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Bell UH-1N Twin Huey

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This article is about the military versions of the Bell 212. For the civil versions, see Bell 212.

Template:Infobox Aircraft

The Bell UH-1N Twin Huey is a medium military helicopter that first flew in April, 1969.[1] The UH-1N has a fifteen seat configuration, with one pilot and fourteen passengers. In cargo configuration the UH-1N has an internal capacity of 220 ft³ (6.23 m³). An external load of 5,000 lb (2,268 kg) can be carried by the UH-1N.

Development

Based on the stretched fuselage Bell 205, the Bell 212 was originally developed for the Canadian Forces (CF) under the designation CUH-1N Twin Huey. Later the CF adopted a new designation system and the aircraft was re-designated as the CH-135 Twin Huey.[2] The CF approved the development of the aircraft on May 1, 1968[1] and purchased 50 aircraft, with deliveries commencing in May 1971.[3]

Canadian CH-135 Twin Hueys serving with the Multinational Force and Observers Sinai, Egypt 1989

The US military came very close to not procuring the Twin Huey. The purchase of the aircraft for US military use was opposed by the Chairman of the House Armed Services Committee at the time, Mendal Rivers. Rivers took this position because the aircraft powerplant, the Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6T was produced in Canada. The Canadian government had not supported US involvement in Vietnam and had opposed US policies in southeast Asia, as well as accepting US draft dodgers. Rivers was also concerned that procurement of the engines would result in a negative trade deficit situation with Canada. Congress only approved the purchase when it was assured that a US source would be found for the PT6T engines. As a result the United States military services ordered 294 Bell 212s under the designation UH-1N, with deliveries commencing in 1970.[3]

Unlike in the Canadian Forces, in US service, the UH-1N retained the official name "Iroquois" from the single engined UH-1 variants, although US service personnel refer to the aircraft as a "Huey" or "Twin Huey".[4]

The Bell 412 is a further development of the Bell 212, the major difference being the composite four-blade main rotor.[3]

Design

A USAF UH-1N during Exercise WOUNDED EAGLE '83
A Marine UH-1N sitting on the flight line at NAS Whiting Field, Florida, in 1982
U.S. Navy HH-1N from NAS China Lake at the Mojave Spaceport.

The UH-1N's main rotor is powered by a PT6T-3 Turbo Twin Pac made up of two Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6T turboshaft engines. They are capable of producing up to 1,342 kW (1,800 shp). Should one engine fail the remaining engine can deliver 671 kW (900 shp) for 30 minutes or 571 kW (765 shp) enabling the UH-1N to maintain cruise performance at maximum weight.[3]

The United States Marine Corps (USMC) modified a large number of their UH-1Ns with a Stability Control Augmentation System (SCAS) which provides servo inputs to the rotor head to help stabilize the aircraft during flight. This modification removed the gyroscopic "Stabilization Bar" on top of the main rotor head, instead relying on the computer system for stability.

Operational history

Significant Flights

On March 6 1972, Hendrick V. Gorick of the United States Navy Antarctic Development Squadron Six (VXE-6) jumped at an altitude of 20,500 ft (6,248 m) from a UH-1N helicopter. In doing so he set a record for parachute jumping over the Antarctic continent.[citation needed]

Variants

U.S. variants

UH-1N Iroquois
Initial production model, used by the USAF, USN, and USMC. Over the years the primary operators, the USMC has developed a number of upgrades for the aircraft including improved avionics, defenses, and a FLIR turret.
VH-1N
VIP transport configuration[1]
HH-1N
SAR variant.[1]
UH-1Y Venom
Essentially a massive UH-1N replacement/upgrade for the USMC, designed to coincide with a similar upgrade for the AH-1W attack helicopter to AH-1Z Viper standard.

