A-499 Aerospatiale SE.3160 Alouette III c/n 1499 - RNethAF 300Sqdn - Hoogeveen airfield in Holland - 22 February 1990

The SE-3160 Alouette III is a single-engined utility helicopter that can accommodate up to 7 passengers. The Alouette III was derived from the Alouette II featuring a more powerful turboshaft and enlarged cabin. Development of the SE-3160 Alouette III started in the late 50s under the Sud-Aviation banner. The first of two prototypes of the Alouette III, the F-ZWVQ powered by one 550 hp Turbomeca Artouste IIIB turboshaft, was flown on 28 February 1959. Four pre-production machines followed the prototypes, and the first production helicopter of this type flew in July 1961. In the military role, the Alouette III was used either to transport six fully equipped troops or as an assault helicopter. Certification was achieved on 12 December 1961. The initial SE-3160 Alouette III remained in production until 1969, when it was replaced by the improved SA-316B Alouette III. The Alouette III was developed over the years and remained in production until the 1985. Over 1450 helicopters of the different versions of the Alouette III were built, including production under licence in India, the Netherlands, Pakistan, Romania and Switzerland. On 1 January 1970, Sud-Aviation was merged with a number of other French aerospace companies to form the SNIAS (Société Nationale Industrielle Aerospatiale). From 1984, SNIAS operated under the name of Aérospatiale. The helicopter divisions of MBB from Germany and Aerospatiale from France merged in January 1992 to form the Eurocopter Group.

In the eighties and nineties, Groep Lichte Vliegtuigen of the Royal Netherlands Air Force used Hoogeveen airfield in the Netherlands as a base for a week during the exercise sluipvliegen during March and September. On 22 February 1990, Sud-Est SE.3160 Alouette III A-499 of the Royal Netherlands Air Force 300 squadron, in the colours of the "Grasshoppers" demo team, was photographed at Hoogeveen during this exercise. The A-499 was owned by the Royal Netherlands Army, but operated by the RNethAF. Alouette III c/n 1499 was assembled by Lichtwerk Hoogeveen and put into service as A-499 on 21 June 1968 with the 298 squadron of the Groep Lichte Vliegtuigen (GpLV); in fact the Army operating within the Royal Netherlands Air Force. In 1979, the Alouette III was transferred tot the 300 sqdn. The A-499 was withdrawn from use on 18 March 1996. The helicopter was sold in the USA and registered as an Aerospatiale SA.316B Alouette III as N499RA on 11 May 1996. After the Alouette III was exported to Venezuela, the registration N499RA was cancelled on 2 September 1997.