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The Bell UH-1 Iroquois, commonly known as the "Huey," was a multipurpose utility helicopter famous for its widespread use during the Vietnam War. Bell developed the powerful helicopter in the mid-1950s and produced more than 16,000 units between 1955 and 1976, over 7,000 of which served in Vietnam. The aircraft were used primarily for troop and cargo transport, medical evacuations, and aerial attack. Hueys have also been used in civilian roles such as firefighting, humanitarian aid efforts, research operations, and search-and-rescue duties.
The Huey was developed as the Bell Model 204 and incorporated lessons learned during the Korean War about helicopter operations. A larger Model 205 was introduced in 1961, more familiarly known as the UH-1D. Hueys have served with all branches of the U.S. military, as well as multiple U.S. government agencies and at least 48 foreign countries. Many Hueys are still in use today.
The Museum's aircraft, a UH-1H model, was the most-produced Huey variant, with 5,435 units manufactured. The Museum’s Huey was delivered to the U.S. Army in March 1970 and served in Vietnam with the 101st Air Cavalry and the 158th Attack Helicopter Battalion (AHB), B Company. It flew approximately 1,400 combat hours before returning to the United States in March 1972. It later served with the Alaska National Guard until 1994, then with the Search & Rescue Unit of the King County Sheriff’s Office until its donation to The Museum of Flight in 2003. Following an extensive restoration effort by Northwest Helicopters in 2011 and 2012, the Museum's Huey now appears as it did during its service in Vietnam with the U.S. Army 158th AHB.
The Bell UH-1 Iroquois, commonly known as the "Huey," was a multipurpose utility helicopter famous for its widespread use during the Vietnam War. Bell developed the powerful helicopter in the mid-1950s and produced more than 16,000 units between 1955 and 1976, over 7,000 of which served in Vietnam. The aircraft were used primarily for troop and cargo transport, medical evacuations, and aerial attack. Hueys have also been used in civilian roles such as firefighting, humanitarian aid efforts, research operations, and search-and-rescue duties.
The Huey was developed as the Bell Model 204 and incorporated lessons learned during the Korean War about helicopter operations. A larger Model 205 was introduced in 1961, more familiarly known as the UH-1D. Hueys have served with all branches of the U.S. military, as well as multiple U.S. government agencies and at least 48 foreign countries. Many Hueys are still in use today.
The Museum's aircraft, a UH-1H model, was the most-produced Huey variant, with 5,435 units manufactured. The Museum’s Huey was delivered to the U.S. Army in March 1970 and served in Vietnam with the 101st Air Cavalry and the 158th Attack Helicopter Battalion (AHB), B Company. It flew approximately 1,400 combat hours before returning to the United States in March 1972. It later served with the Alaska National Guard until 1994, then with the Search & Rescue Unit of the King County Sheriff’s Office until its donation to The Museum of Flight in 2003. Following an extensive restoration effort by Northwest Helicopters in 2011 and 2012, the Museum's Huey now appears as it did during its service in Vietnam with the U.S. Army 158th AHB.