Foreign variants

Agusta-Bell AB 212
Civil or military utility transport version. Built under license in Italy by Agusta.
Agusta-Bell AB 121EW
Electronic warfare version for Turkey.
Agusta-Bell AB 212ASW
Anti-submarine warfare, anti-shipping version of the AB 212 helicopter. Operated by the Italian Navy, Hellenic Navy and Islamic Republic of Iran Navy Aviation.[3]
CH-135 Twin Huey
Canadian version of the UH-1N.[1][3]
CUH-1N Twin Huey
Original Canadian Armed Forces designation for the UH-1N utility transport helicopter.[1][3]

Operators

Austrian UH-1N (Bell 212)
Canadian Coast Guard UH-1N (Bell 212)
The USAF's 20th Special Operations Squadron conducts a training exercise using a specially-painted UH-1N
Canadian CH-135 Twin Huey serving with 408 Tactical Helicopter Squadron 1985
AB.212 of Italian Air Force, airshow at Pratica di Mare AFB, Italy
A UH-1N helicopter, with Philippine Army officers aboard, prepares to land
United States Navy HH-1N Twin Huey, 2004
 Angola
 Argentina
 Austria
 Bangladesh
 Bolivia
 Brunei
 Canada
 Chile
 Colombia
 Croatia
 Dominican Republic
 Ecuador
 El Salvador
 Germany
 Ghana
 Greece
 Guatemala
 Guyana
 Indonesia
 Iran
 Israel
 Italy
 Jamaica
 Japan
 Jordan
 Lebanon
 Libya
 Mexico
 Morocco
 Montenegro
 Panama
 Peru
 Philippines
 Saudi Arabia
 Serbia
  • Serbian Police
 Singapore
 Somalia
 South Korea
 Spain
 Sri Lanka
 Sudan
 Thailand
 Tunisia
 Turkey
 Uganda
 United Arab Emirates
 United Kingdom
 United States
 Uruguay
 Venezuela
 Yemen
 Zambia

Specifications (USMC UH-1N, as modified)

U.S. Navy HH-1N cockpit.
HH-1N rotor head.

Data from USMC UH-1N Fact Sheet,[15] The International Directiory of Military Aircraft, 2002-2003[16]

General characteristics

  • Crew: 4 (Pilot, copilot, crew chief, gunner)
  • Capacity: 6-8 combat-equipped troops, or equivalent cargo

Performance Armament

  • 2.75-inch rocket pods,
  • GAU-16 .50 Cal. Machinegun,
  • GAU-17 7.62mm minigun or M240 7.62mm lightweight machinegun

Twin Huey badges

  • CH-135 Twin Huey 135102 serving with the Multinational Force and Observers Sinai, Egypt, 1989.
    CH-135 Twin Huey 135102 serving with the Multinational Force and Observers Sinai, Egypt, 1989.
  • CH-135 Twin Huey 135137 in the original blue-gray and green camouflage pattern worn by these aircraft prior to 1986/88.
    CH-135 Twin Huey 135137 in the original blue-gray and green camouflage pattern worn by these aircraft prior to 1986/88.
  • CH-135 Twin Huey 135135 in the early-style SAR markings, 1988. This aircraft was serving with Base Rescue Goose Bay and had formerly been assigned to 424 Transport & Rescue Squadron, CFB Trenton.
    CH-135 Twin Huey 135135 in the early-style SAR markings, 1988. This aircraft was serving with Base Rescue Goose Bay and had formerly been assigned to 424 Transport & Rescue Squadron, CFB Trenton.
  • CH-135 Twin Huey 135127 from Base Rescue Goose Bay in the later SAR scheme used after 1986/88.
    CH-135 Twin Huey 135127 from Base Rescue Goose Bay in the later SAR scheme used after 1986/88.
  • CH-135 Twin Huey 135103 in special flight test markings. The aircraft was used by the Aerospace Engineering Test Establishment at CFB Cold Lake, 1987.
    CH-135 Twin Huey 135103 in special flight test markings. The aircraft was used by the Aerospace Engineering Test Establishment at CFB Cold Lake, 1987.
  • CH-135 Twin Huey 135103 after repainting at Bristol Aerospace in the in anti-IR olive and green scheme used on all non-SAR/ non-peacekeeping Twin Hueys after 1986/88. The aircraft was returned to the Aerospace Engineering Test Establishment at CFB Cold Lake, 1987.
    CH-135 Twin Huey 135103 after repainting at Bristol Aerospace in the in anti-IR olive and green scheme used on all non-SAR/ non-peacekeeping Twin Hueys after 1986/88. The aircraft was returned to the Aerospace Engineering Test Establishment at CFB Cold Lake, 1987.
  • CH-135 Twin Huey 135114 in the Canada Aviation Museum 09 October 2006. This aircraft is painted in the anti-IR camouflage scheme, but served its time painted yellow with 424 Transport & Rescue Squadron, CFB Trenton, Base Rescue Goose Bay and 444 Combat Support Squadron, CFB Goose Bay.
    CH-135 Twin Huey 135114 in the Canada Aviation Museum 09 October 2006. This aircraft is painted in the anti-IR camouflage scheme, but served its time painted yellow with 424 Transport & Rescue Squadron, CFB Trenton, Base Rescue Goose Bay and 444 Combat Support Squadron, CFB Goose Bay.

See also

Related development

Related lists

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f Mutza, Wayne: UH-1 Huey in action, pages 31-33. Squadron/Signal Publications, Carrollton, Texas, 1986. ISBN 0-89747-179-2
  2. ^ Air Force Public Affairs / Department of National Defence (May 19, 2004). "Bell CH-135 Twin Huey". Retrieved 2007-10-01.
  3. ^ a b c d e f g Drendel, Lou: Huey, pages 14-17. Squadron/Signal Publications, Carrollton, Texas, 1983. ISBN 0-89747-145-8
  4. ^ Drendel, Lou: Huey, page 9. Squadron/Signal Publications, Carrollton, Texas, 1983. ISBN 0-89747-145-8
  5. ^ a b Air Force Public Affairs / Department of National Defence (June 13, 2007). "403 Squadron Activated as Operational Training Squadron". Retrieved 2007-10-23.
  6. ^ Air Force Public Affairs / Department of National Defence (June 13, 2007). "408 Tactical Helicopter Squadron (THS) History". Retrieved 2007-10-23.
  7. ^ Air Force Public Affairs / Department of National Defence (May 30, 2006). "424 Squadron History". Retrieved 2007-10-23.
  8. ^ Air Force Public Affairs / Department of National Defence (June 13, 2007). "History of 427 Special Operations Aviation Squadron". Retrieved 2007-10-23.
  9. ^ Air Force Public Affairs / Department of National Defence (June 13, 2007). "430 Squadron". Retrieved 2007-10-23.
  10. ^ a b Air Force Public Affairs / Department of National Defence (June 15, 2007). "444 Squadron History". Retrieved 2007-10-23.
  11. ^ AEROWARE / RCAF.com (undated). "Utility Squadron VU 32". Retrieved 2007-10-24. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  12. ^ Shaw, Robbie: Superbase 18 Cold Lake- Canada's Northern Guardians, page 86. Osprey Publishing, London, 1990. ISBN 0-85045-910-9
  13. ^ Air Force Public Affairs / Department of National Defence (June 15, 2007). "417 Combat Support Squadron - History". Retrieved 2007-10-23.
  14. ^ 10 Tactical Air Group: Canadian Contingent Multinational Force and Observers Handbook (unclassified), page A-1. DND, Ottawa, 1986.
  15. ^ "USMC UH-1N Fact Sheet". USMC. Retrieved 2007-07-09.
  16. ^ Frawley, Gerard: The International Directiory of Military Aircraft, page 33. Aerospace Publications Pty Ltd, 2002. ISBN 1-875671-55-2
  • Chant, Christopher, Fighting Helicopters of the 20th Century, Graham Beehag Books, Christchurch, Dorset, England (1996).
  • Debay, Yves, Combat Helicopters, France: Histoire & Collections (1996)
  • Francillon, Rene, J. Vietnam: The War in the Air New York: Arch Cape Press (1987)
  • Mesko, Jim, Airmobile: The Helicopter War in Vietnam, Squadron Signal Publications (1984).
  • Specifications for 204, 205 and 214 Huey Plus
  • Mutza, Wayne. UH-1 Huey in Colors. Carrolton, TX: Squadron Signal. ISBN 0-89747-279-9
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