The UH-1 Iroquois "Huey" became an important part of American military actions beginning in 1960 and expanding throughout the latter part of the Cold War years. The ubiquitous system became synonymous with the American effort in Vietnam, no doubt due to her inherent capabilities to take on just about any needed role. Despite her consistent association with that war, her legacy has rightfully developed into so much more thanks to her use throughout the modern world in both military and civilian roles encompassing search and rescue, assault, transport and humanitarian efforts. Despite her official "Iroquois" name, the nickname of "Huey" stuck thanks to her early "HU-1" designation (later redesignated to UH-1 in 1962. Hence the Iroquois name was - and is - seldom used to this day when referencing the UH-1 series of helicopters.
The Huey developed from advances made in turbine technology throughout the 1950's. Bell produced the turbine-powered Model 47 (XH-13F) in 1954 to which the United States Army took special interest in. The need for a MedEvac helicopter was on the US Army wish list and, as such, Bell was tagged with developing a solution - and the prototype XH-40 (Bell Model 204) was born. First flight of XH-40 occurred on October 22nd, 1956 and were followed by two additional XH-40 prototypes, fitting the Lycoming 700 horsepower XT-53-L-1 engine. A further six developmental models were then ordered as YH-40 evaluation aircraft. These were essentially the same as the XH-40 prototypes but had their cabin space extended a full 12-inches. One of these YH-40's was set aside as a test bed featuring turbofan engines and wing assemblies becoming Bell Model 533. The Model 204 entered production for the US Army as the HU-1A, becoming the first turbine-powered helicopter in service with any US military branch. First deliveries would fall to the 101st Airborne Division, the 57th Medical Detachment and the 82nd Airborne Division. The 57th Medical Detachment would be the first to field the system in Vietnam beginning in March 1962.
By all respects, design of the Huey was quite utilitarian although more pleasing to the eye that other rotary-wing offerings developed during the 1950s. Aircraft construction was comprised of the main fuselage housing the cockpit and passenger cabin (along with their associated systems and equipment), the engine and rotor mast section and the empennage, or tail section containing the tail rotor. The pilot and co-pilot were seated at the extreme forward of the design with a windowed cockpit providing excellent vision forward, above, to the sides and forward-below. Entry for either cockpit seating position was made through an automobile-style hinged door. The cabin featured a large sliding windowed door on either side of the fuselage for easy access (in most Vietnam-era pictures, these doors are almost always lest open). The single engine was mounted atop the rear portion of the crew cabin root with the rotor mast extending upwards forward of the engine. The rotor blades on initial models were simple two-blade arrangements with a rotor mast for added stability (the latest Huey version sports a four-blade rotor system). The engine exhausted rearwards over the base of the empennage. The tail section itself made up nearly half the length of the entire fuselage and featured horizontal fins about half-way down the tail section. The section ended with a single vertical fin adorned with the two-blade tail rotor system mounted to the portside (the latest Huey sports a four-blade tail rotor). The undercarriage consisted of a pair of fixed landing skids - braced in two areas - allowing for landing and take-off from just about any type of surface making it useful to both land and sea-based operators. Throughout its production run - with the exception of the twin-engine Huey - the base UH-1 Huey series would retain this unique and very identifiable design.
With its transport origins and inherently large cabin space, the Huey was designed from the outset to serve occupants in quantity. Passenger space was equivalent to 14 combat-ready troops. This arrangement could be supplanted by up to 6 medical litters when in the MedEvac role. The base crew could comprise 1 to 4 personnel as needed and depending on the role and equipment utilized.
