Aérospatiale SA 330 Puma

France France United Kingdom United Kingdom

The Aérospatiale SA 330 Puma is a medium transport helicopter. It was created in cooperation of the French manufacturer Aérospatiale and the British manufacturer Westland Aircraft.

History

The SA 330 Puma was originally developed to meet the requirements of the French armed forces on a new medium all-weather helicopter. He should be able to fly day and night missions in different climates.

In 1967, the British Royal Air Force also decided for the SA 330 and gave him the designation Puma HC Mk 1 Due to this purchase was Entscheides the SA 330 part of a production collaboration between Aerospatiale and Westland Helicopters.

The first flight of the first prototype took place on 15 April 1965. Then, six pre-production vehicles were built before the first production model was launched for its first flight in September 1968. On April 25, 1978, the Type SA 330J was classified as first helicopter outside the Soviet Union as an all-weather. He was allowed to start even at the risk of icing.

Production continued until 1987. A total of 697 units were sold, including to the Federal. Production was 332 " Super Puma " continued with the improved Aérospatiale SA, which is also used at the Federal and its successor, the Federal Police.

Variants of the SA 330 were manufactured at the Denel Aviation of South Africa ( South Africa ) at the ICA (Romania) and in the IPTN (Indonesia), partially under license.

Versions

  • SA 330A: prototypes, originally referred to as " Alouette IV".
  • SA 330B: Original version for the French Aviation légère de l' armée de Terre, modernized surviving copies later to version SA 330Ba, corresponds to the series H.
  • SA 330C: First production version.
  • SA 330E: Built In Westland Helicopters version for the RAF, local service name " Puma HC.Mk.1 " in use at the 18th, 33rd and 230th squadron, including 1980-1997 with the RAF Germany. From 2011 until 2014 for 340 million euros to modernize version of "Cougar HC.Mk.2 " with extended life of the structure until the scheduled service end of 2022, contemporary systems, reinforcements on the cell and new Turbomeca Makila 1A1 turbines. The first flight took place on 29 June 2011 in Marignane, France.
  • SA 330F: First civilian export version with Turbomeca Turmo - IIIC4 - shaft turbines.
  • SA 330G: Upgraded civilian version with Turbomeca Turmo IVC turboshaft engines and a main rotor made ​​of plastic.
  • SA 330H: Upgraded machinery of the French Army and export machinery with Turbomeca Turmo IVC turboshaft engines and a main rotor made ​​of plastic.
  • SA 330L: Upgraded version for use under the so-called " hot and high " conditions.
  • SA 330J: Identical to the SA 330L, but for the civilian market.
  • SA 330Z: Prototype with a fenestron tail rotor.
  • SA 330 " Orchid": Modified SA 330 for driving the "Orchid " surveillance radar for the French army.
  • AS 332
  • Oryx: Upgraded SA 330 "Cougar " for the armed forces of South Africa
  • IAR - 330L: Built In IAR in Romania Royalty machines. Considered by Aerospatiale SA than 330L.
  • IPTN NAS 330J: assembled In the Indonesian company IPTN under the name NAS 330 J machine. Considered by Aerospatiale SA 330J as. Only eleven were built.
  • Westland Puma HC.Mk.1: Built In Westland Helicopters SA 330 E for the RAF. A modernization to HC.Mk.2 is planned, the contract was awarded in 2008 at Eurocopter.

Specifications

Use

Were used, the civilian and military "Puma" - " Super Puma " - and " Cougar " versions in the following countries: Ethiopia, Afghanistan, Argentina, Belgium, Brazil, Chile, China, Germany, Ecuador, Ivory Coast, France, Gabon, UK, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Iran, Japan, Jordan, Cameroon, Kenya, Kuwait, Lebanon, Malawi, Mexico, Morocco, Nepal, Netherlands, Nigeria, Pakistan, Portugal, Romania, Saudi Arabia, Senegambia, Spain, Sweden, in Switzerland, Sudan, South Africa, Togo, Turkey, United Arab Emirates and Zaire.

In Germany, the " Puma " and "Super Puma " the AS.532U -2 " Cougar " come at the federal police (formerly BGS ) for use in the Air Force as a VIP helicopters. The RAF operational Germany 1980-1993 also " Pumas " in Germany, stationed at the Gütersloh Airport.

Stationing locations in Germany

  • Federal Police (formerly Federal ) Airfield Bonn / Hangelar, from December 1973 to August 2008, SA330F/G/J Puma - from 2005 replaced by AS332S1 Super Puma ( Border Guard Aviation Group, from 2005 Federal Police Aviation Group ), next to be Bad Bramstedt - Fuhlendorf, Ahrensfelde - Blumberg, Fulda valley and Oberschleißheim used.
  • Berlin Tegel Airport AS532U -2 Cougar in VIP version ( 3rd Air Transport Squadron FLBschft BMVg)
  • Friedrichshafen Airport, September 1973 to 1992 SA330B Puma ( Groupe d'aviation corps d' armée légère du 2ème, 1978 2ème Régiment d' hélicoptères de combat )
  • RAF Gütersloh, October 1980 to March 1993, SA330E Puma HC.1 ( 18th and 230th Squadron )
  • RAF Laarbruch, from March 1993 to March 1997, SA330E Puma HC.1 (18th Squadron )
Bundesgrenzschutz Hanstein Castle Buyer decision process Royal Air Force Germany Helicopter rotor Fuldatal
32649
de