Cbuild a car with helicopter parts; That’s how simple the proposal he made in 2023 was. Royal Air Force (RAF), the United Kingdom Air Force, to the car manufacturer Caterham. And not from just any helicopter, but from Puma HC2the model that entered the service of the British Army in 1972 and that in 2024 will reach the end of its life useful.
Of course Caterham did not take long to accept the challenge, especially considering that the plan was to auction this unique car and donate all the money raised to the Families of wounded British servicemen.
Everything useful
The interesting thing about Caterham Seven 360Ras it has been called, is that the helicopter parts are not a simple decoration or limited to small details, but have truly been used everything that could also be used in the little roadster.
To begin with, all Aluminum sheet which makes up the lower part of the nose (removing the hood and the ‘nose’ of the car), as well as the rear section, has been made with sheet metal removed from the tail and doors of an aircraft. Hence they look rivets so characteristic of the aeronautical world.
On the other hand, the element that serves as sound insulation on the helicopter and has been used to line the top of tunnel central (the one that goes between the seats and where the gear lever is located), the inside of doors and the padded of the carbon fiber bucket seats. In fact, in the latter they have even been preserved until evacuation instructions of the helicopter.
Three-phase ignition
As for the dashboard, satin black in color, uses aircraft switches instead of the traditional Caterham ones. As an equally attractive nod, a navigation clock which has been installed in the center of the dashboard. But what is perhaps most striking to its future owner is that the start-up of the car is not done in the traditional way, but through a three-phase ignition sequence, as happens in the aircraft. It is undoubtedly a detail that delays the start-up a little, but it achieves a much more ‘theatrical’ effect.
Otherwise, the car retains the ammunition box of the helicopter, which has been installed inside the hood and serves to house the battery, has been painted on ‘NATO green’with colored bass ‘Desert Sand’ (like RAF helicopters) and the car displays the aircraft’s registration number XW232the same as the helicopter from which the parts were taken.
Side by side
The helicopter Puma HC2 was created to fulfill combat functions, such as the tactical movement of troops and weapons or the evacuation of wounded. To use the parts of this aircraft it has been essential to very close collaboration between the engineering teams that maintain the RAF Pumas and those of Caterham, who apparently have worked hand in hand wonderfully.
The Squad Leader Morley, of the RAF, explained that “the car has been assembled by RAF personnel with the help of Caterham and highlights the incredible skills of engineering teams maintained by the RAF Puma. “It’s our chance to celebrate the history of the RAF Puma Force.”
The first in history
For its part, Bob LaishleyCEO of Caterham, stated that “when the RAF proposed this project to us we did not hesitate to participate. Firstly, because it was a interesting construction process for us, since it is the first time in our history that a Seven has been manufactured from recycled helicopter parts“.
What does not change about the car is the mechanical part, with an engine 2.0 atmospheric what delivery 180 CV and allows you to go from 0 to 100 in 4.8 seconds, in addition to reaching 210 km/h. These are very good figures, although far from the 1.800 CV that delivers each of the Puma’s two engines, with which the helicopter can reach 306 km/h.
The car will be exhibited for the first time during the celebration of the Formula 1 Grand Prix what is going to be celebrated this July 5, 6 and 7 at Silverstoneand will be auctioned later through the platform Collecting Carsin which it is expected to find a new owner for a price perhaps higher than the 120.000 euros.
