UH-1N Twin Huey

:"For an overview of the whole Huey family of aircraft see Bell Huey" Infobox Aircraft
name= UH-1N Iroquois


caption= Marine UH-1Ns lifting from a field outside Baghdad on April 10, 2003.
type= Multipurpose utility helicopter
manufacturer= Bell Helicopter
designer=
first flight=April 1969
introduced= October 1970
retired=
status=
primary user=United States Marine Corps
more users=Canadian Forces United States Navy United States Air Force
produced=
number built=
unit cost=
developed from= UH-1H Iroquois
variants with their own articles = Bell 212 UH-1Y Venom

The Bell UH-1N Twin Huey is a medium military helicopter that first flew in April, 1969. 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. [cite web |url = http://www.airforce.forces.gc.ca/site/equip/historical/twinhueylst_e.asp |title = Bell CH-135 Twin Huey |date = May 19, 2004 |author = Air Force Public Affairs / Department of National Defence |accessdate = 2007-10-01 ] The CF approved the development of the aircraft on May 1, 1968Mutza, Wayne: "UH-1 Huey in action", pages 31-33. Squadron/Signal Publications, Carrollton, Texas, 1986. ISBN 0-89747-179-2] and purchased 50 aircraft, with deliveries commencing in May 1971.Drendel, Lou: "Huey", pages 14-17. Squadron/Signal Publications, Carrollton, Texas, 1983. ISBN 0-89747-145-8]

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.

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". [Drendel, Lou: "Huey", page 9. Squadron/Signal Publications, Carrollton, Texas, 1983. ISBN 0-89747-145-8]

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

Design

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.

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

Military service

USMC UH-1Ns were used by the USMC during its 2003 invasion of Iraq. UH-1Ns provided reconnaissance, and communications support to Marine ground troops. They were also called upon to provide close air support during heavy fighting in Nasiriyah. [Stout, Jay A. "Hammer from Above, Marine Air Combat Over Iraq". Ballantine Books, 2005. ISBN 978-0-89141-871-9.]

ignificant 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.Fact|date=January 2008

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;HH-1N:SAR variant.;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, built under license in Italy by Agusta. Operated by the Italian Navy, Hellenic Navy and Islamic Republic of Iran Navy, Greece, Iran, Italy, Peru, Spain, Turkey, and Venezuela.

:The AB-212ASW is a Model 212 Twin Huey with a prominent radome above the cockpit. Early production had a dome-shaped radome, while later production had a flatter "drum" radome. A left side winch is used for dipping the Bendix ASQ-18 sonar. Other changes include structural reinforcement for a gross weight of 11,197 lbs (5080 kg), ECM, shipboard deck tie-down attachments and corrosion protection. Armament is two Mk 44 or Mk 46 torpedoes or two depth charges in the ASW role and four AS.12 air-to-surface wire-guided missiles for the anti-shipping role.Green, William: "Observers Aircraft", page 229. Frederick Warne Publishing, 1980. ISBN 0 7232 1604 5] Wood, Derek: "Jane's World Aircraft Recognition Handbook", page 490. Jane's Publishing Company 1985. ISBN 0-7106-0343-6]

;CH-135 Twin Huey:Canadian version of the UH-1N.;CUH-1N Twin Huey:Original Canadian Armed Forces designation for the UH-1N utility transport helicopter.

Operators

;ANG:
* Angolan Air Force (Bell 212)

;ARG:
* Argentine Air Force (Bell 212)
* Argentine Army (Bell 212)

;AUT:
* Austrian Air Force (Agusta-Bell 212, Bell 212)

;BAN:
* Bangladesh Air Force (Bell 212)

;BOL:
* Bolivian Air Force (Bell 212)

