AS 332 J Super Puma

In chapter 13 of my story, "Desert Rose," the strike team goes in to rescue Angie's mom and dad. They use an AS 332 J Super Puma Helicopter.

The helicopter depicted below was upgraded to the AS332 standard with the more powerful engines and the longer tail boom. The original cabin was retained, therefore the helicopter appears shorter than the AS332J Super Puma, but in fact, it is the same. This one was upgraded and modified by DENEL Aviation, and is known in South Africa as the Denel Oryx

Specifications (AS332 L1)

General characteristics

• Crew: 2

• Capacity: 24 passengers plus attendant / 4,490 kg (9,899 lb)

• Length: 16.79 m (55 ft 1 in) fuselage

18.7 m (61 ft) rotor turning

• Height: 4.97 m (16 ft 4 in)

• Empty weight: 4,660 kg (10,274 lb)

• Max takeoff weight: 9,150 kg (20,172 lb)

• Powerplant: 2 × Turbomeca Makila 1A1 turboshaft, 1,376 kW (1,845 hp) each

• Main rotor diameter: 16.2 m (53 ft 2 in)

• Main rotor area: 206.12 m2 (2,218.7 sq ft)

• Blade section: root: NACA 13112; tip: NACA 13106

Performance

• Cruise speed: 277 km/h (172 mph, 150 kn) max,

247 km/h (153 mph; 133 kn) econ.

• Never exceed speed: 327 km/h (203 mph, 177 kn)

• Range: 851 km (529 mi, 460 nmi)

• Service ceiling: 5,180 m (16,990 ft)

• Rate of climb: 7.4 m/s (1,460 ft/min)

The next is some real world examples of the helicopter.

* All pictures from the internet. Those of the DENEL AVIATION Puma were taken by the Authers wife.