could increase the payload of 200kg.

I was the PIC for the RIAT 2019.

[Savoia]

Grazie XB! 👍

'𝘽𝙚𝙩𝙬𝙚𝙚𝙣 3 𝙖𝙣𝙙 4 𝙛𝙚𝙚𝙩' — Exactement, c'est ce que je pense.

'𝙞𝙩 𝙘𝙤𝙪𝙡𝙙 𝙞𝙣𝙘𝙧𝙚𝙖𝙨𝙚 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙥𝙖𝙮𝙡𝙤𝙖𝙙 𝙤𝙛 200𝙠𝙜.'; — This is what I imagined, a significant performance enhancement (as if this was needed on a privately operated Gazelle). Perhaps because of the varying rrpm this would be more suited to civilian-owned 342 and presumably in the future some ex-ALAT 342's will be sold to civilians with the Fennec blades fitted. I think you may encounter a small speed increase too if for example you were to fit these to a 342J and then put it on the experimental category (if one wanted to do such a thing).

'𝙄 𝙬𝙖𝙨 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙋𝙄𝘾 𝙛𝙤𝙧 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙍𝙄𝘼𝙏 2019.' — Bravo Julien 👍 tu es une ⭐

[xbdt]

Yes of course the latest french 342M's will be with the 355 blades but probably many years from now. It is not just a matter of fitting the 355 blades, but the blade root fixtures are different (so they suit the gazelle sleeves and drag damper) and the pitch links are shorter. Probably the inertia is lower due to the lower rrpm on the 341 and the lighter weight of the blades so maybe therefore they only allowed these to be fitted on the 342.

[Rotorspot]

SA342L KAF501 (cn.1085) as seen at Ali Al Salem Air Base in Kuwait in July 2016 (Photo by S. Teliks)

Seeing the nice picture of the Kuwaiti SA342L, reminds me of a question that I have. I think the Kuwaiti Gazelles were delivered as SA342K models. Some are now known as SA342L model. Have they been modified? If so, when did that happen?

[Fabrice]

'𝙏𝙝𝙚 𝙆𝘼𝙁 𝙬𝙚𝙧𝙚 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙡𝙖𝙪𝙣𝙘𝙝 𝙘𝙪𝙨𝙩𝙤𝙢𝙚𝙧 𝙛𝙤𝙧 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙎𝘼342, 𝙞𝙚. 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙛𝙞𝙧𝙨𝙩 𝙘𝙪𝙨𝙩𝙤𝙢𝙚𝙧 𝙤𝙪𝙩𝙨𝙞𝙙𝙚 𝙤𝙛 𝙁𝙧𝙖𝙣𝙘𝙚 𝙩𝙤 𝙧𝙚𝙘𝙚𝙞𝙫𝙚 𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙨 𝙫𝙚𝙧𝙨𝙞𝙤𝙣?'

Actually, Kuwait was the very first worldwide customer to have 342s. The ALAT had its own 342M some years later (from 1980 on). The 342 with the Astazou XIV was not designed according to any official requirement, but only as a private initiative from Aerospatiale.

I don't think that the high gear is linked to any specific version, I believe it is simply an option you can add, or not, like sand filters, armament and so on.

[Savoia]

Grazie Fabrizio, so much appreciated! 👍

[Rotorspot]

Thanks for the help and updates.

[Savoia]

SA341G(S) G-ZELL (cn.1280) as seen at Athens Hellinikon Airport in Greece in the 1990's (Photo courtesy of George Pantalos)




New Gazelles Delivered to Mozambique

Aside from the mercenary Gazelles currently operating in Mozambique, two new Gazelles have also recently been delivered as per below:


SA341B FA-085 (WA1435) as seen at Nacala Airport, Mozambique in February 2021 (ex-XX445)


SA341B FA-083 (WA1966) as seen at Nacala Airport, Mozambique in February 2021 (ex-ZB673)

With our thanks to the Avia reader who supplied these photos.

If you have any Gazelle news, photos or videos you wish to see posted on Shrieking Gazelles, please write to: aviafora1@gmail.com

Elipix, do you remember how you recently enquired about the whereabouts of some of the Gazelles stored at Stapleford and how I replied that there may have been some which were sold and which we were unaware of .. well here are two which are confirmed (thanks to one of our reader's) as having been stored in Martin's warehouse.

[Savoia]

More Gazelles Being Readied for Southern Africa

We are able to confirm that four ex-MoD SA341B's from the MW store at Stapleford are currently being readied for shipment to South Africa. These are (obviously) in addition to the two examples recently delivered to Mozambique and of which we shared images from Stapleford late last year as they were being prepared.

Whether these four aircraft will serve in Mozambique, at the Paramount Academy in Polokwane or with some other African defence force, we are not yet sure.






SA341B's being prepared for shipment to South Africa as seen at Stapleford Aerodrome on 26th February 2021

These aircraft are currently having Garmin GPS systems fitted to them.










SA341G(S) YU-HHH (cn.1307) as seen at Stapleford Aerodrome on 26th February 2021

Aviafora is blessed with some truly wonderful supporters. One such supporter (a notable character within the aviation community who is currently visiting the UK) took time out of his schedule yesterday to pass by Stapleford for the purpose of taking some photos specifically for this thread. Together with our readers, I wish to express our gratitude to him for this very kind gesture; and to him I say .. grazie mille amico!