Puma Intakes

[Pat C]

Grateful for some help on Puma HC1 intakes, particular around the Gulf War period. I have spotted three different variants and wondered if someone could help me understand what I am seeing. Some appear to have what looks like an upturned saucer over the intake - I don't think it is a FOD guard as there are pics of Puma's in the air with this. Some have a centre to the intake that almost fills the entire intake mouth, and in some the centre is missing and there is just an open mouth. I wondered if perhaps the intake centre could be moved back and forth to regulate airflow? Links to the three types below!

Pat

http://dstorm.eu/pictures/nose-arts/puma/gb/xw224_2.jpg

http://smg.photobucket.com/user/AEROMEDIA/media/current%20uk%20mil/pumagulf33sqn.jpg.html

http://www.rafchurchfenton.org.uk/Photos/Mark%20Lewis/17.%20Puma%20HC.1%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20stat01.JPG

[Jabba]

Pat on your idea that the centre bullet moves this is correct. It moves forward with air pressure to form a seal so that the PIPS work, that is that the air is taken in by the black part of the intake (for ease of saying what you are seeing) so that sand and other debris can be filtered out and not go down the intake. I think this was mainly when the Puma was either landing or taking off, and I think was controlled y a switch in the cockpit. We did used to check that it was working correctly on start up. The dustbin lid as you so call it is a permanent fixture and this is so that the bullet is permanently in the Fwd position. I did work on Pumas in the Gulf, and did spend around 4 yrs working on them in total, but that was over 25 yrs ago and my memory might not be working that well, but I think that what I have written is the basics of what you were asking.

[Pat C]

That's perfect many thanks Jabba