This image just in today from the acclaimed black and white collection of RA Scholefield and which I simply couldn't resist posting ..
Sud Aviation SA 321F Super Frelon F-BMHC attending the Paris Air Salon at Le Bourget on 3rd June 1967 (Photo: RA Scholefield)
Developed from the initial SE-3200 Frelon testbed this triple-engine design first flew on 7th December 1962 as was one of the largest Western helicopters of its day. On 23rd July 1963 a Super Frelon broke the
FAI helicopter world speed record achieving a speed of 217.7 mph.
The Super Frelon enjoyed elements of international collaboration with the design of its six-bladed main rotor and five-bladed tail rotor being outsourced to America's Sikorsky Aircraft and its main transmission being designed by Itlay's Fiat SpA. But, this was typical of Sud Aviation's forward-thinking approach to aviation. The company was, in my view, one of France's greatest 'modern' aircraft developers who gave us the likes of the Caravelle and Concorde. Other Sud-inspired rotorcraft include the Alouette family, Gazelle and Puma.
The Frelon still flies-on of course in the form of the Chinese Z8.