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Air Power
Bell UH-1 "Iroquois" (Huey)

The remarkable Bell UH-1 Iroquois (Huey) has been the quintessential all-purpose military helicopter for over three decades. It has been used by all four U.S. services, and international forces, in missions ranging from mountain rescue to troop transport, and from anti-armor to anti-submarine warfare. The Huey got its distinctive nickname from its original Army designation, the HU-1. It was later redesignated UH-1, under a tri-service agreement.

Bell produced two major versions of the UH-1 - the single engine Models 204 and 205 and the twin engine Models 212 and 412. Although both were UH-1s, there were enough differences to warrant considering them two separate aircraft.

The UH-1 Iroquois is used for command and control, medical evacuation, and to transport personnel, equipment and supplies. The latest models are the UH-1H and the UH-1V. Initially procured in 1959, the Huey is the senior member of the Army’s helicopter fleet. The last production aircraft was delivered in 1976. More than 9,000 were produced in 20 years. Considered to be the most widely used helicopter in the world, the Huey is flown today by about 40 countries. Evolving through 13 models, the Huey flew millions of flight hours in support of a wide variety of Army missions.

In 1995 the Army's UH-1 Residual Fleet was projected to be approximately 1000 aircraft. The 1998 Aviation Modernization Plan reduced the Residual Fleet to approximately 700 aircraft to be retained through 2015. The 1999 Utility Helicopter Fleet Modernization Analysis recommended a reengine and upgrade for the UH-1 for the LUH [light utility helicopter] mission, with a SLEP (including overhauled T53) for Strategic Reserve & Residual TDA. The 2000 Aviation Modernization Plan / Aviation Transformation Plan divested the UH-1 completely by the end of FY04, and sustained the current configuration through the divestiture period. Army support for UH-1 ends after September 20004. Until then support will remains as currently established.

The Aviation Restructure Initiative or ARI is a comprehensive and complex effort to shape army aviation units affected by the Army's downsizing to render more capable and effective units. The total effects of ARI are to downsize the aviation force, while at the same time enhancing the capability and sustainability of Army aviation units on the battlefield. ARI causes roughly a 40 percent decrease in the number of aircraft, while resulting in roughly a 20 percent reduction in aviation enlisted personnel. Most all OH-58A and C, UH-1, and AH-1 mechanics are displaced by Kiowa Warrior, Blackhawk and Apache modernized systems over the course of the next several years. The Army's UH-1 fleet has had problems that led to approximately 20-25% of the aircraft still flyable as of late 2000. Many of these that are flyable have very few hours until they run out of time and are grounded again. The Army plans to have the entire UH-1 fleet out of the inventory (AD/USAR/ARNG) by the end of FY2004.

Specifications:
Primary function: Utility helicopter
Manufacturer: Bell Helicopter Textron
Power plant: Pratt and Whitney T400-CP-400
Power Burst: 1290 shaft horsepower (transmission limited)
Continuous: 1134 shaft horsepower (transmission limited)
Crew: Officer: 2 / Enlisted: 2

Dimensions:
Length: 57.3 feet (17.46 meters)
Height: 14.9 feet (4.54 meters)
Rotor Diameter: 48 feet (14.62 meters)

Performance :
Speed: 121 knots (139.15 miles per hour) at sea level
Ceiling: 14,200 feet (limited to 10,000 feet by oxygen requirements)
Maximum takeoff weight: 10,500 pounds (4,767 kilograms)
Range: 172 nautical miles (197.8 miles)

Armaments:
M-240 7.62mm machine gun or
GAU-16 .50 caliber machine gun or
GAU-17 7.62mm automatic gun
All three weapons systems are crew-served, and the GAU-2B/A can also be controlled by the pilot in the fixed forward firing mode.
The helicopter can also carry two 7-shot or 19-shot 2.75" rocket pods.