Based Puma serials & codes

[Mike]

The current serial/code situation seems to be as follows (the codes in brackets don't appear to be on the aircraft, unless they're too mucky to see!).
Can anyone help with any confirmed sightings to assist with keeping this updated please?

Many thanks.

XW199/A
XW204/B
XW209/(C)
XW212/D
XW213/E
XW214/F
XW216/G
XW217/H
XW219/(J)
XW220/K
XW224/(L) grey/green camo scheme with Union Flag tail and marked '50 years RAF Puma'. Noted stripped of all paint at Marham 21/09/22
XW231/N
XW232/P
XW235/Q
XW237/R
ZA935/S
ZA936/T
ZA939/U
ZA940/V
ZJ954/W
ZJ955/X
ZJ956/Y
ZJ957/Z

The gate guardian is ZA937 Puma HC.1

[FlyingFairy]

Hi Mike,

Any reason why you have included XW226? That is a HC1 variant having never been converted to HC2 standard. There are 4 further HC1s in store at Shawbury.

There are only 23 Puma HC2s

Regards,

FF

[Mike]

Hi FF, thanks for that and I've deleted it from the list.
Does anyone have any updates to which aircraft the codes actually appear on and also which ones currently show incorrect serials on tracking sites please?

Thanks all.

[roger4]

I have the same list as you. Most of those with codes painted on are confirmed from photos on-line. I have not yet seen aircraft carrying the codes you have in brackets.

Presumably XW229 (which was converted to a HC2 but which has since been written off) would have been "M" had it survived, and codes "I" and "O" not is use to avoid confusion with numbers 1 and 0.

[Mike]

Thanks for that, it certainly makes sense that 229 would have been coded 'M' and not 226 as I originally thought!

[ridgmeister]

The only update I can add is that XW214 is carrying the code 'F' as I saw it last week.
regards,
Paul

[Mike]

Many thanks, Paul.

[ridgmeister]

XW224 is now in the original grey/green camo scheme with Union Flag tail and marked '50 years RAF Puma'.
Regards,
Paul

[Mike]

Thanks Paul, list updated.

[Two66]

Noted today at Portland was XW216 but it was feeding to VRS as 43C291 XW232

[roger4]

Mike,

XW213 is now painted as "E" - seen at Benson's families day yesterday.

[Mike]

Many thanks, Roger.

[big john]

Noted today at Portland was XW216 but it was feeding to VRS as 43C291 XW232

43C291 has always been XW216 or at least since 2013.
I suggest that the database on VRS is corrected, because a database with incorrect data is as useful as a chocolate frying pan.

[roger4]

For the record, ZA939 is now painted as "U".

[Mike]

Many thanks.

[D1scafellpike]

Not sure if this is the correct thread to post this in but today, XW235/Q (eyeballed) was tracking on ADSB exchange as XW217 Hex: 43C292

[roger4]

According to MAR (via Scramble) the Puma HC2 fleet is in use as follows (as at February 2023):

33Sq Benson XW199/A, XW213/E, XW220/K, ZJ956/Y

33Sq SAR Flight, Akrotiri XW232/P, XW237/R, ZA939/U

1563Flt, Brunei XW212/D, XW214/F, ZA935/S

This leaves 13 aircraft, with 10 thought by MAR to be in a reserve (wfu?) status, and 3 on maintenance. MAR do not know which are the three. However XW235/Q was observed flying in April (allbeit using XW217/H's Mode-S code) by D1scafellpike as above, so this is probably one of the three. The only other ones I have picked up on my ADSB receiver flying locally in the last 7 months are XW216/G, ZA940/V and ZJ954/W, so two of these may be the MAR missing ones (subject to Mode-S box swopping which may be going on).

Note that 230Sq no longer operate Pumas as the squadron personnel are dedicated to the medium helicopter replacement project, and 28Sq borrow aircraft from 33Sq as and when their OCU duties require one.

[D1scafellpike]

Further to Roger4's post above, but not adding any new numbers into the pot, the following is a list of the Puma's I've seen flying at Benson during the last 6 months (numbers and accompanying codes read off photographs):

08-11-22 XW213 (E) and XW216 (G)
13-11-22 XW232 (P)
19-01-23 XW237 (R)
07-02-23 ZJ956 (Y)
05-04-23 XW220 (K) and XW235 (Q)

I note from Roger4's post that XW232 and XW237 have gone to Akrotiri since I sew them.

[roger4]

Over the last two months, the seven noted in service with 33Sq have been:

XW199/A, XW216/G, XW220/K, XW235/Q, ZA940/V, ZJ955/X and ZJ956/Y (all according to ADSB).

Hence there appears to be rotation of aircraft between the 10 thought by MAR to be in reserve, and the active fleet.

28Sq's use of an airframe is now quite rare (assuming Vortex 2xx callsigns are 28Sq and Vortex 3xx callsigns are 33Sq) suggesting conversion training of pilots on the OCU is all but over.

The three in Akrotiri have transferred to 84Sq, according to 84Sq!

[JLewis_Aviation]

Interesting Benson tend to be referring to the ones in Brunei as 230 sqn as well as 1563 flt