The Bell UH-1 Iroquois, much more well-known by its common nickname, “Huey,” has few rivals for the most historic helicopter in military annals. Its story began in 1952 when the U.S. Army wanted a utility helicopter that could perform a multitude of roles: MEDEVAC, or medical evacuation; instrument trainer; and general utility helicopter. Existing models were too large, underpowered, and complex to maintain. The requirements were changed again late in 1953 and a competitive design phase followed, with submissions from no less than twenty companies.
Bell Helicopter’s Model 204 was declared the winner on 23 February 1955, and three prototypes were ordered by the Army with the designation XH-40. The first flight occurred on 20 October 1956, with the turbine prototype Lycoming YT53-1-1 turboshaft engine with 700 shaft horsepower (SHP) fitted. Subsequent variants, now YH-40s, were fitted with the T53-L-1A engine producing 770 SHP.
In March 1960, the Army ordered 100 helicopters, designated HU-1A Iroquois, of which 182 were built. Service tests proved very satisfactory although reports claimed the aircraft was slightly underpowered. Consequently, the UH-1B model was developed with the Lycoming T53-L-5 engine of 960 SHP installed. Army testing began in November 1960 and the first production aircraft was delivered in March 1961. A total of 1,014 UH-1Bs were produced, later fitted with the T53-L-11 engine.
The Army’s need for more personnel carriers led Bell to develop the Model 205, which was 41 inches longer than the HU-1B. Achieving this required changes in doors and windows, engines, rotor systems, tail boom, and gross weight. The prototype Model 205 first flew on 16 August 1961, and the Army ordered production of the Model 205, now assigned the UH-1D designation, in 1963, 2,008 built.
In September 1962, the Department of Defense standardized the designation system for all aircraft models; hence, the “Huey” became the UH-1. The nickname stuck on, and the helicopter has since become a symbol of the Vietnam War known to many as the “Helicopter War.” The Huey served actively in the U.S. Military service from 1960 to 2016 but primarily served in the Vietnam War. The service was mainly to transport troops and rescue the wounded. There were losses of 1,074 pilots, 1,103 crew members, and 3,305 aircraft. However, the Huey and its crews airlifted more than 100,000 patients, hence saving invaluable lives.
This Huey, Bell Helicopter 66-01126, was taken into service by the U.S. Army in March 1967 and flew combat from October 1967 to December 1971. It was assigned to the 240th Assault Helicopter Company as part of the “Greyhounds, Mad Dogs, and Kennel Keepers.” The 240th AHC operated both the UH-1C gunships and the UH-1H transports. After serving in Vietnam, Greyhound 66-01126 went through several assignments until Northwest Helicopters, LLC, acquired it, restored the aircraft to commemorate the 240th AHC, and delivered the helicopter to the Yankee Air Museum on 26 September 2019. It commenced flying Air Adventures in August 2020.
By contrast, the era leading up to the development of the F-4 Phantom back in the 1950s bears little resemblance to today. The U.S. planners believed the age of dogfighting was over, with their priorities firmly set on nuclear delivery and interceptor missions. As Jim Cunningham analyzed for Air & Space Power Journal, “Fighter design priorities emphasized the nuclear delivery and interceptor missions.” The feeling was that the new nuclear weapons would make conventional wars obsolete, and with that would go air combat maneuvering. It became the focus on supersonic speed, advanced sensors, and missile weaponry.
In so doing, military aircraft moved from the versatile Huey to the technologically advanced F-4 Phantom and showed a whole evolution in priorities and challenges that faced the U.S. military over the decades. Both aircraft have left indelible marks on military history by showing the adaptability and innovation necessary to rise to the modern challenge of war.