This little beauty still takes my breath away every time I see one. The Aérospatiale Gazelle is a five-seat machine developed and initially produced by the French aircraft company Sud Aviation, and later by Aérospatiale. It is the first helicopter to feature a fenestron (ducted fan) tail instead of a conventional tail rotor, as well as being the first helicopter to be adapted for single-pilot operations under instrument flight rules. The Gazelle was developed during the 1960s as a successor to the Alouette II as well as to meet a French Army requirement for a new lightweight observation helicopter. Innovations in the design of the Gazelle, aside from the fenestron, included an emphasis on minimal maintenance requirements and the use of a semi-rigid composite rotor system. In February 1967, France and the United Kingdom inked a cooperation agreement, which would see Westland Aircraft produce the Gazelle on British soil and partner with Sud Aviation on future refinements and upgrades to the Gazelle. This one is on display at RAF Museum Hendon, outside London.