;BRN:
* Royal Brunei Air Force

;CAN:
* Canadian Forces (CH-135)
**403 (Helicopter) Operational Training Squadroncite web |url = http://www.airforce.forces.gc.ca/1wing/squadron/403hist4_e.asp |title = 403 Squadron Activated as Operational Training Squadron|date = June 13, 2007 |author = Air Force Public Affairs / Department of National Defence |accessdate = 2007-10-23 ]
**408 Tactical Helicopter Squadron [cite web |url = http://www.airforce.forces.gc.ca/1wing/squadron/408hist_e.asp |title = 408 Tactical Helicopter Squadron (THS) History |date = June 13, 2007 |author = Air Force Public Affairs / Department of National Defence |accessdate = 2007-10-23 ]
**422 Tactical Helicopter Squadron (disbanded 16 August 1980)
**424 Transport & Rescue Squadron [cite web |url = http://www.airforce.forces.gc.ca/8wing/squadron/424hist_e.asp |title = 424 Squadron History |date = May 30, 2006 |author = Air Force Public Affairs / Department of National Defence |accessdate = 2007-10-23 ]
**427 Tactical Helicopter Squadron [cite web |url = http://www.airforce.forces.gc.ca/1wing/squadron/427hist_e.asp |title = History of 427 Special Operations Aviation Squadron|date = June 13, 2007 |author = Air Force Public Affairs / Department of National Defence |accessdate = 2007-10-23 ]
**430 Tactical Helicopter Squadron (430e Escadron Tactique d'Hélicoptères) [cite web |url = http://www.airforce.forces.gc.ca/1wing/squadron/430_e.asp |title = 430 Squadron |date = June 13, 2007 |author = Air Force Public Affairs / Department of National Defence |accessdate = 2007-10-23 ]
**444 Combat Support Squadroncite web |url = http://www.airforce.forces.gc.ca/5wing/squadron/444hist_e.asp |title = 444 Squadron History |date = June 15, 2007 |author = Air Force Public Affairs / Department of National Defence |accessdate = 2007-10-23 ]
**VU32 - Navy Utility Squadron [cite web |url = http://www.rcaf.com/squadrons/otherunits/vu32.htm |title = Utility Squadron VU 32 |date = undated |author = AEROWARE / RCAF.com |accessdate = 2007-10-24 ]
**Aerospace Engineering Test Establishment [Shaw, Robbie: "Superbase 18 Cold Lake- Canada's Northern Guardians", page 86. Osprey Publishing, London, 1990. ISBN 0-85045-910-9]
**Base Flight Cold Lake [cite web |url = http://www.airforce.forces.gc.ca/4wing/squadron/417hist_e.asp |title = 417 Combat Support Squadron - History |date = June 15, 2007 |author = Air Force Public Affairs / Department of National Defence |accessdate = 2007-10-23 ]
**Base Rescue Goose Bay
**Rotary Wing Aviation Unit, Canadian Contingent, Multinational Force and Observers, El Gorah Egypt, 1986-1990 [10 Tactical Air Group: "Canadian Contingent Multinational Force and Observers Handbook" (unclassified), page A-1. DND, Ottawa, 1986.]
* Canadian Coast Guard (Bell 212)

;CHI:
* Chilean Air Force (Bell 212)

;COL:
* Colombian Air Force (Agusta-Bell 212)
* Colombian Army (UH-1N)
* Colombian Navy (Bell 212)
* Colombian Police (Bell 212)

;CRO:
* Croatian Air Force (Agusta Bell 212)
* Croatian Police (Agusta Bell 212) ;DOM:

;ECU:
* National Police (Bell 212);ESA:

;GER:
* German Federal Police (Bell 212)

;GHA:

;GRE:
* Hellenic Air Force (Bell 212)
* Hellenic Army (Bell 212)
* Hellenic Navy (Bell 212ASW/EW)

;GUA:

;GUY:

;IDN:
* Indonesian Army (Bell 212)

;IRN:
* Islamic Republic of Iran Army (Bell 212)
* Islamic Republic of Iran Air Force (Bell 212)
* Islamic Republic of Iran Navy (Bell 212ASW);ISR:
* Israeli Air Force

;ITA:
* Italian Air Force (Agusta-Bell 212)
* Italian Navy (Agusta-Bell 212ASW)
* Polizia di Stato (Agusta-Bell 212)

;JAM:
* Jamaica Defence Force (Bell 212)

;JPN:
*Japan Coast Guard

;JOR:

;LBN:

;LBY:

;MEX:

;MAR:

;MNE:

;PAN:

;PER:
*Peruvian Navy (Agusta-Bel 212ASW)

;PHI:

;SAU:
* Royal Saudi Air Force (Agusta-Bell 212)

;SRB:
* Serbian Police;SIN:
* Used by Republic of Singapore Air Force for Search and rescue missions (retired in 1985, all three Bell 212s were sold to Sri Lanka).

