The UH-1 Huey was a ground-attack and transport helicopter used by the US Army and US Marine Corps during the Vietnam War. It was designed and developed by Bell Helicopter between 1952 and 1956 to meet the United States Army’s requirement for a medical evacuation and utility helicopter. Its prototype, the XH-40, flew for the first time on October 22, 1956. The UH-1 was powered by a single, turboshaft engine, with a two-bladed main rotor and tail rotor. Production began in March 1960.
The UH-1 was the first turbine-powered helicopter to enter production for the United States military, as more than 16,000 units have been produced ever since worldwide, with variants, such as UH-1D, UH-1N Twin Huey, Bell 204/205, and Bell 212. The original designation of HU-1 led to the helicopter’s nickname of Huey, which was chosen as the official name by the US Marine Corps. The first combat operation of the UH-1 was during the Vietnam War. Approximately 7,000 UH-1 aircraft saw service in Vietnam.
Argentina was an important UH-1 operator. The Argentinian Army effectively used the Huey both as a transport and ground attack helicopter during the insurgent war in the jungles of Tucuman and Salta (Northwest of Argentina) to fight two communist guerrillas armies, the Montoneros and ERP (People´s Revolutionary Army) from 1973 to 1978. The Israeli Air Force was another prominent operator of the UH-1, using it for over thirty years in various different conflicts against both the armies of Arab countries and Palestinian militants. Israel’s first Hueys were UH-1Ds, delivered from the United States in October 1968 under arms shipments via the administration of Lyndon Johnson. Israel also acquired Italian UH-1s made by Augusta under license. In total, Israel acquired 64 UH-1s of different models.
Specifications
UH-1 Huey was powered by one Lycoming T53-L-11 turboshaft, 1,100 shp (820 kW). It could fly at the maximum speed of 135 mph, but the cruise speed was 125 mph. It had a range of 315 miles (508 km) and its service ceiling was 19,390 ft (5,910 meters). This helicopter had a capacity to transport up to 11 troops with their equipment, plus 3 crew members (pilot, navigator, gunner). It had a length of 57 ft 1 in (17.40 m) with rotors, a Wingspan of 48 ft 0 in (14.63 m), and its gross weight was 9,040 lb (4,100 kg). The UH-1D Huey was armed with two 7.62 mm M60 machine guns, and two 19-round 2.75 in (70 mm) rocket pods.
UH-1 Huey Helicopter in action in Vietnam (video)
[...] during the Vietnam War and other armed conflicts of the Cold War. The AH-1 was developed from the UH-1 Huey by the American firm Bell Helicopter, performing its first test flight on September 7, 1965, and [...]