Which was the first AS 350 to fly?

Short answer

The first to fly was the initial AS350C prototype, fitted with a Lycoming LTS101 turboshaft, which made its maiden flight on 27 June 1974 at Marignane, France. The second prototype, powered by a Turbomeca Arriel 1A, followed on 14 February 1975.

Published: November 1, 2026 · Updated: November 1, 2026 · Edited by Above Ten Thousand · Editorial policy

Helicopter from high hillsRoman Raghu Shrestha (CC BY SA), vía commons

A successor for the Alouette II

In the early 1970s, Aérospatiale launched a development programme to replace the ageing Aérospatiale Alouette II. The aim was to enter the light helicopter market, then dominated by the five-seat Hughes 500 and Bell 206. The design had to rely on straightforward construction and low-cost maintenance. The chosen rotor head, introduced a few years earlier on the SA360 Dauphin, would go on to revolutionize rotor head design. The assembly comprised only about 70 parts and was described as light, simple and strong.

The maiden flight at Marignane

On 27 June 1974, the first prototype — an AS350C powered by a Lycoming LTS101 turboshaft — made its first flight at Marignane, France. The second prototype, fitted with a Turbomeca Arriel 1A, flew on 14 February 1975.

Two engines, two certifications

The Arriel-powered variant, designated AS350B and intended for sale worldwide except North America, was certified in France on 27 October 1977. The Lycoming-powered AS350C, marketed as the AStar, received certification from the US Federal Aviation Administration on 21 December 1977.