SA 330 Puma
Aerospatiale · France · first flew 1965 · helicopter
The SA 330 Puma is a French-designed medium transport helicopter built for tactical troop lift, easily told by its retractable wheeled undercarriage and boxy cabin.
Recognition (WEFT)
| W — Wings | High-mounted, rotary |
|---|---|
| E — Engines | 2 × turboshaft, fuselage-mounted |
| F — Fuselage | 18.15 m fuselage |
| T — Tail | Conventional |
WEFT is AircraftIQ's four-point recognition method — how it works.
Spot it by:
- Large four-blade main rotor with a conventional exposed tail rotor
- Retractable tricycle undercarriage with main gear folding into side sponsons
- Bulky high-set twin-engine cowling over a boxy troop cabin with sliding doors
Identify it by the retractable tricycle gear tucking into sponsons, the high twin-engine deck and the exposed tail rotor. It is bulkier than a Gazelle and carries no fenestron.
Specifications
- The SA 330 Puma has a length of 18.15 m (60 ft).
- It has a wingspan of 15 m (49 ft).
- Its maximum speed is 257 km/h (160 mph).
- Typical crew: 2-3 crew.
Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.
History
Sud Aviation first flew the Puma in April 1965, and it became part of the 1967 Anglo-French helicopter agreement. Powered by twin Turbomeca Turmo turboshafts, it was designed for all-weather assault transport carrying up to sixteen troops.
Variants
The RAF operated it as the Puma HC Mk 1, later rebuilt to HC Mk 2 standard with Makila engines and a glass cockpit. Civil and export Pumas, and the developed AS332 Super Puma, served operators worldwide.
Where you'll see it
The RAF flew the Puma for tactical troop transport, casualty evacuation and special-forces support across many decades and theatres. British Puma operations finally ceased on 31 March 2025.
Related aircraft
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