The UH-1 airframe proved highly adaptable throughout its tenure, particularly when a showcase piece in the Vietnam War as helicopter gunships. Standard armaments included the use of pintle-mounted M60 7.62mm machine guns or specialized external mountings for dual 7.62mm miniguns mounts, 2-, 7-, or 19-shot 2.75" rocket pods and 7.62mm machine guns in quad-mountings. In the Vietnam War, US Army Hueys were dubbed "Cobras" when fitted with machine gun armament and "Hogs" when sporting rocket pods while unarmed Hueys became "Slicks" (similarly, the USN and USMC called their transports "Dolphins" and their gunships "Sharks"). Many other weapon arrangements were trialed with the Huey airframe throughout the Vietnam War resulting in a plethora of experimental systems with a laundry list of x-type designations. These trials included the use of air-to-surface missiles, 7.62mm minigun gun pods, 20mm and 30mm cannon armament, mine dispensers, heavy caliber 12.7mm miniguns and 40mm grenade launchers. In all, the series was already proving its adaptability to just about any role imaginable even though many of these impressive armament arrangements were never accepted into any official role.
The production run of UH-1's yielded about a dozen major variants, some with sub-variants to boot. The initial production variant became the HU-1A, utilizing the early-form designation system that eventually changed to UH-1A in 1962 and onwards. Production netted 182 UH-1A's. These systems were followed by four YUH-1B prototypes leading up to the UH-1B production model, essentially being "improved" A-models with revised rotors and other subtle outward changes. The UH-1C arrived with revised blades, improved rotor-head and new engines, built to a 767 example total.
The first major "departure" from the initial production models became the UH-1D, of which some 2,008 examples were produced. These were based on the Bell Model 205 which itself was nothing more than a long-fuselage version of the Bell Model 204 while increasing rotor diameter, range and power from its Lycoming T53-L-9A, T53-L-11D 1,100shp engines or the Allied Signal Engines (ASE) T53-L-13B turboshafts of 1,400shp. The sliding double-windowed side doors were also made larger in this version. The US Army pressed these into service as troop transports beginning in 1963 to replace their aging Sikorsky CH-34 Chocktaw fleet while many were eventually upgraded to the upcoming UH-1H standard. UH-1D's could be crewed by 2 personnel while supplying room for up to 13 troops.
UH-1D (as well as UH-1H) production models were armed with the standard door-mounted M23 M60D 7.62mm machine guns on M23 subsystems to provide cover fire along the flanks. Early production UH-1D's featured the XM3 23-tube rocket launchers, the M5 40mm grenade launcher and the M6 quad M60C machine gun mounts for the gunship role. The large cabin space of D-models eventually set them apart as primary utility helicopters while the smaller UH-1B and UH-1C's were therefore utilized as primarily as gunships.
The UH-1E became a USMC product based on the UH-1B and UH-1C models. 192 of this type were built. Likewise, the UH-1F fell into service with the USAF and were similarly based on the UH-1B and UH-1C models. F-models were further differentiated by their use of General Electric T-58-GE-3 turboshaft engines of 1,325shp. 120 total examples of these Hueys were produced.
The UH-1H was a high quantity version, essentially similar to the UH-1D and built in some 5,435 total examples, and featured an improved Lycoming T-53-L-13B turboshaft engine of 1,400shp. H-models had the same basic armament suite of the UH-1D's - the standard M23 M60D 7.62mm door mounted machine guns. Likewise, passenger seating equaled space for 13 combat-ready troops. Additional changes included a revised two-bladed semi-rigid all metal main rotor system and rigid delta hinged two-bladed tail rotor system. H-models became the model of quantity of the entire Hueys production line. Production spanned from 1965 through 1986 and was also undertaken under license in Turkey and Taiwan. A specialized H-model was developed in the six-man (2 pilots and 4 gunners) UH-1H "Nighthawk" featuring a Zenon searchlight system coupled to an M134 7.62mm minigun armament for night work. Additional armaments included twin M60D 7.62mm machine guns and an M2HB 12.7mm heavy machine gun.
The USN utilized the purpose-built HH-1K (based on the Bell Model 204) for Search and Rescue duties. The UH-1M was a dedicated gunship model fitted with the Lycoming T-53-L-13 engine of 1,400shp.
