Puma helicopter 50th anniversary paint scheme unveiled
 

https://ukdefencejournal.org.uk/puma...heme-unveiled/

I was thinking, well that's another slap a bit of paint on the tail and call it done, then I realised the aircraft has been put back into the 70's scheme and it looks grand for it... deceptive but a joy to see, a full scheme. Niice one. :ok:


https://cimg6.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune....6477fceab5.jpg



https://cimg7.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune....379b5fce88.png

I won't even mention they have the flag on the stb side upside down.... Ohh I just did, oh well. :ugh: :(:E

The Union Flag is always deemed to be seen flying with the flagstaff on the left. If seen from the other side, it will seem to be upside down.

And oh dear.... How the young grow old. First flown Nov 82 out of Gutersloh. Just me and the crewman.

Me

wait ... the stbd side is correct, so I assume the port side is wrong


well on reflection (no pun intended) the Americans do show the back of the flag on the starboard side so maybe you're right

If it wobbles as it starts like the 230 Sqn Pumas I rode in did, at least it will be waving the flag,:ok:

1. The stbd UJ is indeed correct, assuming the notional flagpole is aft of the airframe.

2. A tasteful scheme overall though. ✔️

Yes, it’s supposed to be as flying from a flagpole at the front of the aircraft, so it would be the back of the flag as you put it. It amazes me in this day and age and the fact that no doubt the design would have been back and forward up and down the food chain before being approved, you think one of them would have the spotted it.

Mpn on aircraft as on a ship the “flagpole” goes to the front, so it is wrong, however that does not detract from a super scheme.


https://cimg7.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune....1b095ea50.jpeg

You are of course correct, and it would look ‘nicer’ and more natural if viewed from the port side. 👍

XW224 - I last flew her in September 1983. She and all her stable mates have been given a fair bit more power since those days...the engines they always needed!

But where did those 38 years go? :ooh:

PCSF and 230 also 38 years ago.

It wasn't spotted on the Typhoon where the flag was painted underneath, but the port and starboard wings were mirror images of each other, so one was always wrong regardless of where the pole was

In any event am I allowed to ask what'll happen once Scotland leaves? :E

Interesting routing....
https://cimg8.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune....373b95e8ff.jpg

Whoever drew that up has failed in their application to join Gapan.

I started flying XW224 around NI in April 1973.

Perhaps there's still a lot of faith in the map-reading skills of the bloke in the back?

Well, the Puma 10 ship appeared just about on time and on track over Nottinghamshire so they obviously used a better map than that one.

Give it time. Anyone warned Monaghan?

Puma 50th Tour @ Scampton
 

There was a good turnout at Scampton, with all ten helicopters arriving. (XW214 had a delayed lift, catching up with the rest en route).
Here are some of my photos. There was a very moody sky providing the background to approaching photos, clearing to a blue sky shooting them once passed.

The second five flew back to Waddington to refuel, subsequently rejoining the others around Newark on the second leg

https://cimg0.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune....c2117e72f6.jpg


https://cimg7.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune....a0716f8400.jpg


https://cimg6.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune....8d030d4d55.jpg

https://cimg2.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune....f879710bd0.jpg

Superb, I was hoping they would have transited close to EGNX as they were passing Nottingham Derby area but sadly not.

They landed at Middle Wallop just after 3.30, but only 9 of them. Work stopped and a crowd gathered to watch them land and shut down. Looked very good, glad I was there.

Reminds me of happy times at Odiham and Aldergrove in the early seventies. I think the first Puma I saw was on the back of a low loader on the A30 returning I think from Stamford PTA where it had suffered a fairly catastrophic tail strike. I seem to remember there was some suggestion that the tail rotor was not revolving when it hit the ground but I believe this was subsequently disproved. Also recall the famous (at the time) incident when a Puma hit the hangar at the Aldergrove SH dispersal when taxiing in. The flying officers union at the time reckoned we could absolve the pilot from blame because there was a flying order that said in strong winds aircraft could be taxied into the hangar! Ultimately the captain was removed from the force and sent to the SAR world which is where he wanted to be anyway.
Great times and great memories of the Wessex/Puma rivalries and the outrageous (by current woke standards) happenings.

The "Flag" flown "backwards"....just fitting in with the times ya suppose?

Read the beginning of the thread SAS!

It used to be used as a sign of being in distress SAS.


http://projectbritain.com/geography/unionjack7.html

It is / was the same for your flag BTW

https://www.crwflags.com/fotw/flags/xf-flip.html

They were routed to pass over Stafford. Given how essential TSW has been to the Puma force and other rotary assets over the decades I'm sure this was intentional.

Damn, I wish I'd thought of that...

Isn’t that when the line got painted on the apron?

" They were routed to pass over Stafford. Given how essential TSW has been to the Puma force and other rotary assets over the decades I'm sure this was intentional."

As did the Tornado 3 ship. Apparently, according to friends who live near Stafford, their transit caused "some alarm " to the newer arrivals around Beaconside seemingly unaware of Staffords history.

I wish I’d seen those Tornadoes dropping in for a refuel.

excellent diginagain - probably not understood by those unfamiliar with S Armagh and the border:ok:

Crab, not to mention Dundalk….but in all meanings of the phrase, “let’s not go there”!

IWM Duxford
 

I was at IWM to see they fly over so here are my photos


https://cimg7.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune....e6937c364.jpeg
https://cimg8.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune....3ad6828ca.jpeg
https://cimg9.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune....877cac8b4.jpeg
https://cimg0.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune....468cb4c7b.jpeg
https://cimg1.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune....f14162c26.jpeg
https://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune....b85686cbb.jpeg
https://cimg4.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune....0b8c95c26.jpeg
https://cimg5.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune....382d6e5cb.jpeg

cheers

Green telephone box anyone?:)

They're all the same colour in the dark....or so I was told..

Well the Puma has certainly given excellent service to the RAF!

Back in 1976 I was serving at RAF Brawdy and we did a commemorative event for the Hunter's 25th anniversary, with 4 of us in F6As joining up with a T7 which had Neville Duke on board. But it was deemed 'not a good thing' to celebrate in the meeja, according to MoD PR, because 'flying aircraft that old puts the RAF in a bad light'.....

Yet now the RAF celebrates 50th anniversaries. How times change!!

It’s a testament to the design that the Airforce appears to be struggling to find a replacement for it, and to think back in 76 we thought it would never last.

I guess the bean-counters will be ok with that scheme, we didn't go overboard with the Red, White and Blue paint did we?

Excellent memories as a passenger in Ulster, Baghdad and Balad. Seems only yesterday:bored:

I take the the grey camo was added over the standard green, I noticed it was wrap around instead of the normal black underside for the scheme