OVERVIEW: The Bell UH-1 Iroquois (unofficially Huey) is a military helicopter powered by a single turboshaft engine, with a two-bladed main rotor and tail rotor. The helicopter was developed by Bell Helicopter to meet the United States Army's requirement for a medical evacuation and utility helicopter in 1952, and first flew on 20 October 1956. Ordered into production in March 1960, the UH-1 was the first turbine-powered helicopter to enter production for the United States military, and more than 16,000 have been produced worldwide.

The first combat operation of the UH-1 was in the service of the U.S. Army during the Vietnam War. The original designation of HU-1 led to the helicopter's nickname of Huey. In September 1962, the designation was changed to UH-1, but "Huey" remained in common use. Approximately 7,000 UH-1 aircraft saw service in Vietnam.

DETAILS: Internal seating is made up of two pilot seats and additional seating for up to 13 passengers or crew in the cabin. The maximum seating arrangement consists of a four-man bench seat facing rearwards behind the pilot seats, facing a five-man bench seat in front of the transmission structure, with two, two-man bench seats facing outwards from the transmission structure on either side of the aircraft. All passenger seats are constructed of aluminum tube frames with canvas material seats, and are quickly removable and reconfigurable. The cabin may also be configured with up to six stretchers, an internal rescue hoist, auxiliary fuel tanks, spotlights, or many other mission kits. Access to the cabin is via two aft-sliding doors and two small, forward-hinged panels. The doors and hinged panels may be removed for flight or the doors may be pinned open. Pilot access is via individual hinged doors.

While the five main fuel tanks are self-sealing, the UH-1H was not equipped with factory armor, although armored pilot seats were available.

The UH-1H's dual controls are conventional for a helicopter and consist of a single hydraulic system boosting the cyclic stick, collective lever and anti-torque pedals. The collective levers have integral throttles, although these are not used to control rotor rpm, which is automatically governed, but are used for starting and shutting down the engine. The cyclic and collective control the main rotor pitch through torque tube linkages to the swash plate, while the anti-torque pedals change the pitch of the tail rotor via a tensioned cable arrangement. Some UH-1Hs have been modified to replace the tail rotor control cables with torque tubes similar to the UH-1N Twin Huey.

SPECIFICATION: Crew: (1–4) || Capacity: 3,880 lb (1,760 kg) including 14 troops, or 6 stretchers, or equivalent cargo || Length: 57 ft 1 in (17.40 m) with rotors || Width: 8 ft 7 in (2.62 m) (Fuselage) || Height: 14 ft 5 in (4.39 m) || Empty weight: 5,215 lb (2,365 kg) || Gross weight: 9,040 lb (4,100 kg) || Max takeoff weight: 9,500 lb (4,309 kg) || Powerplant: (1) Lycoming T53-L-11 turboshaft, 1,100 shp (820 kW) || Main rotor diameter: 48 ft 0 in (14.63 m).

PERFORMANCE: Maximum speed: 135 mph (217 km/h; 117 kn) || Cruise speed: 125 mph (109 kn; 201 km/h) || Range: 315 mi (274 nmi; 507 km) || Service ceiling: 19,390 ft (5,910 m) (Dependent on environmental factors such as weight, outside temp., etc) || Rate of climb: 1,755 ft/min (8.92 m/s) || Power/mass: 0.15 hp/lb (0.25 kW/kg).

ARMAMENT: Variable but may include a combination of: (2) 7.62 mm M60 machine gun || (2) 7.62 mm GAU-17/A machine gun || (2) 7-round or 19-round 2.75 in (70 mm) rocket pods || (2) 7.62 mm Rheinmetall MG3 (German Army and German Luftwaffe) || (2) .303 Browning Mk II (Rhodesian, twin machine guns mounted on port side).

SOURCE: [SCO] Wikipedia http://en.wikipedia.org