The UH-1N was a somewhat vast departure from previous Huey offerings in that this model version sported twin turboshaft engines. These aircraft were built upon the Bell Model 212 design and also went under the name of "Twin Pac". The UH-1P was a UH-1F variant utilized by the USAF for use by the 20th Special Operations Squadron "Green Hornets". The UH-1V became a specialized US Army MedEvac model with room for six stretchers and one personnel while the UH-1Y appeared as a new Bell product intended to upgrade operators of their current UH-1N systems.
As of this writing, the USMC has begun deliveries (beginning early 2009) of what is expected to be 123 examples of the UH-1V "Venom" helicopter models. First fight of this variant was achieved on December 20th, 2001 and production now signals the new generation of Hueys. Despite maintaining a general external look to her previous incarnations, the Venom is an all-new modernized Huey complete with an all-composite four-blade main rotor, twin engine arrangement, four-blade tail rotor, FLIR, all-digital cockpit sporting multi-function displays and improvements over the base Huey's maximum speed, range and take-off weight. This modernization will no doubt extend the life of the Huey for some decades more.
The United States Army have already phased out their fleet of frontline UH-1's, having replaced them with the Sikorsky UH-60 Black Hawk series while still retaining some 700 Hueys in for a few years more. The USAF still utilize Hueys in limited utilitarian roles as needed but overall, the Sikorsky UH-60 series is poised to become the next workhorse of the American military.
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Specifications
Bell Helicopter Company - USA / Agusta-Bell - Italy / Fuji-Bell - Japan / AIDC - Taiwan / Dornier - Germany Manufacturer(s)
Afghanistan; Albania; Argentina; Australia; Austria; Bahrain; Bangladesh; Belize; Bolivia; Bosnia and Herzegovina; Brazil; Brunei; Burma; Cambodia; Canada; Chile; Colombia; Costa Rica; Domican Republic; El Salvador; Ecuador; Ethiopia; Germany; Greece; Georgia; Guatemala; Honduras; Indonesia; Iran; Iraq; Israel; Italy; Jamaica; Japan; Jordan; Kuwait; Lebanon; Macedonia; Mexico; Morroco; Netherlands; New Zealand; Norway; Oman; Pakistan; Panama; Paraguay; Papua New Guinea; Peru; Philippines; Taiwan; Thailand; Rhodesia; Saudi Arabia; Senegal; Singapore; Serbia; Somalia; South Korea; South Vietnam; Spain; Sweden; Tanzania; Thailand; Tunisia; Turkey; Uganda; United Arab Emirates; United States; Uruguay; Venezuela; Vietnam; Yemen; Zambia; Zimbabwe Operators
GROUND ATTACK
Ability to conduct aerial bombing of ground targets by way of (but not limited to) guns, bombs, missiles, rockets, and the like.
CLOSE-AIR SUPPORT
Developed to operate in close proximity to active ground elements by way of a broad array of air-to-ground ordnance and munitions options.
SPECIAL-MISSION: MECICAL EVACUATION
Extraction of wounded combat or civilian elements by way of specialized onboard equipment and available internal volume or external carrying capability.
SPECIAL-MISSION: SEARCH & RESCUE
Ability to locate and extract personnel from areas of potential harm or peril (i.e. downed airmen in the sea).
MARITIME / NAVY
Land-based or shipborne capability for operating over-water in various maritime-related roles while supported by allied naval surface elements.
TRANSPORT
General transport functionality to move supplies/cargo or personnel (including wounded and VIP) over range.
SPECOPS
Serving Special Forces / Special Operations elements and missions.
VERTICAL TAKE-OFF / LANDING (VTOL)
Series has a tactical capability to take-off and / or land vertically, a quality commonly associated with helicopters.
RUGGED AIRFRAME
Inherent ability of airframe to take considerable damage.
MARITIME OPERATION
Ability to operate over ocean in addition to surviving the special rigors of the maritime environment.
CREW-MANAGED
Beyond a pilot, the aircraft takes advantage of additional crew specialized in specific functions aboard the aircraft.
GUN POSITIONS
Defensive gun positions for engagement / suppression.
