PPRuNe Forums - View Single Post - Argentines help to ease support helo shortfall
Old 27th August 2007 | 18:42
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TEEEJ
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Joined: Jun 2004
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From: Lincs
That was 6 years ago and not out of a museum.

The Puma was PA-12 liberated in the Falklands from the Argentine Coast Guard. This helo, after many years serving as a ground instructional(9017M), went through a lengthy rebuild. The ex-PA-12 now serves with the RAF as a Puma HC.1, serial ZE449. It was delivered to the RAF as an HC.1 in 2001.

Image of PA-12/ZE449 can be found here

http://www.aeromilitaria.com.ar/hst/puma/1591/index.htm

There was also the Argentine Argentine CH-47C, serial AE-520. Part of this ex-Argentine helo now serves with the RAF. The helo returned to the UK in August 82. It was assigned a UK serial ZH257 and over the years has been in storage or in use as a ground instructional airframe. It was assigned the maintenance serial 9217M. The rear half of this Argentine Chinook was mated with the remains of a damaged RAF example, serial ZA704, and entered service in 2001. The front remains of AE-520 I believe went back into storage.

I say that it was an excellent use of resources. The AAC uses captured Argentine Agusta 109s. The 35mm Oerlikons/Skyguards were also put to good use at the time back in the UK.
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