25 years AS532 Cougar in the Netherlands
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| Royal Netherlands Air Force launches a formation of six Cougar helicopters to celebrate the 25th anniversary of the type's entry into service in the Netherlands. |
This year in 2021, the Aérospatiale/EuroCopter/Airbus Helicopter AS532 ‘Cougar’ has been in use with the 300 Squadron of the Royal Netherlands Air Force for over 25 years. This unit is part of the Defense Helicopter Command (DHC) and is based at Gilze-Rijen Air Base (ICAO:EHGR).
On October 29, 1993, the contract was signed for the purchase of seventeen AS532U2 Cougar helicopters. The first medium-duty transport helicopters were delivered in April 1996. This means that in 2021 the Cougar has been in service with the 300 Squadron for 25 years. This unit is nicknamed ‘Wildcat’ and that is why the helicopters often fly with this callsign.
The 25th anniversary is a reason for the squadron to perform an anniversary flight by simultaneously sending six Cougar helicopters into the air in one large formation on Thursday February 18th 2021.
The planned six Cougars made a scenic flight across the Netherlands from 1330LT. The helicopters would fly over in Roosendaal, after which a course was set for the coastline. The route continued via Hoek van Holland, Scheveningen, Hoofddorp and Utrecht. Ultimately, the helicopters would fly to Ede where a special photo shoot was organized for the formation.
The Wildcat Formation would only land in Ede for a small group of photographers who had been informed up front by the Royal Netherlands Air Force. The helicopters would land on the heath in two rows of three helicopters. The whole spectacle lasted only 15 minutes. The helicopters landed and would perform multiple “hover” formations for the photographers.
After a nice demonstration, the Cougars flew on to Eindhoven AB (ICAO:EHEH) for a Low Approach and then landed again at Gilze-Rijen AB just after 1600LT.
For the 300 Squadron, flying this Wildcat Formation a long and extensive preparation period ended to get all helicopters ready for flight. Flying such a formation requires a lot of coordination to ensure that everything runs safely. The formation was led by the commander of No. 300 Squadron who was at the controls of the Wildcat 01, which was the formation leader. Given the many positive reactions, the flight in the Netherlands has not gone unnoticed.
Of the seventeen AS532 Cougar helicopters purchased by the RNLAF, twelve are currently still in operational service.
The Wildcat Formation consisted of the following Cougar helicopters;
S-444 Wildcat 01, S-441 Wildcat 02, S-440 Wildcat 03, S-445 Wildcat 04, S-454 Wildcat 05, S-456 Wildcat 06, S-459 Wildcat 07 Spare, S-442 Wildcat 08 Spare
On October 29, 1993, the contract was signed for the purchase of seventeen AS532U2 Cougar helicopters. The first medium-duty transport helicopters were delivered in April 1996. This means that in 2021 the Cougar has been in service with the 300 Squadron for 25 years. This unit is nicknamed ‘Wildcat’ and that is why the helicopters often fly with this callsign.
The 25th anniversary is a reason for the squadron to perform an anniversary flight by simultaneously sending six Cougar helicopters into the air in one large formation on Thursday February 18th 2021.
The planned six Cougars made a scenic flight across the Netherlands from 1330LT. The helicopters would fly over in Roosendaal, after which a course was set for the coastline. The route continued via Hoek van Holland, Scheveningen, Hoofddorp and Utrecht. Ultimately, the helicopters would fly to Ede where a special photo shoot was organized for the formation.
The Wildcat Formation would only land in Ede for a small group of photographers who had been informed up front by the Royal Netherlands Air Force. The helicopters would land on the heath in two rows of three helicopters. The whole spectacle lasted only 15 minutes. The helicopters landed and would perform multiple “hover” formations for the photographers.
After a nice demonstration, the Cougars flew on to Eindhoven AB (ICAO:EHEH) for a Low Approach and then landed again at Gilze-Rijen AB just after 1600LT.
For the 300 Squadron, flying this Wildcat Formation a long and extensive preparation period ended to get all helicopters ready for flight. Flying such a formation requires a lot of coordination to ensure that everything runs safely. The formation was led by the commander of No. 300 Squadron who was at the controls of the Wildcat 01, which was the formation leader. Given the many positive reactions, the flight in the Netherlands has not gone unnoticed.
Of the seventeen AS532 Cougar helicopters purchased by the RNLAF, twelve are currently still in operational service.
The Wildcat Formation consisted of the following Cougar helicopters;
S-444 Wildcat 01, S-441 Wildcat 02, S-440 Wildcat 03, S-445 Wildcat 04, S-454 Wildcat 05, S-456 Wildcat 06, S-459 Wildcat 07 Spare, S-442 Wildcat 08 Spare
Text: Joris van Boven and Alex van Noije
Photos: Joris van Boven and Alex van Noije
Video: Alex van Noije
Video: Alex van Noije
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