The SO Ariel I was an experimental helicopter first flown in 1947, in which the engine drove a compressor and the low-pressure air output was ducted to a combustion chamber at the end of each of the three rotor blades, where the air was mixed with fuel and ignited. The improved Ariel II first flew in March 1949 and is on display in the Hall des Hélicoptères at this super museum. A final version, Aerial III was also developed and the knowledge gained from the programme was used in the development of the Sud-Ouest Djinn.

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