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UH-1H Huey

UH-1H Huey helicopter sitting on the field at the Pacific Coast Air Museum
The Huey is painted to display the markings of the 188th Assault Helicopter Company “Black Widows”. This aircraft, tail number 66-16779, spent six months in the unit and was flown during combat operations by Black Widow air crews.
A group of boy scouts standing on and a the UH-1H Huey helicopter, smiling for the camera.
The Huey has for many years been a star attraction at the Pacific Coast Air Museum. And as this image attests, it is popular with school groups.
UH-1H Huey helicopter parked as a static display aircraft at an air show, with other planes parked around it and visitors climbing aboard.
New Mission: The Huey H model was a stretched version of the model 204 and had a more powerful engine. Used in many different roles from air ambulance to ground attack, ours has been configured as a “slick”. Despite being a troop carrier, it had a sting in the form of a 50 caliber machine gun mounted in the door on each side. Here it is at the 2015 Wings Over Wine Country Air Show.
  • Country of origin:

    USA

  • Manufacturer:

    Bell

  • B/N or Serial #::

    66-16779

  • Type:

    Military Utility Helicopter

  • Ownership:

    Pacific Coast Air Museum

UH-1H Huey History

  • Aug 67 The U.S. Army acquired this aircraft from Bell Helicopter in Fort Worth TX.
  • Sep-Dec 67 Assigned Company A, 229th Aviation Battalion, 1st Air Cavalry Division, Republic of Vietnam (RVN) (an Assault Helicopter Company).
  • (Operation Bolling, Phu Yen Province).
  • 18 Nov 67 Suffered major damage to main rotor during a troop pick-up from a small LZ
  • Jan 68 Assigned 355th Aviation Company, 4th Army, Fort Sill, OK
  • (Assigned to stateside unit, but stayed in country.)
  • Feb 1968-Mar 1969 Assigned Company A, 229th Aviation Battalion, 1st Air Cavalry Division, RVN.
  • (Operation Pershing II, Binh Dinh Province).
  • (Operation Jeb Stuart, near the DMV).
  • (Operation Pegaus/Lam Son 207 relief of Khe Sanh).
  • (Operation Carentan II, Quang Tri and Thua Thien Provinces).
  • (Operation Delware/Lam Son 216, A Shau Valley).
  • (Operation Jeb Stuart III, Quang Tri and Thua Thien Provinces).
  • 02 Aug 68 Suffered major damage to main rotor while landing at Quang Tri LZ in Shar Province.
  • 31 Jan 69 Hit in hover over LZ while dropping troops in Tay Ninh Province.
  • Apr-Aug 69 Assigned Company C, 101st Aviation Battalion, RVN (Air-mobile Company).
  • (Operation Lamar Plain, Quang Tin Province).
  • 30 May 69 Suffered damage to main rotor from tree strike while hovering in LZ, Phu Bai Province.
  • Ol Jun 69 Suffered major damage to main rotor from tree strike while hovering during Med-Evac, Camp Eagle, Phu Bai Province.
  • 29 Jun 69 Suffered damage to main rotor from tree strike while landing in LZ to discharge troops, Phu Bai Province.
  • 22 Jul 69 Suffered damage to main rotor from tree strike while landing, Phu Bai Province.
  • Sep 69-Mar 70 Assigned Company C, 101st Aviation Battalion, 101st Airborne Division, RVN (Air-mobile Company).
  • (Operation Randolph Glen, Thua Thien Province).
  • (Operation Texas Star, Thua Thien Province).
  • (Operations in Cambodia).
  • Apr-Aug 70 Assigned B Troop, 2nd Squadron, 17th Cavalry, 101st Airborne Division, RVN (Aerial Reconnaissance)
  • (Operations in Cambodia).
  • (Operation Jefferson Glenn/Op Ord 13-70, Thua Thien Province).
  • Sep-Dec 70 Assigned Bell Helicopter, Ft. Worth, TX
  • Jan 71 Assigned Texas National Guard
  • Feb 71 Assigned Aviation School, Ft. Rucker, AL.
  • Mar-Apr 71 Assigned Supply Division, Ft. Rucker, AL.
  • May-Jun 71 Assigned Aviation School, Ft. Rucker, AL.
  • Jul 71-Jun 72 Assigned 281st Aviation Company, 5th Army, U.S. Army Reserves.
  • Jul 72 Assigned 102nd Army Reverse Command, 5th Army, U.S. Army Reserves.
  • Aug 72-Dec 75 Assigned 281st Aviation Company, 5th Army, U.S. Army Reserves.
  • Dec 1975 to June 1976 102nd Army Reserve Command, 5th Army, US Army Reserves.
  • July 1976 to April 1980 Company B, 24th Avn Bn, Ft Stewart, GA.
  • May 1980 to February 1982 to unknown unit or units in Honduras.
  • March 1982 to February 1988 West Virginia National Guard.
  • It was badly damaged by a lightning strike in February 1988, repaired and handed over to the California National Guard in February 1989 and continued in service through July 1995.
  • Handed over to PCAM 23 April 1996.

Vietnam Veterans Huey Memorial Sonoma County Vietnam War Veterans June 15, 1996

Clinton Anderson Duane Baumgardner William Blessman Thomas Bowen
John Brewer James Bullington Dean Burns Charles Catelli
David Chancy Christopher Clay Mancol Clifton Donald Coleman
Dale Davis Ronald Doolittle Charles Dorman Gregory Dunn
Theodore Feland Robert Fenton Rickie Fisher Edsall Frick
Frederick Haas Joseph Hadley David Harding Michael Hourigan
Jason Hunnicutt G.B. Jackson Jr. David Kardell Reginald Maisey Jr.
Ronald Marcrum Rodney Marrufo Jr. Sigurd Messer John Mills
William Montgomery Kevin Mulgrew Thomas Oglethorpe Gerald Parmeter
Lawrence Peterson Thomas Phillips Babe Pinole Edward Rainford
Richard Renning Cameron Rice Joseph Rodrigues Dana Rose
Robert Ruonavaara Jerry Schroeder Robert Schulse Barry Searby
Robert Sharpless Briggs Sicilia John Snyder William Thompson Jr.
Charles Torliatt Jr. Stephen Weigt Larry Wittler Edwin Zumwalt

UH-1H Huey Specifications

Main Rotor Diameter

48 ft

Tail Rotor Diameter

8 ft 6 in

Length, Rotors Turning

57 ft 9.75 in

Height, Tail Rotor Turning

14 ft 5.5 in

Main Rotor Disc Area

1,809 sq ft

Empty Equipped Weight

5,210 lbs

Mission takeoff weight

9,039 lbs

Maximum takeoff weight

9,500 lbs

Pilot and copilot, plus up to two door gunners depending upon mission. It could carry 3,880 lb (1,760 kg) including 14 troops, or 6 stretchers, or equivalent cargo.

Maximum

Speed  127 mph

Hovering Ceiling In Ground Effect

13,600 ft

Service Ceiling

12,600 ft

Range w/ Maximum Fuel @ SL

318 miles

One 1,400 shp Avco Lycoming T53-L-13 Turboshaft

Armament varied, but included various machine guns on flexible mounts, and rocket pods on fixed mounts.

Paul Ricci

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