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2331

SA.313 Alouette II
F-BSRM PH-NSW
SA.316B / SE.3160 Alouette III
RNethAF A-247 RNethAF A-292
RNethAF A-499 RNethAF H-81
EC155 B Dauphin II
G-ISST OO-NHP
PH-EQR PH-SHN
AS332 L / 532 U2
LN-ONI RNethAF S-419
2331 / AIE Aérospatiale AS532 UL Cougar c/n 2331 - French Army /ALAT - Leeuwarden AFB in Holland - 1 July 1994 Leeuwarden AFB (LWR)

The Airbus Helicopters AS.332 L2 Super Puma is a twin-engined medium-weight transport helicopter for up to 2 crew and 22 passengers powered by two Turboméca Makila 1A1 turbine engines. The SNIAS SA.332 Super Puma was derived from the SA.330 Puma, that flew first on 15 April 1965 under Sud-Aviation banner. On 1 January 1970, Sud-Aviation merged with a number of other French aerospace companies to form SNIAS (Société Nationale Industrielle Aerospatiale). Development of the AS.332 Super Puma with more powerful engines and an enhanced rotor system started in the late 70s. On 7 September 1977, the Makila-powered test-bed prototype SA.331 c/n 001 F-WZAT, the modified SA330 B Puma c/n 1541, flew first. The first production standard Super Puma, AS332-01 F-WZJA, was flown on 13 September 1978. On 1 February 1980, the AS332 C flew first, followed by the AS332 L version (L for long) on 10 October. SNIAS AS 332L Super Puma was certificated in 1983. From 1984, SNIAS operated under the name of Aérospatiale. The Super Puma is in use in several military and civilian roles. In 1990, the military Super Puma designations were changed from AS332 to AS532 Cougar to distinguish between the civil and military variants of the helicopter. The helicopter divisions of MBB from Germany and Aérospatiale from France merged in January 1992 to form the Eurocopter Group. New Eurocopter designations for the further developed helicopters based on the AS332L series were added: EC 225 Super Puma (civilian versions) and EC 725 Cougar (military versions).
The ICAO Aircraft Type Designator for the AS532 UL Cougar II is AS32.
As a result of the merger between the Eurocopter parents Aérospatiale-Matra; DaimlerChrysler Aerospace (DASA) and Construcciones Aeronàuticas Sociedad Anonima (CASA) in July 2000, the Eurocopter group became a division of the new formed EADS (European Aeronautic Defence and Space company). Taking off into 2014, EADS was rebranded as "Airbus Group". Uniting all its activities under a single brand, its helicopter division Eurocopter was rebranded as Airbus Helicopters on 8 January 2014.

On 22 November 1954, the ALAT - Aviation Légère de l’Armée de Terre - the French Army Light Aviation - was established for observation, reconnaissance, assault and supply duties for the Frech Army. Today, the ALAT mainly operates helicopters, including the AS532UL Cougar.
The 1990-built Aérospatiale AS532UL Cougar s/n 2331 entered service with ALAT (Aviation Légère de l'Armée de Terre) 4e RHCM at Essey-lès-Nancy as 2331 / F-MAIE. Over the years, AS532 UL Cougar 2331 served with several units like 1e RHCM and 11 BSMAT and was detached by the SFOR. Codes used by Cougar 2331 include (F-M)AIE; (F-M)AIP; (F-M)CPN; (F-M)CYI and (F-M)CGU. In 2011-2012, the helicopter was modified by Eurocopter into an AS532 M1e Cougar and tested as F-ZWDI.
On 1 July 1994, armée de Terre' AS532 UL Cougar '2331 / AIE' was seen during the "Open Dag" of the Royal Netherlands Air Force at Leeuwarden AFB (EHLW/LWR).

page last updated: 27-03-2021
Copyright © Jack Wolbrink, Emmen, the Netherlands
 

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