The Aérospatiale SA 360 Dauphin was a single-engine French utility helicopter developed and produced by aerospace manufacturer Aérospatiale. It was developed during the early 1970s as a replacement for the company's popular Alouette III helicopter, as well as to fill in an apparent gap in the company's existing product line, falling within the six to ten-seat helicopter category. Performing its maiden flight on 2 June 1972, the prototypes the demonstrated type's performance capacities by setting three world airspeed records for helicopters in the 1,750 kg – 3,000 kg class. The Dauphin was marketed towards both civilian and military customers, however, as the new helicopter supposedly offered little advantage over its predecessor, the type possessed only a limited market appeal and did not