On Friday 21st September the Irish Air Corps retired the Alouette III from operational service aftering serving for nearly 44 years.
The first AIII deilvered in 1963, 195, was the last Alouette flying if only by a few minutes. The pictures below are a mixed bag that were taken on the day, there was a flypast with a brief display before the heli's came in to land for the last time.
There are rumours that one of the Alouette's will be kept flying until it reaches it's 400 hour inspection but I've been unable to confirm the rumour so far.
As you can see from the pictures the weather was rubbish, but I took the pictures anyway for their historical significance. Of course the sun came out after the flying finished but what can you do about it!
![Sad :(](./images/smilies/icon_sad.gif)
Anyway, on with the show, more pictures and larger versions available here:
http://www.irishairpics.com/reports/alouette_retirement/
Enjoy,
Frank.
![Image](http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a314/irishairpics/alouette_retirement/IMG_1395_214.jpg)
![Image](http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a314/irishairpics/alouette_retirement/IMG_1240_214.jpg)
![Image](http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a314/irishairpics/alouette_retirement/IMG_1210_212.jpg)
![Image](http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a314/irishairpics/alouette_retirement/IMG_1186_213.jpg)
![Image](http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a314/irishairpics/alouette_retirement/IMG_1165_211.jpg)
![Image](http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a314/irishairpics/alouette_retirement/IMG_1048_214.jpg)
![Image](http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a314/irishairpics/alouette_retirement/IMG_0940_195.jpg)
![Image](http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a314/irishairpics/alouette_retirement/IMG_0926_214.jpg)
![Image](http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a314/irishairpics/alouette_retirement/IMG_0748_213.jpg)
![Image](http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a314/irishairpics/alouette_retirement/IMG_0653_276.jpg)
![Image](http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a314/irishairpics/alouette_retirement/IMG_0636_211.jpg)
![Image](http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a314/irishairpics/alouette_retirement/IMG_0619_214.jpg)
![Image](http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a314/irishairpics/alouette_retirement/IMG_0610_195.jpg)
![Image](http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a314/irishairpics/alouette_retirement/IMG_0603_195.jpg)
![Image](http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a314/irishairpics/alouette_retirement/IMG_0600_196.jpg)
![Image](http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a314/irishairpics/alouette_retirement/IMG_0582_211.jpg)
![Image](http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a314/irishairpics/alouette_retirement/IMG_0573_195.jpg)
![Image](http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a314/irishairpics/alouette_retirement/IMG_0481_213.jpg)
![Image](http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a314/irishairpics/alouette_retirement/IMG_0421_195.jpg)
![Image](http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a314/irishairpics/alouette_retirement/IMG_0415_212.jpg)
Last touchdown ever by an operational Irish Air Corps Alouette III
![Image](http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a314/irishairpics/alouette_retirement/IMG_1175_195.jpg)
195 is towed from the ramp
![Image](http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a314/irishairpics/alouette_retirement/IMG_1217_195.jpg)