May 21, 2014
Welcome back to Details that Matter!

This week we are delving into a military workhorse that has seen
its share of battle and humanitarian missions:
Corgi’s Westland Puma HC.1 Royal Air Force XW220 Helicopter!

Item #AA27004

This 1/72 scale helicopter carries with it a long history of distinguished service. By the time of the 1991 Gulf War conflict, the RAF had already been using the Puma HC.1 for 20 years, and it had proven to be a capable and effective medium lift helicopter.  It saw active duty in Northern Ireland, in humanitarian roles such as the 1988 Jamaican flash flood, and was brought into full-time military service in 1991.

We begin our look at this extremely detailed replica with the life-like cockpit. The insignia on the side of the cockpit is the squadron badge: a hart's head affrontée, couped at the neck, which dates back to the origins of the squadron in 1916. With two pilots seated in the cockpit, this model shows the honor due to these brave men with skill and precision.

On top of this magnificent model you see the detailed, moveable rotor that is the life of the machine.
Designed as a battlefield transport, the flight control system was jointly developed with the Royal Air Force and Aerospatiale, and it is powered by twin Turbomeca Turmo IIIC4 engines.

This replica rotor demonstrates the power of the full-sized system that set this helicopter up for use in both military and civilian endeavors!
One of the defining characteristics of this model is the moving door that allows you to see inside the helicopter.
Previous to the Gulf War the Puma was used as a humanitarian transport bringing aid to refugees or food to peace keepers.

  Whether it was holding a few crates of food or, as this replica portrays, a vigilant soldier at the ready with the automatic attachment at his side, the interior was ready and capable of handling whatever may come!
Sadly, however, even with all the heart and proud heritage surrounding this model, it was no match for some renegade farm animals!

Thanks to our photographer for showing that even the most powerful machines can be overtaken with a little bit of humor.

That’s it for our look at the Westland Puma HC.1 Royal Air Force XW220 Helicopter by CORGI (Now Available from b2bReplicas)! Join us next time as we look at the Details that Matter on another great model.