This aircraft was imported to Japan in 1978 and was used by Toho Airlines until 2014. The aircraft's registration number is JA9193, and it is a very nostalgic aircraft that was used to transport supplies to mountain huts and for mountain rescue missions. Even in America, it flies in the Toho Airlines colors, making it feel like I'm still in Japan. Unfortunately, it is not possible to see the SA315BLAMA in Japan, so I am very happy to be able to see it on video like this.
Thanks for the comment. Indeed this aircraft still had a packet with a Japanese good luck prayer in the cockpit. It eventually sold to a city in the mountains of Peru.
I heard years ago that the SA315 has no transmission. The rotors are driven by bleed air which is directed out the blade tips. Is there any truth to that?
No, but there was a french helicopter with that system (similar to the one you described) and I think you are talking about the SO 1221 Djinn, produced by Sud Ouest Aviation (SO) , which later became Sud Aviation (SA), producer of Lama Sa 315B, and later Aerospatial (AS), Eurocopter and then Airbus Helicopters.