;SOM:

;KOR:

;ESP:
* Spanish Army (Agusta-Bell 212)
* Spanish Navy (Agusta-Bell 212ASW)

;SRI:
* Sri Lanka Air Force (Bell 212)

;SUD:

;THA:
* Royal Thai Army
* Royal Thai Navy (Bell 212)
*Royal Thai Police Wing

;TUN:

;TUR:
* Turkish Army (Agusta-Bell 212)
* Turkish Navy (Agusta-Bell 212ASW)

;UGA:

;ARE:

;UK:
* Army Air Corps (Bell 212)

;USA:
* United States Air Force
* United States Marine Corps
* United States Navy

;URY:

;VEN:

;YEM:

;ZAM:

pecifications (USMC UH-1N, as modified)

aircraft specifications
plane or copter?=copter
jet or prop?=prop

ref=USMC UH-1N Fact Sheet, [ [http://hqinet001.hqmc.usmc.mil/AVN/documents/aircraft/rotarywing/uh1.htm USMC UH-1N fact sheet] , USMC. Retrieved 4 September 2008.] The International Directiory of Military Aircraft, 2002-2003Frawley, Gerard: "The International Directiory of Military Aircraft", page 33. Aerospace Publications Pty Ltd, 2002. ISBN 1-875671-55-2]

crew=4 (Pilot, copilot, crew chief, gunner)
capacity=6-8 combat-equipped troops, or equivalent cargo
length main=41 ft 8 in
length alt=12.69 m
span main=48 ft 0 in
span alt=14.6 m
height main=14 ft 5 in
height alt=4.4 m
area main=1,808 ft²
area alt=168.0 m²
airfoil=
empty weight main=6,000 lb
empty weight alt=2,721.5 kg
loaded weight main=10,500 lb
loaded weight alt=4,762.7 kg
useful load main=4500 lb
useful load alt=2038.0 kg
max takeoff weight main=10,500 lb
max takeoff weight alt=4,762.7 kg
more general=

engine (prop)=Pratt & Whitney Canada T400-CP-400
type of prop=turboshaft
number of props=2
power main= 900 shp
power alt= 671 kW
power original=, (total 1,250 shp)

max speed main=120 knots
max speed alt=135 mph, 220 km/h
cruise speed main= 110 knots
cruise speed alt=126 mph, 207.3 km/h
never exceed speed main=
never exceed speed alt=
stall speed main=
stall speed alt=
range main= nmi
range alt= 286 mi, 460 km
ceiling main=17,300 ft
ceiling alt=5,273 m
climb rate main=1,755 ft/min
climb rate alt=8.9 m/s
loading main=
loading alt=
thrust/weight=
power/mass main= hp/lb
power/mass alt= W/kg
more performance=

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

avionics=

Twin Huey badges

Canadian CH-135 Twin Huey Gallery

ee also

aircontent
related=
* UH-1 Iroquois
* UH-1Y Venom
* Bell 204/205
* Bell 212

similar aircraft=

lists=
* List of aircraft of the AOC
* List of active Canadian military aircraft

see also=
* Huey Creek

References

*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).
* [http://www.airliners.net/info/stats.main?id=73 Specifications for 204, 205 and 214 Huey Plus]
*Mutza, Wayne. "UH-1 Huey in Colors". Carrolton, TX: Squadron Signal. ISBN 0-89747-279-9

External links

* [http://www.navy.mil/navydata/fact_display.asp?cid=1200&tid=100&ct=1 UH-1N page] and [http://www.history.navy.mil/planes/ah1.htm UH-1 Huey history page on US Navy site]
* [http://www.af.mil/factsheets/factsheet.asp?id=130 UH-1N Husey fact sheet on USAF site]
* [http://www.vectorsite.net/avhuey.html The Bell UH-1 Huey at Greg Goebel's AIR VECTORS]