50th anniversary Puma Flypast

**flash** · 07-06-2021 23:49

In celebration of the Puma helicopters 50th anniversary this year the RAF will be doing a flypast by ten Puma helicopters across the UK today (Wednesday 7th July 2021) starting from RAF Benson to RAF Scampton from 10am to 11.49am, then RAF Scampton to Middle Wallop from 1.30pm to 3.34pm, and then Middle Wallop back to RAF Benson from 5pm to 6.31pm.

The Puma, a medium-lift support helicopter, has flown on combat and humanitarian operations around the world over the last five decades, including Northern Ireland, Bosnia, Kosovo, Iraq, Afghanistan, Mozambique and the Caribbean. The helicopters have also supported Defence in the UK such as providing helicopter lift capability to flood relief efforts and the coronavirus pandemic.

Puma HC Mk2 XW224 has been given a unique new paint scheme for this celebration - the engine housing boasts the badges of all the squadrons who have flown the Puma, both as a HC Mk 1 and a HC Mk 2; the tail fin is emblazoned with the union flag and the standard Royal Air Force logo on the cabin door has been replaced with the bespoke Puma 50 logo.

According to Military Airshow website, the timings are as follows:

1. 513654N 0010545W BENSON AD – 10.00am
2. 514733N 0004416W HALTON – 10.20am
3. 514728N 0004114W TRING – 10.21am
4. 514042N 0004707W WALTERS ASH – 10.26am
5. 513310N 0002511W NORTHOLT AD – 10.35am
6. 513551N 0001419W HENDON – 10.40am
7. 520526N 0000753E DUXFORD AD – 10.58am
8. 522120N 0000706W WYTON – 11.08am
9. 522805N 0001503W CONINGTON AD – 11.12am
10. 523647N 0002833W WITTERING AD – 11.19am
11. 525754N 0003323W BARKSTON HEATH AD – 11.30am
12. 530147N 0002934W CRANWELL AD – 11.33am
13. 530958N 0003126W WADDINGTON AD – 11.45am
14. 531829N 0003303W SCAMPTON AD – 11.49am

1. 531829N 0003303W SCAMPTON AD – 1.30pm
2. 524345N 0014333W ALREWAS – 2.03pm
3. 524936N 0020538W STAFFORD – 2.11pm
4. 525227N 0020949W STONE – 2.13pm
5. 524805N 0024006W SHAWBURY AD – 2.24pm
6. 521430N 0025252W SHOBDON AD – 2.43pm
7. 520451N 0024756W CREDENHILL – 2.48pm
8. 513654N 0023904W CHEPSTOW – 3.04pm
9. 511223N 0020928W WARMINSTER – 3.21pm
10. 511049N 0020520W KNOOK – 3.22pm
11. 510912N 0014504W BOSCOMBE DOWN AD – 3.30pm
12. 510858N 0013413W MIDDLE WALLOP AD – 3.34pm

1. 510858N 0013413W MIDDLE WALLOP – 5.00pm
2. 511255N 0012839W ANDOVER – 5.03pm
3. 511403N 0005634W ODIHAM AD – 5.15pm
4. 511403N 0005634W ODIHAM AD – 5.35pm
5. 511528N 0010355W BASINGSTOKE – 5.38pm
6. 511903N 0010241W BRAMLEY – 5.40pm
7. 511838N 0004905W BLACKBUSHE AD – 5.46pm
8. 512029N 0004544W CAMBERLEY – 5.57pm
9. 511815N 0004313W FRIMLEY – 5.59pm
10. 511631N 0004639W FARNBOROUGH AD – 6.01pm
11. 511403N 0005634W ODIHAM AD – 6.05pm
12. 511403N 0005634W ODIHAM AD – 6.15pm
13. 513112N 0005328W HENLEY – 6.25pm
14. 513654N 0010545W BENSON AD – 6.31pm

Hope some of you chaps get to spot them on their travels.

**Kustenjaeger** · 07-07-2021 01:42

Be fun to see but I suspect we’re out of flight path and I’m glued to my desk today. I grew up in Odiham and just about had sight of the edge of a runway of the RAF base from my bedroom window. So I saw lots of Wessexes, Pumas and before I left home, Chinooks. (Still see Chinooks as we only live 10 miles away now).

[Still think the highlight of my youth from an aircraft spotting perspective was seeing what must have been a US Air Cavalry unit flying over the village in formation with observation helicopters, Hueys and Cobras.]

Edward

**Flying Helmut** · 07-07-2021 02:41

I live almost next to RAF Northolt, but, as usual, I'm at work today, so won't get to see a thing.

**David Manley** · 07-07-2021 09:19

The flypast few past near here so I popped out and took a few photos. There were quite a few retired RAF and MOD people there who had flown or worked on them over the years. As always with these sorts of things a chatty bunch and a nice few minutes spent in the company of enthusiasts watching the old girls clatter by (the Tornado retirement flypast a few years ago was the same)