On 13th September 1978, AS332 Super Puma, medium-sized utility helicopter, performed its first flight.
The rotorcraft was developed as an upgraded variant of SA 330 Puma, the helicopter developed in the mid-1960s by the French aerospace company Sud Aviation and later manufactured also by its successor, Aérospatiale.
The Puma was introduced into the market in 1968 and quickly achieved commercial success. In the 1970s, the Puma was considered to be the best-selling European helicopter. Apart from France, the rotorcraft was also license manufactured in Romania (as IAR 330) and assembled in Indonesia, as well as used by the South African aviation industry as a base for Oryx and Denel helicopters.
In general, the design of the Super Puma was following the ideas that created the SA 330. However, the rotorcraft received more powerful engines and composite rotor blades, as well as its aerodynamic characteristics were significantly improved. In addition, the AS332 was also a bit more spacious. Serial production of the Super Puma began in 1980.
Just like the previous design, the AS332 quickly became a popular medium-size multipurpose helicopter, purchased by both civilian and military operators from approximately forty countries from four continents. Approximately fifteen different variants of the Super Puma rotorcraft were developed, including a SAR version, several specialized naval ones, as well as helicopters for commercial passenger transport, including a VIP version.
Since 1990, the military variants of that helicopter are officially designated AS532 Cougar, to distinguish them from civil variants. Nevertheless, when in 1992 helicopter divisions of Aérospatiale and DASA merged into Eurocopter Group, the rotorcraft was produced under its name, as Eurocopter AS532 Cougar. Two decades later, Eurocopter was renamed for Airbus Helicopters and the company has decided to move manufacturing of the Super Puma / Cougar family to Brașov, Romania. The name of the rotorcraft was changed again, this time to Airbus H215 / H215M for its civil and military variants, respectively. Nevertheless, the original name Super Puma is still commonly used for all helicopters from the family.
For more information about the Puma / Super Puma / Cougar helicopter family, please check our previous articles:
