Bell UH-1H Iroquois (205) Aircraft Data
Photo ID 35964 by Franco S. Costa. Argentina Air Force Bell UH 1H Iroquois 205, H 16
Single-engined, multipurpose, utility helicopter.

The ubiquitous Bell UH-1 "Huey" is one of the most familiar shapes in the sky. The large two-bladed rotor system produces a distinctive slap sound that is unmistakable. The H-Model, or "Slick", is the most widely-produced variant of the UH-1. The need for a 4-person crew and the capability to deliver an 8-10 man payload into the field, prompted Bell to stretch their original 204 (UH-1C/D) design. Next to the Russian Mi-8, the UH-1 has the longest production run of any helicopter, having been built in the U.S., Germany, Japan, Italy, and Taiwan. In many air arms, the UH-1 and Mi-8 serve side-by-side.

The Huey has seen combat with U.S. forces in every engagement since and including Vietnam. Additionally, the Huey has fought in the Falkland Islands conflict, Africa bush wars, Israeli-Arab conflicts, The Balkans, Georgia/South Ossetia, and the South American conflicts of the 1970's and 1980's. UH-1D's were some of the first helicopters to be armed and spawned the AH-1 series of dedicated attack helicopters.

Though a tremendous gas-guzzler (1gal. of fuel per minute), the UH-1 is simple, easy to maintain, and affordable to operate when compared to it's successor, the UH-60. The inclusion of skids over wheels hasn't kept the UH-1 out of naval service, where skids may make the Huey difficult to handle on a crowded deck. The U.S. Marine Corps has been a loyal Huey operator up to the present, with Bell in developing the next generation UH-1Y "Yankee". The recent conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan have not taken placed without the Huey. Private contrators and the U.S. Department of State operate Hueys in support of local operations in those theaters.

A Huey driver once told the author, when discussing the Huey, "The Huey bird will be like the C-47. Even long after the Blackhawk has arrived, every Army hangar will have one Huey around."
  • Country of Origin: USA
  • First Flight: 8/16/1960
  • Initial Service Date: 1966
  • No. Built: 5,435
  • No. In Service: 1,000 (approx.)
  • No. of Hardpoints: 2
  • Crew: 2-4

Power:

1 x Lycoming T-53-L-13 at 1,400 hp

Weapons:

The Huey can carry a wide array of weapons, typified by the U.S. Army's Helicopter Armament Subsystem. A big part of the UH-1H's design premise was to operate with a normal payload and crew plus two door-gunners armed with M60 or .50 calibre machine guns. Additional armament includes pylon-mounted miniguns, 57mm unguided rockets and 40mm. grenade launchers.

A Huey with a minigun is still a very formidable weapon, despite the platform's age.

Dimensions:

Length: 57 ft. 1 in.
Rotor Length: 48 ft. 0 in.
Rotor Disc Area: 1,808.64 sq.ft
Height: 14 ft. 5 in.
Empty Weight: 5,215 lbs
Max. Weight: 9,500 lbs
Max. Payload: 4,290 lbs

Performance:

Max. Speed: 135 mph
Cruise Speed: 125 mph
Service Ceiling: 19,390 ft.
Normal Range: 274 nm

Operators:

Random great photos of the Bell UH-1H Iroquois (205):

Photo ID 230279 by Aaron C. Rhodes. Private Northwest Helicopters Inc Bell UH 1H Iroquois 205, N443YB
Photo ID 152499 by Kostas D. Pantios. Greece Army Bell UH 1H Iroquois 205, ES605
Photo ID 14518 by Frank Noort. Macedonia Air Force Bell UH 1H Iroquois 205, 321
Photo ID 181829 by Lukas Kinneswenger. Thailand Army Bell UH 1H Iroquois 205, 3403
Photo ID 127929 by Antonio Segovia RenterĂ­a. Chile Air Force Bell UH 1H Iroquois 205, 11266
Photo ID 180542 by Lieuwe Hofstra. T rkiye Air Force Bell UH 1H Iroquois 205, 69 15649
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