The Bell Huey was the first mass-produced helicopter powered by a
jet turbine. With its distinctive "whomp-whomp" sound that could be heard miles away,
the UH/AH-1 aircraft have totaled more than 27 million
flight hours since Oct. 20, 1956 when the
"granddaddy" of all H-1's, the XH-40, made its first
flight. Since then, more than 16,000 H-1 helicopters
have been produced by Bell and its licensees -- making
it the most successful military aircraft in aviation history.
Officially the UH-1 series is the Iroquois. But its unofficial name,
Huey, became so commonly used that the AH-1 attack version was officially
named the Huey Cobra.
The Huey story traces back some four decades. In 1955,
with an interest in a utility helicopter designed around a turboshaft engine,
the US Army had the US Air Force develop a new helicopter for its use. At that
time the US Army did not have its own aircraft development capability.
The design selected, Bell's Model 204, was to be powered by a new Lycoming
T-53 engine of some 850 shaft horsepower and featured a typical Bell two-blade
teetering rotor.
In the original helicopter designation series, the first three aircraft received the XH-40 designation.
First flight of the new design was in October 1956, development and production following.
When the US Army adopted its own two-letter designation system, the H-40 became the
HU-1 (Helicopter Utility). From this designation came Huey, the name by which
it has remained known. The US Department of Defence ( DOD ) standard designation system reversed this to UH-1,
the first designation in the new DOD helicopter series. With larger
engines and increased capacity, the UH-1 was developed through successive
models.
These helicopters are widely used in a transport, airborne battlefield command
and control, troop insertion/extraction, fire support coordination, medical
evacuation, search and rescue, armed escort/visual reconnaissance or utility
roles.
The typical Bell main rotor design uses a notable feature in the form of two wide chord blades and, at right angles to them, the stailizing bar with small weights at its tips (See Arthur Young in the Pioneers section )
XH-40 :
( later redesigned XHU-1 )
The Bell Model 204 first flown in October 1956 with one 700 hp turbine engine.
The 3 prototypes built were the first turbine engine aircraft of the US Army.
( serial number 55-4459 ) YH-40 :
( later redesigned YHU-1 )
6 test units with a fuselage 30 cm (1 feet) longer HU-1 :
( with the normalization of 1962 became the UH-1 Iroquois )
9 pre-productions units with one 770 hp T53-L-1A tested during 1959 HU-1A :
( later UH-1A )
173 units produced up to March 1961. A crew of 2 plus 5 troops. TH-1A :
14 UH-1A converted to dual control trainers UH-1B :
1014 units built between 1961 and 1965 with a 960 hp T53-L-5 engine. 7 troops UH-1C :
750 units with the same fuselage of the UH-1B but a larger engine (L11) and a newer rotor system
that give them much greater manoeuvrability UH-1E :
192 units built between 1964 and 1966. Was the UH-1B/C for the US Marines for assault support with salt-water corrosion protection and extra avionics. 8 troops.
TH-1E :
20 trainers of the UH-1E variant UH-1F :
( also called UH-48 as missile site support helo )
The UH-1B variant for the USAF with a 1300 hp T58-GE-3 turbine engine. 119 units built from 1964 to 1967. 10 troops
The UH-1F had a General Electric engine rather than the
Lycoming engine used on other models at the time. It was more powerful than
the Lycoming engines until the Lycoming TH-53-L13 engine was introduced in
mid 1967.
TH-1F :
26 UH-1F trainers HH-1K :
The UH-1E for the US Navy for SAR duties with a 1400 hp engine. 27 units in 1970 UH-1L :
The UH-1E for the US Navy for multi-purpose duties with a 1100 hp engine. 10 units in 1968 TH-1L :
90 trainers for the US Navy UH-1M :
3 UH-1C updated with a 1100 hp engine and 6 french AS.11 anti tank missiles for evaluation.
They had a different rotor system and the tailboom had a sweeping vertical fin. UH-1P :
20 UH-1F updated for psycological warfare AB.204 :
Model 204 built by Agusta in Italy Fuji 204B-2 :
Model 204 built in Japan
Bell model 205
YUH-1D :
7 prototypes ordered in July 1960 with a larger main rotor and a bigger fuselage for a 12 / 14 troops capacity UH-1D :
2000 units with a 1100 hp turbine engine. First unit enter service in August 1963 UH-1H :
The most important variant of the Huey was an updated version of the UH-1D with a 1400 hp T53-L-13 engine. 4900 units built for the US Army and 50 countries EH-1H :
UH-1Hs modified for electronic warfare in variations EH-1H Phase A and B and the UH-1X Model.
Were replaced with the Sikorsky EH-60A HH-1H :
30 UH-1Hs for the USAF for combat / SAR duties
The modification included moving the tail rotor to the right hand
side of the tailboom. This modification was picked up by the US army and
later UH-1H type aircraft were configured with the tail rotor on the left side.
UH-1V :
200 UH-1Hs modified for medevac duties in the 80s AB.205 :
Model 205 built by Agusta in Italy Fuji 205 :
Model 205 built in Japan
Bell model 212
UH-1N :
After the successful of the Models 204 / 205, Bell joined Pratt & Whitney Canada for develop a twin engine derivate of the UH-1H to achieve a specification came from the Canadian Armed Forces.
The result was the Model 212 Twin Two Twelve adopted by the USAF (79 units ) and the US Navy / Marines ( 221 units)
