Super Pumas grounded
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http://straitstimes.asia1.com.sg/topstories/0,4381,,00.html
Air force grounds Super Pumas
By David Boey
SINGAPORE'S air force has grounded its entire fleet of 28 Super Puma and Cougar transport helicopters following a crash in Australia last Tuesday.
This is the first major grounding of the Republic of Singapore Air Force's Super Puma/Cougar fleet since April 1994, when a Super Puma crashed during training in Taiwan.
The grounding is a routine precaution while crash investigations are under way, said the Defence Ministry yesterday.
But it has affected the National Day Parade.
Two Super Puma choppers were to have flown, as flag escorts, on each side of a CH-47SD Chinook carrying a giant Singapore flag.
Instead, UH-1H Hueys, the oldest choppers used by the RSAF, took their place at last Saturday's National Day Parade Preview for about 60,000 students.
The grounding may also force the parade organisers to use lighting towers at the National Stadium for television crews to get a high enough vantage point to capture overhead views of the parade on Aug 9.
'We're looking at using platforms on two of the lighting towers at the stadium,' said a Mindef spokesman, disclosing the contingency plan for the parade should the grounding extend beyond National Day.
Super Pumas are usually used as television platforms because they can hover in the air, have a roomy cabin and can stay up for long hours.
The twin-engine Super Pumas were first delivered to the RSAF in 1985. The Cougars are updated models of the French-made Super Pumas with different engines.
The Mindef spokesman could not say when the grounding would be lifted.
It came after a Super Puma went down about 50km north of Oakey, in the Australian state of Queensland. An engine had caught fire while the helicopter was on a navigation training mission. Its four-man crew were slightly hurt. -
I am surprised that we only have 28 SPs and Cougars?
Shouldn't it be more?
Regards,
Woon Chong -
is it 28 units left after the crash? Anyone keeping score?
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time to get replacement
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I still remembered that the "initial batch" is 22 units of Super Pumas. I think 3 of which come in SAR configuration.
Of this 22 at least two crash. One on top of Sembawang Airbase, very sad two pilots and two techs died. And then another one crash somewhere in Spore training area. I think two pilots died.
Anyone knows how many "Cougars" did we buy? Can anyone tell me what is the difference.
According to the papers the "engines" are different. -
Instead of using the "Hueys" as stand-in. They should bring back two Apaches and use them as escort !!!
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Chinooks will be taking over.
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apaches are being grounded at the moment due to engine problems too
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calling in the fennecs?
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SuperPumas grounded??? Gosh....
No wonder dont see them buzzing around these days. Actually, they really should bring the Apaches back already, sure would be impressive to hear them roaring over the National Stadium. Or they could do a pop up display from behind the main stage, hovering low then doing a pop up manuever before flying past the crowd. IMPRESSIVE i tell ya... -
saw them flying again today
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Saw them flying for the NDP review/rehearsal on Saturday, think the grounding order has been cancelledOriginally posted by cavsg:saw them flying again today -
didn't hear anything about it... yetOriginally posted by Viper52:Saw them flying for the NDP review/rehearsal on Saturday, think the grounding order has been cancelled -
Chinooks lifting LWSPH will be the signt to behold a few NDPs from now....
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think 1 crashed into reservoir...Originally posted by spencer99:I still remembered that the "initial batch" is 22 units of Super Pumas. I think 3 of which come in SAR configuration.
Of this 22 at least two crash. One on top of Sembawang Airbase, very sad two pilots and two techs died. And then another one crash somewhere in Spore training area. I think two pilots died.
Anyone knows how many "Cougars" did we buy? Can anyone tell me what is the difference.
According to the papers the "engines" are different. -
latest crash in Queensland, luckily all 4 aircrew survived....Originally posted by igggy:think 1 crashed into reservoir...
unfortunately they have sustained serious and likely lasting injuries to their spine...