Bell UH-1D Iroquois
Bell Helicopter · USA · first flew 1961 · helicopter
The UH-1D is the troop-carrying Huey — the 'slick' of Vietnam, delivering squads into landing zones while gunship UH-1Bs circled overhead. Its wider, longer body is immediately apparent compared with the narrow B model.
Recognition (WEFT)
| W — Wings | High-mounted, rotary |
|---|---|
| E — Engines | 1 × turboshaft, fuselage-mounted |
| F — Fuselage | Wide, enlarged cabin body — seats 12-14 troops, visibly fatter cross-section than UH-1B |
| T — Tail | Conventional |
WEFT is AircraftIQ's four-point recognition method — how it works.
Spot it by:
- Wide, enlarged cabin body — seats 12-14 troops, visibly fatter cross-section than UH-1B
- Extended fuselage length compared with UH-1B — the longer body is apparent in side profile
- Lycoming T53-L-13B engine; large circular engine exhaust stack on top of fuselage
The wide, slab-sided cabin with large sliding doors on both sides is the UH-1D family tell against the narrow B model. Against the UH-1H, the D has the T53-L-13B engine versus the H's more powerful T53-L-13B/703 — practically invisible externally. The Bundeswehr UH-1D has olive paint and German crosses; most can only be told from UH-1H by documentation.
Specifications
- The Bell UH-1D Iroquois has a length of 17.62 m (58 ft).
- It has a wingspan of 14.63 m (48 ft).
- Its maximum speed is 222 km/h (138 mph).
- Typical crew: 2.
Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.
History
First flight 1961; over 2,000 UH-1Ds delivered to the US Army, plus German licence production by Dornier. The D model defined the air assault concept of the Vietnam War, with iconic images of troops leaping from the wide cabin door. Replaced in US service by the UH-1H with more powerful engine.
Variants
The UH-1H is the more powerful H-model that replaced the D in US service. The German Dornier-built UH-1D remains in Bundeswehr service. The UH-1D and H are so similar externally that they are often confused.
Where you'll see it
US Army Vietnam 1963-1975; Bundeswehr from 1971 and still flying in Germany into the 2020s. Numerous airworthy examples worldwide; one of the most preserved military helicopters.
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