Airmanship KnowledgeLearning Outcome 3

Part 5Helicopters

Revision 2.00

Uncontrolled copy not subject to amendment

Airmanship KnowledgeLearning Outcome 3

Know the aircraft in service with the Royal Air Force

• Helicopters– Chinook HC2 / HC2A / HC3– Merlin HC3 / HC3A– Puma HC1– Griffin HAR2 / HT1– Squirrel HT1– Sea King HAR3 / HAR3A– Agusta A109E

Contents

Chinook HC2 / HC2A / HC3

Reporting Name Chinook

Role Letters & Marks HC2 / HC2A / HC3

Role Heavy-Lift Helicopter

Chinook HC2 / HC2A

Chinook HC2 / HC2A

Chinook HC2 / HC2A

Chi

nook

HC

2 / H

C2A

Chinook HC2 / HC2A

Chinook HC3

Chinook HC3

Chinook HC3

Chinook HC2 / HC2A / HC3

• The Chinook is a tandem-rotored, twin engined medium-lift helicopter with a crew of four. It can carry up to 45 fully equipped troops or up to 11 tonnes of equipment either internally or under-slung.

• A number of Chinook HC2 helicopters have recently been updated to HC2A standard with modifications to increase the strength of the airframe.

• The Chinook HC3 is the RAF version of the US MH-47E Special Operations Chinook

• The Chinook HC3 can be distinguished from the HC2 by its larger fuel sponsons and longer nose.

Chinook HC2 / HC2ATechnical Data

ROTOR DIAMETER 18.29M

LENGTH 15.54M (HC2)

15.9M (HC3)

CREW 4

MAXIMUM SPEED 157kts (291km/h) at max. weight

ENGINES 2 x Avco Lycoming T55-L-712 turboshafts (HC2)

2x Honeywell 55-GA-714 turboshafts (HC3)

Merlin HC3 / HC3A

Reporting Name Merlin

Role Letters & Marks HC3 / HC3A

Role Medium-Lift Helicopter

Merlin HC3

Merlin HC3

Merlin HC3

Merlin HC3A

Merlin HC3A

Merlin HC3 / HC3A

• Merlin HC3 is operated by 28 Sqn (HC3) and 78 Sqn (HC3A) at RAF Benson

• Merlin replaced the Westland Wessex in RAF service• Six Merlin HC3As were purchased from the Royal

Danish Air Force in 2007 to provide additional capacity on operations in Afghanistan

• Main visual difference between HC3 and HC3A is that they have different noses.

Merlin HC3 Technical Data

ROTOR DIAMETER 18.59M

LENGTH 22.81M

CREW 2 Pilots 1 Crew

OPERATING SPEED 167kts (309 km/h)

ENGINES 3 2240 shp Rolls-Royce turbomeca RTM 322

Puma HC1

Reporting Name Puma

Role Letters & Marks HC1

Role Assault Transport Helicopter

Puma HC1

Puma HC1

Puma HC1

Puma HC1

Puma HC1

• The Puma entered service in the RAF in 1971. It has auto pilot, a heated, ventilated and sound-proofed cabin, retractable undercarriage, and modern navigation and search systems.

• The Puma has many roles but in the RAF it is used as a tactical transport and support helicopter with a casualty evacuation capability.

• It can carry 16 fully equipped troops, or 6 stretchers and 6 sitting patients. A 3,200 kgs under-slung cargo can be carried.

• The tailboom, rotor blades and wheels can be removed to allow transportation in a Hercules to any theatre of operation.

Puma HC1Technical Data

ROTOR DIAMETER 15.1MLENGTH 14.1MCREW 3MAXIMUM SPEED 142kts at max weight

158kts when lighterENGINES Two Turbomeca

Turmo turboshafts

Griffin HT1 / HAR2

Reporting Name Griffin

Role Letters & Marks HT1 / HAR2

Role Helicopter Training & Search & Rescue

Griffin HT1 / HAR2

Griffin HT1 / HAR2

Griffin HT1 / HAR2

Griffin HT1 / HAR2

Griffin HT1 / HAR2

• The Griffin HT1, a training helicopter, it is operated within the Defence Helicopter Flying School, a combined operation by FR Aviation, Bristow Helicopters and SERCO, to train helicopter pilots for all three services.

• First entered service in 1997, civilian contractor owned and operated.

• Manufactured by Bell Helicopter Textron, Fort Worth, Texas, the essentially similar Bell 212s are operated by Brunei.

Griffin HT1 / HAR2 Technical Data

ROTOR DIAMETER 14.02M

LENGTH 12.92M

CREW 2

MAXIMUM SPEED 258km/h (161mph)

ENGINE Two Pratt & Whitney PT6T-3D turboshafts

Squirrel HT1

Reporting Name Squirrel

Role Letters & Marks HT1

Role Helicopter Training

Squirrel HT1

Squirrel HT1

Squirrel HT1

Squirrel HT1

Squirrel HT1

The Squirrel HT1 is used for advanced helicopter training at RAF Shawbury

Manufactured by Aerospatiale (now Eurocopter) in France

Squirrel HT1Technical Data

ROTOR DIAMETER 10.69M

LENGTH 12.94M

CREW 2

MAXIMUM SPEED 144mph

ENGINE 1 x Turbomeca Arriel turboshaft

Sea King HAR3 / HAR3A

Reporting Name Sea King

Role Letters & Marks HAR3 / HAR3A

Role Helicopter Training

Sea King HAR3 / HAR3A

Sea King HAR3 / HAR3A

Sea

Kin

g H

AR

3 / H

AR

3A

Sea King HAR3 / HAR3A

Sea King HAR3 / HAR3A

Sea

Kin

g H

AR

3 / H

AR

3A

Sea King HAR3 / HAR3A

The Squirrel HT1 is used for advanced helicopter training at RAF Shawbury.

Manufactured by Aerospatiale (now Eurocopter) in France.

Sea King HAR3 / HAR3A Technical Data

ROTOR DIAMETER 18.9m

LENGTH 22.15m

CREW 4

MAXIMUM SPEED 125kts

ENGINE Two Rolls-Royce Gnome turboshafts

Augusta A109E

Reporting Name Augusta A109E

Role Letters & Marks

Role Helicopter

Augusta A109E

Augusta A109E

Augusta A109E

Augusta A109E Technical Data

ROTOR DIAMETER 10.99M

LENGTH 13.07M

CREW 1

MAXIMUM SPEED 168kts

ENGINE 2 x Pratt & Whitney 206C Turboshafts

Questions?