Edited sentence: A programme to replace the Alouette with Dauphin helicopters was not successful and the Dauphins were retired before the Alouettes.Now that their SAR days are over, the Aloutte is most commonly seen practising troop insertions in military training areas, distinctive by their egg-and-spoon shape and characteristic turbine whine.The Irish Air Corps took delivery of it's first Alouette III in 1963, and the type is only scheduled for retirement in 2007.They have been remarkably successful in service, providing capability in the roles of SAR, army co-operation, police (Garda) co-operation, air ambulance, ministerial air transport and aid to the civil power duties