Airmanship Knowledge Learning Outcome 3 Part 5 Helicopters Revision 1.00 Uncontrolled copy not subject to amendment

Airmanship Knowledge Learning Outcome 3 Know the aircraft in service with the British Armed Forces

Helicopters –Chinook HC2/2A –Merlin HC3 –Puma HC1 –Apache AH1 (Army Air Corps) –Griffin HAR2 / HT1 –Squirrel HT1 –Agusta AW139 –Sea King HAR3/3A –Agusta A109E Contents

Chinook HC2 / HC2A Reporting NameChinook Role Letters & MarksHC2 / HC2A RoleMedium Transport & Medium Heavy Lift

Chinook HC2 / HC2A

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 10 tonnes of equipment either internally or under-slung. The Chinook fleet has recently undergone a mid-life update.

Chinook HC2 / HC2A Technical Data ROTOR DIAMETER 18.29M LENGTH 15.54M CREW 4 MAXIMUM SPEED157kts (291km/h) at max. weight ENGINES 2 x Avco Lycoming T55-L-712 turboshafts

Merlin HC3 / HC3A Reporting NameMerlin Role Letters & MarksHC3 / HC3A RoleSupport Helicopter

Merlin HC3 / HC3A

The EH 101 Merlin HC Mk3 support helicopters officially entered service in April 2000 with 28 Sqn at RAF Benson. A direct replacement for the Westland Wessex and the Puma, it will operate alongside the Chinook in the medium lift role. The RAF’s support helicopters will be grouped with the Royal Navy’s commando helicopters and the Apache and light utility helicopters of the Army Air Corps to form a new Joint Helicopter command. One of its primary missions will be to support 16 Air Assault Brigade.

Merlin HC3 Technical Data ROTOR DIAMETER 18.59M LENGTH 22.81M CREW 2 Pilots 1 Crew OPERATING SPEED167kts (309 km/h) ENGINES shp Rolls-Royce turbomeca RTM 322

Puma HC1 Reporting NamePuma Role Letters & MarksHC1 RoleAssault Transport Helicopter

Puma HC1

The Puma entered service in the RAF in 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 15.1M LENGTH 14.1M CREW 3 MAXIMUM SPEED142kts at max weight 158kts when lighter ENGINES Two Turbomeca Turmo turboshafts

Apache AH1 Reporting NameApache Role Letters & MarksAH1 RoleAttack Helicopter

Apache AH1

The Apache AH 1 attack helicopters officially entered service in 2001 and is operated by the Army Air Corps. The RAF’s support helicopters will be grouped with the Royal Navy’s commando helicopters and the Apache and light utility helicopters of the Army Air Corps to form a new Joint Helicopter command. Can be armed with Hellfire Missiles, 30mm Cannon, CRV-7 Rockets and Air-To-Air Missiles.

Apache AH1 ROTOR DIAMETER 14.63M LENGTH 17.73M CREW 2 MAXIMUM SPEED158kts ENGINES Two Rolls Royce RTM-322

Griffin HT1 / HAR2 Reporting NameGriffin Role Letters & MarksHT1 / HAR2 RoleHelicopter Training & Search & Rescue Training

Griffin HT1 / HAR2

The Griffin HT1, a training helicopter, 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 SPEED258km/h (161mph) ENGINE Two Pratt & Whitney PT6T-3D turboshafts

Squirrel HT1 Reporting NameSquirrel Role Letters & MarksHT1 RoleHelicopter Training

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(238km/h) at sea level ENGINE 1 x Turbomeca Arriel turboshaft

Agusta AW139 Reporting NameAgusta AW139 Role Letters & MarksHAR 1 RoleHelicopter Search & Rescue Training

Agusta AW139

The Agusta AW139, a training helicopter, is operated within the Defence Helicopter Flying School, a combined operation by FR Aviation, Bristow Helicopters and SERCO, to train SAR helicopter pilots for all three services at SARTU RAF Valley. First entered service in 2011, civilian contractor owned and operated.

Agusta AW139 ROTOR DIAMETER 13.8M LENGTH 13.77M CREW 3 MAXIMUM SPEED310km/h (193mph) ENGINE Two Pratt & Whitney PT6C-67C turboshafts

Sea King HAR3 / HAR3A Reporting NameSea King Role Letters & MarksHAR3 / HAR3A RoleHelicopter Training

Sea King HAR3 / HAR3A

The Sea King HAR3/HAR3A is used for search and rescue at various bases around the UK. Manufactured by Westland under licence from Sikorsky (US).

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 NamePower Lite Role Letters & MarksCC1 RoleVIP Transport

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

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