RAF Puma Farewell Flight

The Royal Air Force (RAF) is officially bidding farewell to the Puma HC2 medium transport and utility helicopter. To mark the occasion, three Pumas will make their final takeoff from RAF Benson (Oxfordshire) on Wednesday, 26 March, and Thursday, 27 March 2025.

The first two RAF Pumas were delivered on 29 January 1971, with the first operational squadron (33 Squadron) forming at RAF Odiham on 14 June 1971. The RAF eventually ordered a total of 48 Puma HC1 helicopters for transport duties. One aircraft was operated by the Royal Aircraft Establisment (RAE) at Farnborough.

During the Falklands War, British forces captured an Argentine Naval Prefecture SA330J, which was later shipped to Britain and used as a static RAF training aid for several years. This SA330J was eventually refurbished by Westland using parts from the damaged RAF Puma XW215 and, after a lengthy rebuild, entered RAF service as ZE449.

In 2002, Britain purchased six ex-South African SA330L helicopters to extend the type’s service life. A major upgrade program led to the first Puma HC2 entering service in late 2012, with the programme completed in early 2014, allowing the RAF’s Pumas to remain operational until 2025. Initially, plans called for 30 Pumas to be upgraded, but this number was later reduced to 22 before being revised again to a total of 24 HC2 models.

A total of fifteen Pumas were lost in accidents, the first one crashed in November 1974 and the last one was lost in October 2015.

According to the RAF, the given routes for both days are mentioned below.

Day 1 – Wed 26 March: Odiham 09:45, Andover 09:57, Middle Wallop 10:02, Boscombe Down 10:07, Salisbury 10:13, Abbey Wood 10:31, Hereford 10:51, RAF Museum Cosford 11:15, Shawbury 11:26, Sleap 11:28 (shut Down, refuel), Hillsborough Castle 14:19, Thiepval Barracks 14:21, Aldergrove 14:30, Bangor Castle 16:55 and RAF Valley 17:45

Day 2 – Thu 27 March: RAF Valley 09:30, Manchester Barton 10:21, Catterick 11:00, RAF Leeming 11:05 (shut Down, refuel), Stafford 13:23, National Memorial Arboretum 13:32, Syerston 13:51, Newark Air Museum 13:55, Cranwell 14:02, Marham 14:27 (shut Down, refuel), Honington 16:04, IWM Duxford 16:22, Kensington Palace 16:47, RAF Museum Hendon 16:51, PJHQ 16:56, Halton 17:07, High Wycombe 17:12, John Radcliffe Hospital 17:21, London Oxford Airport/Kidlington 17:24, RAF Brize Norton 17:32, Shrivenham 17:35 and RAF Benson 17:50

Please be aware timings are subject to external factors and may change.

Credit photos: RAF Benson