The British Royal Air Force (RAF) is closing an era with the retirement of the Puma helicopters, which have served the United Kingdom’s Armed Forces for over five decades.
+ Click here to watch the Puma farewell video
The official farewell takes place at the end of March, with two days of special flyovers marking the end of the aircraft’s long operational career.
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Introduced in 1971, the Puma played a key role in troop transport missions, battlefield logistics, medical evacuation, and humanitarian aid. “It’s a great aircraft for the operations we’ve been in,” said Squadron Leader Neil Davidson of the 33rd Squadron. “Whether in Northern Ireland, Iraq, or Afghanistan, the Puma excelled in missions in urban and challenging environments, including high-altitude areas like Kabul.”
On March 26 and 27, three Puma Mark 2 helicopters departed from RAF Benson in Oxfordshire for a farewell flight covering regions of England, Wales, and Northern Ireland. The route includes flybys of military bases such as RAF Odiham, Middle Wallop, MOD Boscombe Down, RAF Shawbury, RAF Valley, and Aldergrove. The helicopters will also fly over symbolic landmarks like the Giant’s Causeway, the Ribblehead Viaduct, and the National Memorial Arboretum before returning to base in Benson.
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The flight formation, identified by the callsign “WARLOCK,” was meticulously planned. “We have a team member who’s been working on this plan for two months,” revealed Wing Commander Nick Monahan, Commander of the Puma Force. “We wanted to fly over places that marked the history of the Puma, including Northern Ireland, where we served for over 37 years.”
Outside the UK, a similar flyover will take place in Cyprus to mark the end of 54 years of Super Puma service in the region. With the retirement of the Puma models, the RAF Jupiter helicopter will take over operations in Cyprus and Brunei.
Source and images: X @RAF_Cosford / @RAFBenson. This content was created with the help of AI and reviewed by the editorial team.
