Ecuador bids farewell to its last Gazelle

On 20 January 2025, the Aviación del Ejército Ecuatoriana (AEE, Ecuadorian Army Aviation) retired the last of its SA342 Gazelle helicopters from service.

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The Ecuadorian Army has finally retired its last Aérospatiale SA.342L Gazelle after 44 years in service. During the official retirement ceremony, the last aircraft received a water cannon salute.

 

The SA342L entered service in Ecuador during 1980. The aircraft saw some frontline service during the Cenepa conflict with Peru, though more recently the type has been used for training. Some 40 examples were delivered in total, in a variety of configurations. Some were armed, and some had roof-mounted sights, and the final aircraft carried four HOT anti-tank missiles on its final flight.

 

Four aircraft remained serviceable by the end, with Brigada de Aviación No.15 at Sangolquí barracks and with Grupo de Aviación del Ejército No.43 at Portoviejo barracks, where the Gazelle has been replaced by the AS350L1 and the AS550C3.

 

Only AEE-373 was active recently, and performed the last flight during the withdrawal ceremony at Portoviejo.

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