New era begins at RAF Akrotiri as Pumas replace Griffin helicopters 

That is so true. And then they wonder why our capability has been eroded. They haven't got the sense to see that it's their own fault.

I was gonna say...I'm not familiar with these helos but they both look quite old!

The MoD needs gutting

@@Doug97803 This is true for Germany as well. Many Euro nations got complacent and relied too heavily on the United States for military protection.

@@Doug97803 long overdue

I hear china's doing good deals on knock off balloons How sad our military has become, replacing 1960's tech with 1980's tech in 2023

Ooh your pushing the budget limit there!!!!.

Lol

windswept

impeccable bants from the flight crew, I would probably do something similar for the TV

@@thepeacockk nah, I don't think it is, I have seen this guy before when he gave interviews after the recent wildfires, I think this is his day to day look.

LMAOOOO

Needs to discover what a razor is for!

I’d call it an (Agusta) Bell 412.

@@heli-crewhgs5285 it is what it is.

Lets just call them the CHOPPER...

@@heli-crewhgs5285 Bell 412, huey same aircraft. Just different modifications. As ones a military and the other is civilian.

@@sinisterisrandom8537 The UH-1N has literally NOTHING in common with the original Huey aside from the general shape of it. Literally everything, including its physical size was changed.

Meanwhile, in other news, HMS Prince of Wales is to be kitted out with new Seafire Aeroplanes!

Canada should give them to Ukraine for night ops. Whatever the hell that means.

@@eanerickson8915 what?

@@eanerickson8915 How many braincells you got going in there

@@dorsets9295 Not too many. I tried to qualify as the one of those dudes that looks out for branch and teaches you how to use seat belts. Didn't qualify. I only froze my ass off in the winter. What did you learn if the army beside hair dressing?

@@eanerickson8915 Not in yet, will be after college though 👍 just confused by your first comment

They are backup rotors.

I can't belief that magnificent stache didn't violate RAF regulations

You don't remember the excitement of Wessex replacing Whirlwind? You child!

Space cadet you mean. Oh how we loved you lot, we always had you lot in later life, say that you wanted to sign up, but failed the medical.

@@marknorville9827 pretty much !

That felt personal, Mark. Lol 🤝

They don't need anything too high tech. Just need something reliable and cost-effective to run. Hence the Puma is ideal. Also has bigger carrying capacity for troops or SAR operations than the Griffin.

​​@@Blackmamba12345eren't the Huey family (Bell 412/Griffin) is alot more versatile and cheaper to operate though, it saw service everywhere from civilian and military, and in large quantities as well.

The airframe maybe very old tech, but all the gizmos on the flight deck are much more modern. Years ago I flew in a C47 operated by Crab Air. From the flight deck back it was pure WW2, but the kit in the cabin was totally current.

@@VandalAudi The Griffin is not as capable, it is less powerful than the Puma and cannot carry as much payload. The Puma has a longer range too so it's better for the role.

Puma pilots used to love making erks barf in the jumpseat.

The name ‘Cyprus’ means copper. Think of ‘cupro.’

And Griffin only has 1 pilot?

what a PR show. Handover retirement my ass, budget is the word here.

MoD can’t afford the lease on the Griffins anymore😂😂

Money saving no doubt.

@god bless farage pumas ?

There's a New Medium Helicopter competition on going to replace a few different helicopters. I think there's four different possibilities.

There are currently 2 really strong contenders and 2 weak ones. H175M from Boeing UK/Airbus which is all but certain to win S-70M from Lockheed which is a modified Blackhawk AW149 from Leonardo and MH139 from Boeing are also in the running but unlikely to win. Also the MoD has shown interest in replacing/supplementing some of the current Chinooks with V-280 Valors for the new UK Ranger units.

@@mandalorian_guy I thought the Leonardo offering would be a strong contender as they are promising a UK assembly line?

@@mandalorian_guy Thanks.

@@mandalorian_guy With the excepton of types you've pulled all of that out your arse. AW149 has always been favoured, with the Airbus option next. The Black Hawk will never be accepted. There has been no mention of the V280 from any party. Stop spreading misinformation.

Still are just later than the Griffin.

Total is about 200k

Enlighten us - what errors do you think there are?

because the griffin is different than the Huey, search both up and compare.

