New XP10 version of Gazelle released
It is over 50 years since the maiden flight of the Aérospatiale Gazelle and there are still quite a few of these still flying. Here is an SA342L version for X-Plane 10. It is the military companion of the SA342J, which was fitted with the more powerful 649 kW (870 shp) Astazou XIV engine an improved Fenestron tail rotor. With an increased take-off weight, this variant was approved on 24 April 1976, and entered service in 1977. The Irish Air Corps had two SA342L models Gazelles, (registrations 237 [cn 1772] and 241 [cn 1854]). This particular airframe was used by Aer Chór na hÉireann (Irish Air Corps). It was delivered 30 Oct 1979 and crashed 16 Aug 2002 near Baldonnel. Its sister aircraft [Chassis number 1854] was delivered 14 Jan 1981 as registration 241. It moved to private registration in 2007 as HA-LFQ.