Aérospatiale SA-330 Puma

French army SA-330B Puma
RAF Puma.
Romanian Puma.
Spanish civilian waterbomber Puma.
Civilian Italian SA-330 Puma.
German Puma.
French SA-330 Puma in the desert of Iraq in 1990.

The Aérospatiale SA-330 Puma is a transport helicopter designed and built in France. The design was first built by Sud Aviation,[1] and later by Aérospatiale. It was also built by Westland Helicopter in the United Kingdom after an agreement between the two countries[2] It first flew in April 1965.[3] It is mainly used by Armée de l'Air, Royal Air Force, and some other air forces. It is also used by civilians.

SA-330 specifications

The Aérospatiale SA-330 Puma is 59.6½ feet (18.15 meters) long, 49.2½ feet (15.00 meters) diameter, and 16.10½ feet (5.14 meters) tall. A minimum mass that weighs 7,795 pounds (3,536 kg) and at the maximum mass that weighs 15,532 pounds (7,000 kg). It is powered by two Turbomeca Turmo engines driving a helicopter rotor with four blades.[4]

The passenger cabin allows the reception of sixteen to twenty armed soldiers in military version,[5] and fourteen to sixteen passengers in civil version. The two-seater cockpit of the helicopter is type side by side. A mechanic, also serving the mechanical winch, takes place at the rear. He can used the removable machine gun.[6]

SA-330 users

At the beginning of 2013, these countries were still using or had used the military Puma:

  Abu Dhabi
  Algeria
  Argentina
  Belgium
  Brazil
  Chad
  Cameroon
  Chile
  Ivory Coast
  Democratic Republic of the Congo
  France
  Germany
  Greece
  Indonesia
  Iran
  Ireland
  Kuwait
  Malawi
  Mexico
  Morocco
  Nepal
  Nigeria
  Oman
  Pakistan
  Philippines
  Portugal
  Romania
  South Africa
  Senegal
  Slovenia
  Spain
  Switzerland
  Togo
  Turkey
  United Arab Emirates
  United Kingdom

SA-330 variants

If the majority of Puma was built by Aérospatiale in France and the UK by Westland but.[7] A few others were produced under license in Indonesia, Romania, and South Africa.

French built Puma

SA-330A, SA-330B, SA-330Ba, SA-330C, SA-330E, SA-330F, SA-330G, SA-330H, SA-330J, SA-330L, SA-330S, SA-330Z. SA-330A is the prototype and SA-330Z is an experimental version.

British built Puma

Puma HC Mk-1, Puma HC Mk-2. British production is only for the military version.

Indonesian built Puma

NAS-330J. Indonesian Puma are built by IPTN, indigenous aeronautical industry, for civilian and military.

Romanian built Puma

IAR-330, IAR-330 SOCAT. Romanian Puma are built by IAR, indigenous aeronautical industriy, for civilian and military. IAR-330 SOCAT is an attack and transport helicopter, like soviet helicopter Mi-24 Hind.

South African built Puma

Oryx. South African Puma are built by Atlas Aircraft Corporation, indigenous aeronautical industriy, for civilian and military.

Aérospatiale SA-330 Puma Media

Notes

The SA-330 Puma gave birth to a derivative extensively modified, designated AS-332 Super Puma.[8]

References

  1. "Aerospatiale / Sud-Aviation SA 330 Puma - Specifications - Technical Data / Description". www.flugzeuginfo.net.
  2. (in French) http://www.avionslegendaires.net/aerospatiale-sa-330-puma.php
  3. "Aerospatiale SA330 Puma". Helis.com.
  4. (in French) http://www.aviationsmilitaires.net/display/aircraft/154 Archived 2013-11-12 at the Wayback Machine
  5. (in French) http://tomcat85.free.fr/SA.330_Puma.php
  6. "Aerospatiale SA.330 "Puma" helicopter - development history, photos, technical data". www.aviastar.org.
  7. (in French)http://www.aeroweb-fr.net/appareils/aerospatiale-sa-330-puma-iar-330
  8. (in French) http://www.avionslegendaires.net/aerospatiale-as-332-ec-225-super-puma.php