Puma in the Province #2

[NIREP reader]

Hi all, I don’t normally do this as it’s not a modelling forum, but thought it might strike a chord with some. In my previous request for info I gained details that I simply couldn’t get elsewhere, so thanks to those that responded. Anyway here goes:
https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51426685768_57731e0776_c.jpg
https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51426685998_888d512438_c.jpg
https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51426438656_a7c2c000e8_c.jpg
https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51426686218_07f084e340_c.jpg
https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51426686268_55bf37be86_c.jpg
https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51427200689_ed42bf5bf1_c.jpg
https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51427418940_b4382b20b4_c.jpg

Thanks for looking.

[NutLoose]

You’ve done it proud :ok:

[Marly Lite]

Awesome job. Pumas were 2 tone green, no black underside by the time I got on the fleet, but the photos of this scheme are still everywhere.

[Video Mixdown]

Nice model, but why is the chap with the camera not wearing a bone dome?

[MPN11]

Nice model, but why is the chap with the camera not wearing a bone dome?
Or is he a she?

Whichever, awesome modelling. The finish and details are top rank! ✔️

[NutLoose]

Never was a requirement to wear a bonedome, indeed we just normally had normal uniforms and a headset or ear duffs in the back.

[Old-Duffer]

Congratulations on an exceptionally well built model - don't drop it!

When I first became involved with rotary wings the two main types were the Sycamore and the Whirlwind and their main rotors turned in opposite directions. When I was allowed to play with them - under strict supervision, of course - I nearly always forgot which boot to put in to stop the yaw as I pulled the power in (power in the Sycamore was of course a virtual concept!). Ever after I always look at model helicopters rotor blades first to see if they've been put on correctly - a bit of a bu*&er when the Chinny turned up!

Old Duffer

[bobward]

If you want to be really pedantic, the very early ones had light gray undersides.
Off to get anorak dry cleaned!

[NutLoose]

Not with those intakes and fit,

[HAS59]

We had much bigger cameras than that in my day (mid 70's)

[Haraka]

We had much bigger cameras than that in my day (mid 70's)
Even if some clown had apparently rigged the Forward Motion Compensation back to front!
A story still to be told
(As we weren't there officially then ).
However ,even in the eyes of the Army, especially the ATOs , I think we earned our keep.

[bspatz]

I may be wrong but not sure that the Puma ever had metal blades and PIPS fitted together. As the plastic blades and PIPS were both introduced at about the same time it is possible unfortunately I cannot recall the order they were fitted but I suspect that it may not have been for very long if at all.

[Fareastdriver]

The first PIPS were fitted to XW209 in the late Autumn 1977 because I flew it to Marignane for it to be modified. When it returned it almost immediately went to Norway to replace XW 205. With the PIPS Boscombe were worried about the yaw stability so we were restricted on our payload. We were also not allowed to try any benefits that the mod may have given us.

IIRC there were no other PIPS aircraft on the squadron up to August 1978.

In 1978 I retired and started flying the Puma S330J which had plastic blades. Still living in Basingstoke I communicated in very strong terms both verbally and in writing the advantages of the plastic blades. This was at a time when the RAF was buying up every form of metal blades worldwide to keep the fleet airborne.

AllofaSudden Boscombe Down found a new set of plastic blades that had been sitting in stores for months awaiting the convenience of the Development Squadron. These were shipped up to Odiham for installation trials and the rest is history.