Page 13 - World Airnews Magazine March 2021
P. 13
FEATURE
The Alouette III fleet has accumulated more than seven million as many as 13 Pumas played crucial roles in the rescue efforts,
flight hours as of the end of 2018. Today, nearly 180 aircraft still winching 219 survivors to safety during bad weather conditions.
continue to be in service. • Aérospatiale SA 330 Puma
• Aérospatiale Alouette II
The Aérospatiale SA 330 Puma is a four-bladed, twin-engined
The Aérospatiale Alouette II is a French light helicopter origi- medium transport/utility helicopter. The Puma was originally
nally manufactured by Sud Aviation and later Aérospatiale. It built by Sud Aviation of France, and continued to be made by
was the first production helicopter powered by a gas turbine Aérospatiale.
engine instead of the heavier conventional piston powerplant. Top speed: 257 km/h
On 12 March 1955, the prototype SE 3130 performed its Range: 780 km
maiden flight. Weight: 3 766 kg
Top speed: 185 km/h • Atlas Oryx
Range: 565 km The Atlas Oryx is a medium-sized utility helicopter manufactured
Length: 9,66 m by the Atlas Aircraft Corporation of South Africa.
Weight: 895 kg Top speed: 306 km/h
Range: 2 000 km
• Aerospatiale Alouette III
• MD 530FS
The Aérospatiale Alouette III is a single-engine, light utility he- Powered by the Rolls-Royce 250-C30 650shp turbine engine,
licopter developed by French aircraft company Sud Aviation. these aircraft feature an all-digital glass cockpit with tinted
During its production life, it proved to be a relatively popular windows, ballistically tolerant crashworthy fuel system, FN
rotorcraft; including multiple licensed manufacturers, in Herstal Weapons Management System, DillonAero Mission
excess of 2,000 units were constructed. Configurable Armament System (MCAS), 62 mm ballistic
armour protection, FN Herstal .50 calibre HMP 400 Machine
Top speed: 210 km/h Gun Pods and M260 7-shot rocket pods.
Range: 540 km MD 530F Cayuse Warrior is an armed variant of the OH-6
Length: 10 m Cayuse light observation helicopter built by MD Helicopters.
PUMAS It is designed to enhance scout attack, armed escort and close
air attack capabilities of the air forces.
From 1972 onwards, Pumas operated by the SAAF were deployed Top Speed 134 kt
on extended operations in Namibia and Angola during the Border Range 260 nautical miles
War. The majority of South African Puma purchases, including
spare parts, were made in advance of an anticipated United Weight 1 520kgs (int)
Nations embargo that was applied in 1977. South Africa subse-
quently upgraded many of its Pumas, eventually arriving at the • AugustaWestland AW139
derived indigenous Atlas Oryx - a utility transport helicopter. The AgustaWestland AW139 is a 15-seat medium-sized
In December 1979, South Africa's government acknowledged the twin-engined helicopter developed and built by AgustaWest-
presence of its military forces operating in Zimbabwe; Pumas were land.
routinely used in support of the South African Army's ground forces. Range: 1 250 km
During the 1990s, clandestine efforts to purchase surplus SAAF Top speed: 310 km/h
Pumas were made by then-President Pascal Lissouba of the Re- Weight: 3 622 kg
public of Congo, most likely intended for use in the Congolese Civil
War. When MTS Oceanos sank off the coast of South Africa in 1991,
World Airnews | March 2021
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