ENHANCED ACCESS
Design incorporates feature(s) that facilitates loading / unloading of cargo / personnel from the aircraft.
57.1 ft (17.40 meters) Length
47.9 ft (14.60 meters) Width/Span
14.4 ft (4.40 meters) Height
5,214 lb (2,365 kilograms) Empty Weight
9,039 lb (4,100 kilograms) Maximum Take-Off Weight
+3,825 lb (+1,735 kg) Weight Difference
1 x Lycoming T53-L-11 turboshaft engine developing 1,100 horsepower driving a two-blade main rotor and two-blade tail rotor. Propulsion
VARIABLE: Dependent upon role and operator. Can consist of the following or combinations thereof:
2 x 7.62mm General Purpose machine guns (pintle-mounted in doorway - M60, MG3).
2 x 7.62mm GUA-17/A miniguns (pintle-mounted in doorway or external forward-facing).
2 x Mark Mk 44 / Mk 46/ MQ44 Torpedoes.
2 x AS.12 air-to-surface missiles.
2 x "Sea Killer" air-to-surface missiles.
2 x 7-tube 2.75" rocket pods.
2 x 19-tube 2.75" rocket pods.
ALSO:
Conventional Drop Bombs (Lebanon and El Salvador)
Smoke Grenade Dispenser (M6, M7 and M8 grenades tested).
2 Hardpoints
X
X
Hardpoints Key:
Centerline
Wingroot(L)
Wingroot(R)
Wing
Wingtip
Internal
Not Used
Bell Model 204 - Company Prototype Designation; covers XH-40, YH-40, UH-1A, B, C, E, F, HH-1K, UH-1L, P and M production models.
Bell Model 533 - Single Developmental Model based on YH-40BF evaluation model fitted with turbofan engine and wings.
Bell Model 205 - Company Designation covering UH-1D and UH-1H models; long-fuselage version based on Model 204.
Bell Model 212 - Becoming UH-1N production models; twin-engine version; also known as "Twin Pac".
XH-40 - Prototype Designation; fitted with Lycoming XT-53-L-1 engine of 700 shaft horsepower; three examples produced.
YH-40 - Modified XH-40 prototypes for evaluation purposes; increased cabin space; six examples produced.
HU-1A - Initial Production model; redesignated to UH-1A after 1962; 182 examples produced.
TH-1A - Conversion dual-control trainers based on HU-1A/UH-1A production models; 14 examples converted in this fashion.
XH-1A - Single developmental UH-1A for use in grenade launcher tests.
YUH-1B - Four Prototype B-model examples.
HU-1B - Improved UH-1A model; 1,014 examples produced.
NUH-1B - Single Test Variant
UH-1C - UH-1B model with improved powerplant, revised blades and rotor-head; 767 examples produced.
YUH-1D - Pre-production UH-1D models; 7 examples produced.
UH-1D - Troop Transport (seating for 13); long fuselage cabin; based on Bell Model 205; 2,008 examples produced.
HH-1D - US Army rescue model based on UH-1D.
UH-1E - USMC models based on UH-1B and UH-1C production models; varying systems; 192 examples produced.
NUH-1E - Single UH-1E example for testing.
TH-1E - USMC trainer model converted from UH-1C production models; 20 examples produced.
UH-1F - USAF UH-1B and UH-1C production models; fitted with General Electric T-58-GE-3 engine of 1,325 shaft horsepower; 120 examples produced.
TH-1F - USAF trainer based on UH-1F production models; 26 examples produced.
UH-1H - Improved UH-1D models; semi-rigid all-metal main rotor and rigid delta hinged tail rotor; fitted with Lycoming T-53-L-13 engine of 1,400 shaft horserpower; seating for 13 troops; 5,435 examples produced.
UH-1H "Nighthawk" - Special night operations interdiction model; fitted with Zenon searchlight, M134 7.62mm minigun, 2 x M60D 7.62mm machine guns and 1 x M2HB 12.7mm machine gun; crew of two pilots and four gunners.
CUH-1H - Canadian UH-1H utility production models; 10 examples produced; later redesignated to CH-118.
EH-1H - Electronic Warfare conversion aircraft for Project Quick Fix; fitted with AN/ARQ-33 interception and jamming system; 22 examples modified in this fashion.
HH-1H - USAF Search and Rescue (SAR) variant; 30 examples produced.
JUH-1 - Battlefield Surveillance Aircraft; fitted with under-fuselage radar system.
TH-1H - USAF flight trainers modified from UH-1H production models.
UH-1G - Cambodian armed UH-1H; unofficial designation.
UH-1J - Japanese license-production (Fuji) of an improved UH-1H variant; fitted with Allison T53-L-703 turboshaft engine of 1,800 shaft horsepower; updates include night vision capability and countermeasures.
HH-1K - USN Search and Rescue Variant; 27 examples produced.
TH-1L - USN Flight Trainer based on the HH-1K; 45 examples produced.
UH-1L - Utility Model based on TH-1L trainer; 8 examples produced.
UH-1M - Gunship model based on UH-1C; fitted with Lycoming T-53-L-13 engine of 1,400 shaft horsepower.
UH-1N - Twin Engine Variant based on Bell Model 212.
UH-1P - USAF Special Operations and Attack models.
EH-1U - Multiple Target Electronic Warfare System (MULTEWS).
UH-1V - US Army MedEvac Variant.
EH-1X - Electronic Warfare Platforms based on modified UH-1H models; 10 examples converted in this fashion.
UH-1Y - Upgraded UH-1N late production models.
UH-1Y "Venom" - Modern USMC productiom models developed from UH-1N Twin Huey; four-badem all-composite rotor system; upgraded transmission and engines; increased MTOW, range and speed; digital cockpit with MFDs; increased parts commonality with AH-1Z Cobra attack helicopters; a total of 123 on order.
Agusta-Bell AB 204 - Augusta-Bell license-production military transports for Italy.
Agusta-Bell AB 204AS - Augusta-Bell license-production Anti-Submarine Warfare (ASW) helicopters for Italy.
Fuji-Bell 204B-2 "Hiyodori" - Fuji Heavy Industries license-production military transports for use by Japanese Ground Self-Defense Force.
Bell 205A-1 - Military Utility Transport based on UH-1H models.
Bell 205A-1A - Israeli export gunship/transport models based on 205A-1 transports; hardpoints for external armament.
Agusta-Bell AB 205 - Augusta-Bell license-production military utility transports for Italy.
AIDC UH-1H - Aerospace Industrial Development Corporation license-production military utility transport models for Taiwan.
Dornier UH-1D - Dornier Flugzeugwerke license-production military utility transport models for Germany.
Fuji-Bell 205A-1 (HU-1H) - Fuji license-production military utility transport models for use by Japanese Ground Self-Defense Force.
"Huey II" - Improved and Updated model for military market; based on UH-1H production models.
UH-1/T700 "Ultra Huey" - Improved and Updated model for commercial market; fitted with General Electric T700-GE-701C turboshaft engine.
Values are derrived from a variety of categories related to the design, overall function, and historical influence of this aircraft in aviation history.
Overall Rating
The overall rating takes into account over 60 individual factors related to this aircraft entry.
86
Rating is out of a possible 100 points.
Relative Maximum Speed
Hi: 150mph
Lo: 75mph
This entry's maximum listed speed (137mph).
Graph average of 113 miles-per-hour.
City-to-City Ranges
NYC
LON
LON
PAR
PAR
BER
BER
MOS
MOS
TOK
TOK
SYD
SYD
LAX
LAX
NYC
Operational range when compared to distances between major cities (in KM).
Max Altitude Visualization
Design Balance
The three qualities reflected above are altitude, speed, and range.
Aviation Era Span
Showcasing era cross-over of this aircraft design.
Unit Production (16,500)
16500
36183
44000
Compared against Ilyushin IL-2 (military) and Cessna 172 (civilian).
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