THE AIRFORCE - AIRCRAFT - SA-330C, H, L PUMA
Aircraft Stats:
SA-330C, H, L Puma
The serial numbers of SAAF SA330C models were 121-140.
SAAF 330H models were 141-149 and 151-159.
SA330L Pumas in SAAF were 160-188.
The SAAF was the 1st foreign customer of the Puma, the RAF received their Puma's a year after the SAAF.
At some stage the H variants were upgraded to the L version. Two J variants were procured from the civil market (USA) and given serials 189 -190. 189 was referred to as J2 and 190 as J1.
189 was used by Denel as a XTP-1 Oryx testbed, whilst 190 was also used by Denel as a XTP-1 Oryx testbed, later as the Rooivalk Avionics Systems Flight Test Vehicle. Puma 177 was also used in the Oryx program and the nose plate was fitted to 190 to confuse foreign intelligence services.
The C model either flew without intake filters or had the old box shaped filters, whereas the L had the MPAI cylindrical filters (similar but not the same as the Oryx). The L MPAI (Multi Purpose Air Intake) used scavenge air provided from the compressor whereas the Oryx scavenge air system was an electrically driven fan on the side of the filters.
By 1991, the Cs had already been withdrawn from service as the Oryx production line was in full swing. SAAF was already disposing of surplus L models.
Two SA330J models (ZS-HIZ and ZS-HJA) were purchased by the Department of Transport and operated by 22 Sqn and 30 Sqn on behalf of the Dept of Transport on Antarctica tasks and the South Atlantic. They were modified with folding blades, deicing equipment and flotation gear and were painted in a red/white/blue colour scheme.
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