Eurocopter AS 532 U2 Cougar/欧直AS 532 U2美洲狮模型改造

The Eurocopter AS 532 U2 Cougar Mk II is operated by the Dutch Air Force[KLu] on behalf on the Dutch Air Mobile Army Brigade. It seemed very nice to have a large 1/32 model of this helicopter in the collection and as Matchbox issued a 1/32 Puma kit (later improved and issued by Revell), a conversion project was started.

欧直AS 532 U2美洲狮II型由荷兰空军[KLu]操作飞行，隶属于荷兰陆军的空中突击旅。收集这个1/32的大比例直升机模型很令人高兴，套材是火柴盒的1/32 美洲狮模型（后来由利华改进再版），改造项目开始。

But first let's look at a brief background of this chopper.但是我们先来看看这个直升机的简介。

The Eurocopter Cougar AS 532 helicopter is derived from the Super Puma and in fact the Puma helicopter developed by Aerospatiale and Westland emerging the mid nineteen-sixties. The original Pumahelicopter designated SA 330 was a tactical transport helicopter and the first production Puma flew in 1968. It was and still is used by many air forces and by civil operators. It has a crew of 2 pilots and a navigator and a cabin for maximum of 16-20 troops or passengers. The Puma has a maximum take off weight of 6400 kg with two Turbomeca Turmo engines. The rotor has a diameter of 15 meters and its overall length with rotors turning is 18.15 m. Fuselage length is 14.06 m and its maximum speed about 280 km/hour at sealevel.

欧直美洲狮AS 532 U2直升机是超美洲豹直升机的派生型号，也是1960年代法国宇航和韦斯特兰公司联合研制的美洲豹直升机的改进型。最初的美洲豹直升机型号是SA 330，是一种战术运输直升机，在1968年首飞。直到现在还被很多国家的空军和民航使用。驾驶舱能容纳一名飞行员和一名领航员，后机舱能运载16-20个士兵或者乘客。安装两台透博梅卡公司透默发动机的美洲豹最大起飞重量为6400kg。桨叶直径15m，包含桨叶的机体总长度是18.15m，机体长14.06m，海平面的最大飞行时速280km。

The Super Pumatwin turbine medium lift helicopter was extensively modified from the original Puma.The Super PumaAS 332 was a longer and upgraded version of the Puma, the type being continually improved and enlarged. It had a larger cabin and more powerfull engines.

超美洲豹双发涡轮中型载重直升机是美洲豹最重要的改型。超美洲豹AS 332比美洲豹更长，是它的升级版，型号正在不断完善和扩大，拥有更大的后机舱和更有力的发动机。

The latest military variant of the Super Puma is called the Cougar. It has even more modifications as compared to the Super Puma. First flight of the Cougar was in Februari 1987. The new European Eurocopter organisation is now the manufacturer.

超美洲豹最新的军用型号被称为美洲狮。相对超美洲豹做了很多修改。美洲狮首飞在1987年2月。制造厂商现在是新成立的欧洲直升机公司。

The variant AS 532 U2 Cougar Mk II is an unarmed tactical military transport helicopter and it is also used by the Dutch Air Force on behalf on the Air Mobile Army Brigade. It is even longer than the Super Puma as the fairing between the aft cabin and tailboom is a bit longer and made of composites. The latest Cougars got an improved rotor system with larger diameter blades and a new rotorhead that incorporates some lessons learned from the NH90 helicopter currently being developed (a never ending project....) . It also has a small weather radar in the longer nose.

改进型AS 532 U2美洲狮II型是一种无武装的军用运输直升机，由荷兰空军操作飞行，隶属于荷兰陆军的空中突击旅。在机舱后部和尾梁之间有比超美洲豹更长的过渡结构，由复合材料制成。最新的美洲狮改进了旋翼系统还有更大直径的桨叶。新的旋翼桨毂系统吸取了很多NH90直升机上的经验，目前还在改进中（一个永远也不会结束的项目……）。它更长的鼻子里还有个小型气象雷达。

The Cougar landing gear was also changed with two single larger rear wheels and twin nose wheels. Powerplant of the AS 532 U2 is the Turbomeca Makila 1A2 with max 2100 shp for 30 seconds emergency power and a normal max power of 1657 shp.

美洲狮的起落架也做了修改，后起落架换成更大的单轮（美洲豹是双轮），前起落架还是双轮。AS 532 U2的发动机换用透博梅卡公司的马基拉1A2型，最大能输出1657马力，紧急情况下能在30秒内最大输出2100马力。

The Cougar cabin can accommodate various lay-outs such as folding seats for up to 28 troops, 12 stretchers etc. The latest Cougar helicopters also have EFIS/IFDS cockpit displays and an automatic flight control system.

美洲狮的机舱有多种布局，可以容纳28名士兵或者12付担架。最新的美洲狮直升机还有电子飞行仪表系统/综合飞行数据系统的座舱（就是玻璃化座舱的意思，EFIS＝electronic flight instrumentation system，IFDS＝integrated flight data system）和自动飞行控制系统。

Fuselage modifications: cabin plug with a 0.76 m forward section as compared to normal Puma with also new longer radarnose; rear section is quite different as compared to Super Puma with new composite fairing and shorter tailboom ; Overall, the AS 532 U2 fuselage length from forward radarnose to atmost tailtip (exclusive rotors) is 16.27 m (50.8 cm in 1/32 scale or 22.6 cm in 1/72 scale).

机体改动：相对普通的美洲豹机体前部增加了0.76m，还有更长的机鼻雷达整流罩；机体后部相对超美洲豹有很大的不同，新的复合材料过渡结构和更短的尾梁；总体而言，AS 532 U2机体从机鼻雷达罩到机尾尾尖（不含桨叶）长度是16.27 m (1/32比例是50.8 cm，1/72比例是22.6 cm)。

The drawing shows the correct measurements for a AS 532 U2 Cougar./AS532 U2美洲狮精确尺寸涂装图

Note for 1/72 builders: the 1/72 Italeri/Revell kit is fine for a Super Puma and can be used as a basis for a AS 532 Cougar with the exception of the rear composite fairing;

给1/72比例模型制作者的建议：意大利/利华1/72的超美洲豹套材不错，可以用来改造成AS 532 美洲狮，除了后部的复合过渡结构以外。

for a Cougar as compared to a Super Puma the rear fuselage cone fairing even longer and has a "straight" different shape, being  47 cm longer (= 0.65 cm in 1/72 scale. So the Italeri kit's fuselage fairing cone should be converted for a Cougar. )

美洲狮相对超美洲豹而言，后部的锥形过渡结构更长，有弧度，不同于直锥的外形，大约47cm长（缩小到72比例是0.65cm，因此意大利套材的锥形过渡结构可以改造成美洲狮）。