Ex-SAA Pumas for the RAF
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Ex-SAA Pumas for the RAF
This project seems to have gone very quiet - it was only whilst reading the "Puma Replacement" thread that I remembered it.
Anyone know what the current status is?
Anyone know what the current status is?
GunsssR4ever
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Should read SAAF (SAA is "our" national carrier) 
Take this as a rumour but I heard the RAF bought "our " L" - models and downgraded them ? Yes downgraded ...
As I say a rumour but that 's what a snr RAF pilot told me about a year ago.
I flew the L model over many years and must count as the best ever ...
Take this as a rumour but I heard the RAF bought "our " L" - models and downgraded them ? Yes downgraded ...
As I say a rumour but that 's what a snr RAF pilot told me about a year ago.
I flew the L model over many years and must count as the best ever ...
From here: 06 July [2004] - Eurocopter Romania has completed refurbish and overhaul of the first of six former South African Air Force SA 330L Pumas acquired by the Royal Air Force. The helicopter ZJ954 was handed-over at the company's Brasov plant. All six helicopters were purchased in early 2002 as attrition replacements and will be serialled ZJ954-ZJ959. The last two are reported as stored at Llangennech.
Does that mean the anticipators will have been removed
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Don't be silly Crab, your Commanding Officer would have to be stark raving mad to remove the anticipators.........Baaaaaaahhhhhhhhhh!
GunsssR4ever
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HC Mk 1 standard ? I pressume that is the smaller (older rotors) not composite ?
Our C models also had downrated engine and small fairings ?
Our H and L models was distinguished by not only the larger composite blades but by big sand filters also known as tit filters
It would be ashame if they downgraded them but then again for the UK (if only used there) they would not need the extra power.
Iraq - well the L model was made for our "bush war" in SWA and Angola ... sandy, dry, very wet some places but always HOT, HIGH and HEAVY ... the terrible three H's
Our C models also had downrated engine and small fairings ?
Our H and L models was distinguished by not only the larger composite blades but by big sand filters also known as tit filters
It would be ashame if they downgraded them but then again for the UK (if only used there) they would not need the extra power.
Iraq - well the L model was made for our "bush war" in SWA and Angola ... sandy, dry, very wet some places but always HOT, HIGH and HEAVY ... the terrible three H's
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The ex-SAAF Pumas have been converted to HC MK1 standard, at the insistence of the loggies I believe, who didn't want to support another fleet. They were orignally fitted with Turmo 4C4 engines, which didn't have anticipators like the 3C4s fitted to the rest of the Mk 1s, and they will have the usual composite blades and engine filters on the front.
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Sorry that is one word that we never used or in our SAAF vocabularly (sorry I am not English) but what is a anticipator ?
A particle seperator perhaps ?
Our C models (Mk1's) had what was known as box filters ? Earliest one's had NOTHING (but that was rectified very quickly after a few engine changes) (early 1970's late 60's I think)
A particle seperator perhaps ?
Our C models (Mk1's) had what was known as box filters ? Earliest one's had NOTHING (but that was rectified very quickly after a few engine changes)
(early 1970's late 60's I think)
Its that little gizmo on the engines that stops the Nr slowing down when you grab a whole handful of lever, that has been fitted to every helicopter built since at least the Wessex.
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Its that little gizmo on the engines that stops the Nr slowing down when you grab a whole handful of lever, that has been fitted to every helicopter built since at least the Wessex.
Yeah I am not from the UK. We neve had the little gizmo so if you grab a handfull below an NR of 60% (I think) you just get the wind - down feeling ... same thing on the Mi-24 and Sea King I flew.
Great invention
Tx for the answer
Gunship, having re-read my last post I may have been a bit misleading. Perhaps I should have said "...that has been fitted to every helicopter built since at least the Wessex, except the Puma.
Ours don't have the anticipators either, we use Ng of 75% as the 'magic' figure.
Ours don't have the anticipators either, we use Ng of 75% as the 'magic' figure.
Avoid imitations
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"We never had the little gizmo so if you grab a handfull below an NR of 60%"
Did you really mean Nr? If you get down to 60% Nr on any helicopter, you have surely already gone past the point of getting the wind-down feeling!
Even coal powered steam ships had a better system than the Puma HC Mk1 - i.e. a bell to ring the boiler man to get stoking the fire!
Shame we didn't get Makila engines all those years ago.
Did you really mean Nr? If you get down to 60% Nr on any helicopter, you have surely already gone past the point of getting the wind-down feeling!
Even coal powered steam ships had a better system than the Puma HC Mk1 - i.e. a bell to ring the boiler man to get stoking the fire!
Shame we didn't get Makila engines all those years ago.
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Thank you, one and all.
Especially to The Claw - you saved me asking another question!
And apologies, Gunship - I shall remember to refer to the SAAF in the correct form in future.
Especially to The Claw - you saved me asking another question!
And apologies, Gunship - I shall remember to refer to the SAAF in the correct form in future.
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And apologies, Gunship - I shall remember to refer to the SAAF in the correct form in future.
I am sure SAA got enough news this week
Take care out there
Gunss
