Skip to main content

Bell UH-1H (UH-1D) Iroquois (Huey)

A picture of the Bell UH-1H Iroquois

The Bell UH-1 is perhaps the best-known American helicopter in the world.  Made famous by its use in Vietnam, versions of the “Huey” remain in both military and civil service today.  Designated HU-1 by the Army and H-40 by the Air Force, the first Hueys flew in 1958.  In 1962, the designations were changed to UH-1.  By the mid-1960s, Hueys could be found in every branch of the U.S. military and were entering the civil and foreign military markets.  The early models of Hueys were found to be under-powered at high altitudes or in hot conditions.  This resulted in the development of the larger and higher powered UH-1D in 1961.  This model continued to suffer from limited power issues that often prevented them from hovering in the hot conditions that prevailed in Vietnam.  An even more powerful engine was installed resulting in the UH-1H.  Many D models were eventually upgraded to H standards.  Over 5,000 D and H models were built. The last of them retired from Army service in 2016.

Diameter of Main Rotor

48 ft

Length

41 ft 10 in.

Height

14 ft 6 in.

Weight

9,500 lbs (loaded)

Maximum Speed

127 MPH

Service Ceiling

12,600 ft

Range

318 miles

Engine

Lycoming T53-L-13 turboshaft with 1,400 horsepower

Crew

2 pilots, 11 passengers

Manufacturer
Bell

Markings
U.S. Army Medical Evacuation markings

Designation
UH-1H

Serial Number
64-13895

Service History

Built by Bell Aircraft, Ft. Worth, Texas and delivered to the U.S. Army in November 1965.

February 1966             56th Transportation Company, Than Son Nhut Air Base, Vietnam.

May 1966                    2nd Signal Group, Than Son Nhut Air Base, Vietnam.

May 17, 1967              Damaged by small arms fire during MedEvac mission.  At least one crew member was injured.

July 1967                    U.S. Army-Vietnam Flight Detatchment, Saigon, Vietnam.

August 1967                Bell Helicopter, Fort Worth, Texas.

October 1967              608th Transportation Company, Vietnam.

April 1968                   118th Assault Helicopter Company, Vietnam.

September 1968          To Lockheed Corp. for maintenance, Lake Charles, Louisiana.

March 1969                 Headquarters and Headquarters Detatchment 44th Engineering Group, Thailand.

December 1969           79th Transportation Company, Qui Nhon, Vietnam.

January 1970               303 Transportation Company, Vung Tau, Vietnam.

February 1970             79th Transportation Company, Qui Nhon, Vietnam.

June 1970                    367th Aviation Detatchment, Hawaii.

December 1970           161st Aviation, 25th Infantry Division, Hawai’i.

January 1971               367th Aviation Detatchment, Hawai’i.

August 1972                Support Maintenance Center, Hawai’i.

May 1973                    Headquarters and Headquarters Troop 3 / 4 Cavalry, 25th Infantry Division, Hawai’i.

July 1973                    Support Maintenance Center, Hawai’i.

December 1973           Transferred to Continental U.S. through Corpus Christi NAS.

May 1974                    Converted to UH-1H.

September1974           364th Engineering Battalion, U.S. Army Reserve, Columbus, Ohio.

January 1983               In storage Corpus Christi Aviation Depot.

June 1983                    To Army Aviation Training Center, Fort Rucker, Alabama.

September 1992          Loaned to Pima Air & Space Museum by U.S. Army Aviation Museum, Fort Rucker, Alabama.