Bell UH-1 Iroquois (Huey)
Bell · United States · first flew 1956 · helicopter
The Huey is the iconic Vietnam-era utility helicopter, whose two-blade rotor beat and slab-sided cabin became symbols of the war.
Recognition (WEFT)
| W — Wings | High-mounted, rotary |
|---|---|
| E — Engines | 1 × turboshaft, fuselage-mounted |
| F — Fuselage | 17.4 m fuselage |
| T — Tail | Conventional |
WEFT is AircraftIQ's four-point recognition method — how it works.
Spot it by:
- Broad greenhouse cockpit and roomy cargo cabin
- Two-blade main rotor with a distinctive whop-whop beat
- Skid undercarriage and exposed tail boom
The wide glasshouse cockpit, two-blade rotor and skids set it apart; it is larger and boxier than a JetRanger and lacks the sponsons of naval types.
Specifications
- The Bell UH-1 Iroquois (Huey) has a length of 17.4 m (57 ft).
- It has a wingspan of 14.63 m (48 ft).
- Its maximum speed is 204 km/h (127 mph).
- Typical crew: 1-4 (pilot plus crew).
Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.
History
Bell's Model 204/205 first flew in 1956 and entered US Army service as the HU-1 Iroquois, nicknamed Huey from that designation. Used for troop transport, medevac and gunship roles in their tens of thousands, it became the most numerous Western military helicopter of its era.
Variants
The family spans the short-cabin UH-1B/C, the stretched UH-1H, the twin-engine UH-1N, and the modernised UH-1Y Venom still in US Marine service.
Where you'll see it
Never a frontline UK military type, the Huey is nonetheless a familiar airshow and warbird presence in Britain, with privately owned examples flying in period markings.
Related aircraft
- Bell 206 JetRanger
- Bell 412
- Bell 407
- Hughes TH-55A Osage
- Hughes/Schweizer 269/300
- Kaman HH-43F Huskie
- Kamov Ka-18
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