Griffin is part of the Huey family, which is a rather large family of helicopters, looks the same but with inherent diferrences, like you might look like your grandparents but you are not them.

The Bell 412 Griffin has two-engines and four rotor blades whereas the Bell UH-1 Huey has one engine and two rotor blades.

Errrrr .... The UK still builds its own helicopters. The RAF Pumas were built in the UK in a deal where the French bought the Lynx.

@@1chish The Pumas were built half a century ago.

@@1chish errrr UK used to make their own helicopter, sea king, lynx, Wessex, wasp. All built in UK by Westland, a UK company. Are you really saying the airbus helicopter is the UK company? Get with program. UK a joke now, buy most of military equipment from Europe and USA. God bless America

@@paolodechipiece1027 Airbus do not build helicopters in the UK so I am not sure why you had to make that arsewipe comment. Maybe YOU need to 'get with the programme' 'Paolo'? The UK still builds helicopters at Westlands in Yeovil (Now called Agusta Westland) and have produced or are producing Merlin, AW189, Apache and currently 62 Wildcat helicopters for the Army and Navy which has also been exported to the Philipines and South Korea. Like the Merlin was also exported to Japan and elsewhere. As for your last comment sorry to disappoint you but whatever we buy from Europe is what we have built as part of a consortium (like Typhoon and A400M) and only certain aircraft like the F-35 from the USA again because we are part of the manufacturing group being the only Tier One Partner.. Having said that the UK is the largest foreign supplier to the US Military and happens to be the largest inward investor into the USA. So the only 'joke' here is yourself 🤡so go take your abusive stupidity and shove it up your legendary fat Yank arse 'Paolo'.

@@minuteman4199 Indeed they were. I never said otherwise so I am glad we agree they were indeed built in the UK.

Apparently a replacement choice is between airbus H175M & leonardo AW149.

@@cliffhigson7581 I heard the same. Both look OK.

Gotta funnel that taxpayer money to private companies...

Civvy company are payed to maintain Griffin, RAF personnel maintain Puma. Almost like that actually saves money.

@@VanderlyndenJengold Maybe in the USA .....

Nope. A bigger capability, RAF maintained and flown so no numbers being reduced. And yes Puma will be replaced but not for a couple of years so still valuable service to do.

@@1chish Not sure how you work that out mucker, the "crabs" have 23 Puma's, 5 which are in storage, so we lose 3 Griffin's, and it's not a cut! When the MoD finally do chose the replacement Medium Lift, the numbers bought will be lower, simple as that, they won't have to include replacing the 3 Griffin's.

Very effective at their jobs and all that was needed

Can you explain why more than two helicopters performing these roles are needed, Fish?

​@Swan fish is one 9f those that comment how small countries armies all day while absolutely nothing about anything military

@@x67th absolutely,glad you asked,the guy said climate change is getting worse,they are being called out more and more,working in 55 degrees heat whilst doing so..massive fires damaging all sorts,so whilst the "2" helicopters are tackling that..who is helping the other emergencies? Just another case of under funding,if that was America they would have atleast 10

​@Fish Maybe you should check how many other airbourne fire fighting vehicles Cyprus operates. These helicopters are "2" of about 15/20 vehicles with only 9000 sq² of land to cover. They are very well equipped actually.

Why's it silly? It's very relevant to Forest/Bush fires.

​@David Houseman It was hotter during the Viking age than it is now, global warming is natural and unchangeable.

@@mikeycraig8970 Nope, I kind of forgot there were still people denying manmade climate change.

@David Houseman Yet the facts still laugh in your face lol.

@@davidhouseman4328 no surprise, he even has the type of face u expect when dealing with that sort

?

??

“Go democrats”?!?! Are you on strong medication?

Not when ones chasing rambo about in his huey they're not!!!.

I believe all the Merlin's went to the Navy. Puma is only a temporary replacement, ultimately they want something lighter than the Merlin as despite being classed as medium it's pretty hefty.

The Merlin fleet all went to the Navy to support the Commando force. All converted to fully be marinised with folding rotors & tails.

​@@davidhouseman4328 Sounds like a job for the wildcat then

@@louisgordon4388 it's inbetween Merlin and Wildcat. If it was just few you'd make do with a few of both but the 40+ planned is likely enough for its own type.

No need to add guns to the Puma, it's noisy enough to disable any adversary (and friendly troops)