New York Army National Guard
Aircraft: Bell UH-1 “Huey” Helicopter
Officially the UH-1 series is the Iroquois, but its unofficial name, Huey, became so commonly used that is known by that name. The name derives from the Army designation “H” for helicopter and “U” for utility. The history of this bird traces back some four decades, to 1955 when the Army became interested in the turbo-shaft engine. The Army had the Air Force develop the helicopter for its use. In 1956 the first flight of the helicopter took place, with production following.
The most widely used military helicopter, the UH-1 began arriving in Vietnam in 1963. Before the end of that conflict more than 5,000 of these versatile aircraft were introduced into Southeast Asis. They were used for medical evacuation, command and control, air assault, transport of personnel and materials and as gun ships. The UH-1 could carry up to 7 troops with a crew of two.
More than 9,000 of these aircraft were built from the 1950’s to the present, and the UH-1 is still flown by about 40 countries.
Specifications:
Manufacturer: Bell Helicopter Company
Engine: Lycoming T-53-L-11 Turbo-shaft
Rotor Diameter: 44 ft
Overall Length: 57 ft 3 inches
Height: 14 ft
Weight: Empty 5,549 pounds
Maximum: 10,500 pounds
Ceiling: 11,500 ft
Crew: 2
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