In the afternoon we are welcomed at Titu with a lunch. The journey to Tuti gave us a first impression off Romania outside the capital.

Titu Boteni is situated North-West of Bucharest. he history of the 61ste goes way back to 1971 when the 1st sqn was set up with the in licence built Alouette III (IAR-316B). In 1978 the 2 sqn came to it , equipped with the also in licence built Puma (IAR-330L) a year later another two Puma squadrons were founded. These four squadrons were transformed into the 61st AB in 1980. This 61st was the leading force in 1989 in times of the fall of the communistic dictatorship while supporting the revolutionary civilians. The standard IAR-330 Puma takes care of search and rescue (SAR) and evacuationflights (Medevac) and reconnaissance missions. The same goes for the Alouettes III though most of these ‘grasshoppers’ have left the scene. There is a quite large stored number of them situated at Boboc. Next to the standard Puma version the 61st also operates the SOCAT Puma version, the absolute Backbone of Baza 61

At Titu a test flight of a Socat had been delayed for us so we can take some operational pictures. The different radar and communications stations situated on the air base are of an older War Pac generation. The Socat on the other hand is a modern and impressive weapons platform. IAR – Industria Aeronautica Romana S.A., the Romanian Aircraft Industry, has taken an older transport helicopter and build in into a high-tech and powerful weapon. IAR  has experience with this type as they are license build in Romania. The only other heavily armed Puma I have ever seen was in a Rambo movie.

The IAR.330 Puma was license built in Romania from 1977 with 104 produced by IAR SA Ghimbay near Brasov. 24, plus another six, were upgraded for a transport and attack role. The SOCAT project enlisted the participation of Elbit systems from Israel. The IAR.330 SOCAT (Sistemul Optoelectronic de Cautare si Lupta Anti-Tanc - the Optoelectronic Anti-Tank Seek and Combat System) system claims technology more advanced than the AH-64 Apache's, especially regarding the cannon and targeting systems. It includes; a target acquisition and weapons control system, and an Electro Optical Pod (EOP) with Forward Looking Infra-Red (FLIR) with a laser range finder. The MIDASH Helmet Mounted Displays and Helmet Mounted Sight System with two image intensifier's, enables the pilot to 'follow' the missiles to their targets. Night vision goggles give the helicopter night-fighting capacity with self-defense taken care of by chaff and flare dispensers. Apart from Close Air Support (CAS) missions the SOCAT Puma is designed for the Combat Search and Rescue (CSAR) role.