When the Puma first entered military service the main gearbox was lifed for 800 hrs. between overhauls. In the early 70s Aerospatial decided to launch it into the civilian market but 800 hrs. was far too short to be accepted by civilian operators.
There then came a project known as the CAAP (Components Advanced Ageing Programme).
Five aircraft were involved. Three from the French Army and two from the Royal Air Force; one from each squadron, ours was XW203.
The plan was simple. Fly each one for 100 hrs./month, an horrendous number for a military aircraft were the rate was more like thirty. When a component came up for overhaul remove, inspect and replace in the aircraft. In this way the components could be proved to be able to have their lives extended.
This would lead to endless hours hovering in thick fog or, more satisfactory, using the aircraft for jollies to burn off the hours. Macrahanish for kippers, Gutersloh to stock up on German wine for functions, some even used it to travel for job interviews.
XW203 came to a sudden end in 1974 when an autopilot malfunction put it into an uncommanded barrel roll after take off of which it only managed 70% before coming back to earth. Both crew exited through the front of the aircraft with only minor burns.
However the project had been declared successful by then so the civil gearbox attained an 1,800hrs. overhaul life.