The UK Royal Air Force (RAF) has performed a series of farewell flights with its last Puma HC2 transport helicopters, as the veteran type bows out after almost 54 years of service.
Conducted on 26 March, the commemorative activity was completed by the RAF’s Benson Oxfordshire-based 33 Sqn. That was followed a day later by the final flights made by RAF Akrotiri, Cyprus-deployed 84 Sqn.
“The retirement of the Puma at this point will enable avoidance of additional in-service costs and focus efforts on introducing Puma’s replacement as quickly as possible,” the RAF says.
The type’s overseas support role will be assumed from next year by six on-order Airbus Helicopters H145s, to be deployed in Brunei and Cyprus. Boeing CH-47 Chinook transports will be allocated to this task during the interim period.
But the UK Ministry of Defence (MoD) has yet to finalise a planned procurement via its New Medium Helicopter programme, which sees Leonardo Helicopters’ AW149 as the lone remaining candidate.
Seventeen Puma HC2s were in active use prior to the MoD’s November 2024 announcement that the type would leave use by the end of March this year. The RAF introduced the utility type to service in June 1971.
European Defence Editor Craig Hoyle has reported on the UK, European and international military aviation sector for almost 30 years, and has also been the Editor of Flight International since 2015. He joined FlightGlobal in 2003, and also compiles our annual World Air Forces directory.View full Profile
