Spanish Air Force retires last of its SA330 Pumas

The Spanish Air Force retired the last of its Airbus Helicopters (previously Eurocopter) SA330 Puma helicopters on 28 April, more than four decades after taking its first delivery of the aircraft.

The last Puma flew into a retirement ceremony at Cuatro Vientos Air Base just south of Madrid from Son San Joan airfield on the Balearic island of Mallorca, where it had been serving with 801 Squadron, part of 49 Wing, performing search-and-rescue (SAR) duties.

Designated the HD19 in Spain, the model was the oldest still being operated in the country and the one with the most flight hours - accumulating more than 30,000 hours, according to the air force.

Originally designed and built by Sud Aviation, which was then absorbed by Aerospatiale and then Eurocopter (now Airbus Helicopters), the Spanish aircraft were handed over from 1974 onwards, initially as medium transports capable of carrying VIPs or up to 16 soldiers and with a subsequent role as SAR platforms.

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Jason 10, the callsign for the last operational flight of the SA330 Puma in Spanish Air Force service, pictured after flying into a retirement ceremony at Cuatro Vientos Air Base near Madrid on 28 April from Son San Joan airfield on Mallorca, where it had been performing SAR duties. (Spanish MoD)