Where and when to see RAF Puma helicopters’ anniversary flypast on July 7 - with flightmaps
Up to 10 RAF Puma helicopters are flying over Cambridgeshire today (Wednesday July 7) to make the 50th anniversary of the aircraft.
Look to the skies above Duxford and Wyton this morning and you could see the helicopters, complete with a new ‘Puma 50’ logo, replacing the RAF logo on the cabin door.
A medium support helicopter, it operates under Joint Helicopter Command (JHC) control in a variety of combat roles, including the tactical movement of troops, weapons, ammunition and stores on the battlefield. It is used for the extraction of casualties and in response to medical emergencies on the frontline, along with non-combatant evacuations, and humanitarian and disaster relief operations.
They have been deployed in missions in Iraq, Afghanistan, Northern Ireland, Bosnia, Kosovo, the Caribbean and Mozambique.
RAF Benson, where the Pumas are based, posted on Facebook: “A formation of Puma helicopters from RAF Benson will mark 50 years of Royal Air Force service with a national flypast.
“The first Puma helicopters were delivered into service in 1971. A formation of up to 10 Puma helicopters will depart RAF Benson tomorrow morning as part of a training sortie that will include flypasts of notable locations for the Puma Force over the past 50 years.
“This includes sites that hold historical significance for the Puma Force as well as those that provide support to delivering current Puma operational capability.”
There are three legs to the flypast, and the maps indicate approximate timings.
In Cambridgeshire, the Pumas are due to fly near Duxford at 10.58am and Wyton at 11.08am.
Leg one
Look out for the Pumas at these times and locations:
- 513654N 0010545W BENSON AD – 10am
- 514733N 0004416W HALTON – 10.20am
- 514728N 0004114W TRING – 10.21am
- 514042N 0004707W WALTERS ASH – 10.26am
- 513310N 0002511W NORTHOLT AD – 10.35am
- 513551N 0001419W HENDON – 10.40am
- 520526N 0000753E DUXFORD AD – 10.58am
- 522120N 0000706W WYTON – 11.08am
- 522805N 0001503W CONINGTON AD – 11.12am
- 523647N 0002833W WITTERING AD – 11.19am
- 525754N 0003323W BARKSTON HEATH AD – 11.30am
- 530147N 0002934W CRANWELL AD – 11.33am
- 530958N 0003126W WADDINGTON AD – 11.45am
- 531829N 0003303W SCAMPTON AD – 11.49am
Leg two
Here is when and where to spot the Pumas on their second leg:
- 531829N 0003303W SCAMPTON AD – 1.30pm
- 524345N 0014333W ALREWAS – 2.03pm
- 524936N 0020538W STAFFORD – 2.11pm
- 525227N 0020949W STONE – 2.13pm
- 524805N 0024006W SHAWBURY AD – 2.24pm
- 521430N 0025252W SHOBDON AD – 2.43pm
- 520451N 0024756W CREDENHILL – 2.48pm
- 513654N 0023904W CHEPSTOW – 3.04pm
- 511223N 0020928W WARMINSTER – 3.21pm
- 511049N 0020520W KNOOK – 3.22pm
- 510912N 0014504W BOSCOMBE DOWN AD – 3.30pm
- 510858N 0013413W MIDDLE WALLOP AD – 3.34pm
Leg two
And here is the final leg of the tour:
- 510858N 0013413W MIDDLE WALLOP – 5pm
- 511255N 0012839W ANDOVER – 5.03pm
- 511403N 0005634W ODIHAM AD – 5.15pm
- 511403N 0005634W ODIHAM AD – 5.35pm
- 511528N 0010355W BASINGSTOKE – 5.38pm
- 511903N 0010241W BRAMLEY – 5.40pm
- 511838N 0004905W BLACKBUSHE AD – 5.46pm
- 512029N 0004544W CAMBERLEY – 5.57pm
- 511815N 0004313W FRIMLEY – 5.59pm
- 511631N 0004639W FARNBOROUGH AD – 6.01pm
- 511403N 0005634W ODIHAM AD – 6.05pm
- 511403N 0005634W ODIHAM AD – 6.15pm
- 513112N 0005328W HENLEY – 6.25pm
- 513654N 0010545W BENSON AD – 6.31pm
If you take pictures, we would love to see them - email newsdesk@iliffemedia.co.uk.
