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| SPECIFICATIONS |
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| ENGINE |
|
Lycoming T53-L-11 turboshaft developing 1,100 shaft h.p. |
| ARMAMENT |
|
2 - M60 7.62 mm machine guns, 2 - .50 cal H2HB Machine guns, or 2 - 7.62 mm M134 Miniguns & rocket pods |
| MAIN ROTOR DISC DIAMETER |
|
44 feet, 0 Inches |
| LENGTH |
|
39 feet, 7 inches |
| HEIGHT |
|
14 feet, 5 inches |
| MAX TAKEOFF WEIGHT |
|
8,500 pounds |
| MANUFACTURED BY |
|
Bell Helicopter |
| TOTAL BUILT (ALL MODELS) |
|
Over 16,000 |
| FIRST BUILT |
|
1956 |
| MUSEUM'S AIRCRAFT BUILT |
|
1963 |
| ON DISPLAY AT |
 |
Cavanaugh Flight Museum, Addison Airport (KADS), Dallas, Texas |
| MAXIMUM SPEED |
|
147 m.p.h. |
| RANGE |
|
260 miles |
| SERVICE CEILING |
|
16,900 feet |
| SERIAL NUMBER |
|
62-4567 | |
The Huey is the most recognizable military helicopter of the modern era. It has served in all four branches of the American services and in the armed forces of at least 48 other nations.
In early 1955, the US Army awarded Bell Helicopter a contract for a multi-purpose helicopter which could evacuate injured personnel from the front lines, serve as an instrument trainer and as basic utility. Bell Helicopter produced the Model 204 and conducted the first flight on October 22, 1956. After a successful period of testing, production model HU-1As (later redesignated UH-1As) entered service in 1959.
Although the official Army name of the UH-1 is Iroquois it is known as the Huey. The name Huey came from the original Army designation, HU-1, for Helicopter Utility. From that designation the nickname Huey took on a life of its own. Later models actually incorporated the name Huey on the pilot's foot pedals.
The Huey entered combat in Vietnam in 1962, first as a troop transport and medevac helicopter and later as an armed assault helicopter used to protect troop transports. It served throughout the Vietnam War and earned a reputation for being rugged, durable, versatile and able to fly even after receiving substantial damage from enemy fire.
The UH-1 on display, (Serial No. 62-4567) was built in July 1963 by the Bell Helicopter Co. of Fort Worth, Texas for the United States Army, and was originally assigned stateside to the 4th Aviation Company. In February of 1966 it was shipped to Vietnam, where it became part of the 611th Transportation Company, serving until June of 1967 when it was returned to the United States for gunship conversion.
Returning to Vietnam in January 1968, it was assigned to the gunship platoon of the 120th Assault Helicopter Company "The Razorbacks" based at Tan Son Nhut Air Base near Saigon. During the first hours of the 1968 Tet Offensive, it was one of 8 helicopters that defended the air base and the city, taking small arms hits on 1/31/68 and 2/2/68.
In February 1971, it was transferred to U.S. Navy Attack Helicopter Squadron 3, HAL-3 "The Seawolves", at Binh Thuy. The "Seawolves" were tasked with close air support for river patrol forces in Vietnam. Serving first with Detachment 1 at Solid Anchor and then with Detachment 7 in Dong Tam, this gunship flew hundreds of combat missions over the Mekong Delta. In October of 1971, it was returned to Bell Helicopter for overhaul. By the time the rebuild was completed in the summer of 1972, the war was winding down and "4657" was sent to Ft. Rucker, Alabama to serve as a training aircraft. In 1975, it was transferred to the Army National Guard and served in Minnesota and Wisconsin. In 1986, it was retired from military service and sold to a VFW post, for display. The Cavanaugh Flight Museum acquired "4567" in 2008. It is painted in the colors and markings it wore when in service with HAL-3 during the Vietnam War.
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