Aérospatiale SA 330 Puma - Pakistan Aviation Corp

[AZADPAKISTAN2009]

Pakistan's Inventory 40-50 Units


The SA 330 Puma was originally developed by Sud Aviation to meet a requirement of the French Army for a medium-sized all-weather helicopter capable of carrying up to 20 soldiers as well as various carry-carrying duties. The choice was made to develop a completely new design for the helicopter, work began in 1963 with backing from the French government. The first of two Puma prototypes flew on 15 April 1965; six further pre-production models were also built, the last of which flew on 30 July 1968. The first production SA 330 Puma flew in September 1968, with deliveries to the French Army starting in early 1969.[2]



SA 330B Puma, 2004
In 1967, the Puma was selected by the Royal Air Force (RAF), having been impressed by the Puma's performance, it was given the designation Puma HC Mk 1. A significant joint manufacturing agreement was between Aerospatiale and Westland Helicopters of the UK; the close collaboration between the French and British firms would also result in subsequent purchases of Aérospatiale Gazelle by the United Kingdom and the Westland Lynx by France. Under this agreement, Westland manufactured a range of components for the Puma; additionally it also performed the assembly of Pumas ordered by the RAF.

The SA 330 was a success on the export market, numerous countries purchased military variants of the Puma to serve in their armed forces; the type was also popularly received in the civil market, finding common usage by operators for transport duties to off-shore oil platforms. Throughout most of the 1970s, the SA 330 Puma was the best selling transport helicopter being produced in Europe. By July 1978, over 50 Pumas had already been delivered to civil customers, and the worldwide fleet had accumulated in excess of 500,000 operational hours.

Romania entered into an arrangement with Aerospatiale to produce the Puma under license as the IAR 330, manufacturing roughly 90 of the type for the Romanian armed forces, civil operators, and several export customers of their own.

In 1974, Aerospatiale began development of improved Puma variants, aiming to produce a successor to the type; these efforts would cumulate in the AS332 Super Puma. The first prototype AS332 Super Puma took flight on 13 September 1978, featuring more powerful engines and a more aerodynamically-efficient extended fuselage; by 1980, production of the AS323 Super Puma had overtaken that of the originating SA 330 Puma. Production of the SA 330 Puma by Aérospatiale ceased in 1987
Specifications (SA 330H Puma)

External images
SA 330 Puma cutaway

SA 330 Puma cutaway from Flightglobal.com
Data from Jane's All The World's Aircraft 1976-77[121]

General characteristics

• Crew: 3
• Capacity: 16 passengers
• Length: 18.15 m (59 ft 6½ in)
• Rotor diameter: 15.00 m (49 ft 2½ in)
• Height: 5.14 m (16 ft 10½ in)
• Disc area: 177.0 m² (1,905 ft²)
• Empty weight: 3,536 kg (7,795 lb)
• Max takeoff weight: 7,000 kg (15,430 lb)
• Powerplant: 2× Turbomeca Turmo IVC turboshafts, 1,175 kW (1,575 hp) each

Performance

• Never exceed speed: 273 km/h (147 knots, 169 mph)
• Maximum speed: 257 km/h (138 knots, 159 mph)
• Cruise speed: 248 km/h (134 knots, 154 mph) econ cruise
• Range: 580 km (313 nm, 360 mi)
• Service ceiling: 4,800 m (15,750 ft)
• Rate of climb: 7.1 m/s (1,400 ft/min)

Armament

• Guns:

• Coaxial 7.62 mm (0.30 in) machine guns
• Side-firing 20 mm (0.787 in) cannon

• Various others

Romanian Variants

 

[fatman17]

same here???

 

[TomBiggs10]

Hello,

Can anyone provide more information regarding the SA330 Pumas in Pakistan?

Many thanks
Tom

 

[Black Eagle 90]

PAA has acquired some from UAE but they can also acquire from Oman, Yemen and KSA.