Bell UH-1M Huey

History

The first three UH-1Ms were equipped with the Hughes INFANT (Iroquois Night Fighter and Night Tracker) system which used a low-light-level TV (LLLTV) and Infared searchlight to aim the M21 armament subsystem. The M134 minigun was equipped with flash suppressors and used a 9:1 ratio of ball to tracer ammunition because the normal ratio of 5:1 and muzzle flash blinded the LLLTV camera. The three aircraft were evaluated from December 1969 to February 1970 by the 227th Assault Helicopter Battalion of the 1st Cavalry Division (Airmobile). The INFANT equipped UH-1M was moderately successful when flown with two conventional gunships and a Command and Control Slick. The INFANT was used to find and mark the target for the other gunships, but it was felt the AC-130A Hercules was a more capable aircraft for night operations

The UH-1M was also equipped with the AN/AAQ-5 Forward Looking Infrared (FLIR) fire control system, a component developed for use on the AH-1G (SMASH) Cobra. The AN/AAQ-5 provided a televised thermal image that enabled the crew to detect, identify, and fire on ground targets during day or night operations. The M21 armament subsystem was integrated with the AN/AAQ-5 FLIR in positioning and fire control aspects.

The UH-1M could be armed with an M5 40mm grenade launcher and M60D 7.62mm or M213 .50 Cal. pintle-mounted door guns on the M59 armament subsystem

The Quonset Air Museum’s Huey was acquired as surplus from the U.S. Army, at Westover AFB, Chicopee Massachusetts. The 143rd Tactical Airlift Group, Air National Guard station in Rhode Island, transported it back to the museum on June 23, 1993 by C-130 transport aircraft.

This aircraft has been documented as having served with the 57th Aviation Company in Vietnam as a gun ship.

Specifications

Description

Manufacturer: Bell Helicopter Company
Designation: UH-1
Version: M
Name: Iroquois
Nickname: Huey
Type: Utility/general purpose/gun ship
Army Serial No.: 66-15083

Dimensions

Fuselage Length: 42 ft 7 in
Height: 12 ft 7 in
Rotor Diameter: 48 ft

Weights

Empty Weight: 5,071 lb.
Gross Weight: 9,499 lb.
Max. Weight: 9,500 lb.

Propulsion

Power plant: Single Lycoming T53-L-13
Horsepower: 1,400 each

Performance

Range: 382 miles
Max. Speed: 148 mph
Ceiling: 11,500 ft

Armament

Flash suppressor tipped M-134 mini-guns.