Puma HC1

The Westland‑built Puma HC1 is the British licence‑produced version of the Aérospatiale SA‑330 Puma, introduced to the Royal Air Force and Army Air Corps in the early 1970s. Development of the original Puma began in the mid‑1960s, with its first flight in 1965, and Westland secured a contract to manufacture the type for the United Kingdom in 1970. The HC1 entered service in 1971, providing the RAF with a reliable medium‑lift, twin‑engine helicopter capable of operating in diverse climates and over rugged terrain.

Key features include two Turbomeca Turmo Mk 33 turboshaft engines delivering 1,640 shp each, a reinforced airframe for up to 20 fully equipped troops or 2.5 t of cargo, and a versatile sled‑type cargo hook for external loads. The cockpit was originally analog but was later upgraded with a digital avionics suite, night‑vision compatible lighting, and a full‑capacity autopilot, enhancing all‑weather and night‑operation capability.

The Puma HC1 proved pivotal in British military aviation, delivering tactical lift during the Falklands conflict, the Gulf War, and operations in Iraq and Afghanistan. Its robust performance and ease of maintenance established a foundation for subsequent variants such as the HC2/HC2‑A, cementing the Puma’s reputation as a work‑horse of NATO’s rotary‑wing fleet.