First Flight 55 years ago today…and still in production.

You’re correct, but the H-40 also got its designation before 1962 as well…
So I still see a a discrepancy.

The H-2 and H-3s initally had designations under the old Navy system, so they had to have new numbers post 16 Sept 1962. But there was no need for the Huey to change from the H-40 because, like the C-141, it had a USAF-style designation.

But the change from XH-40/YH-40 (assigned 1955 by the US Army, 3 and 6 built respectively) to HU-1A occurred in March 1960 when the production orders were placed.

This was 2½ years before the system change, so it was an internal US Army decision… perhaps some period publication gives a reason.

You’re correct, but the H-40 also got its designation before 1962 as well…
So I still see a a discrepancy.

The H-2 and H-3s initally had designations under the old Navy system, so they had to have new numbers post 16 Sept 1962. But there was no need for the Huey to change from the H-40 because, like the C-141, it had a USAF-style designation.

And yes, the F-117 was the other oddball…if for no other reason it wasn’t a fighter. It should have been an A-something.

I imagine that the F-117 got it’s designation to give the impression that it was a legacy design from the century series era, and therefore afford it a little less scrutiny if anyone saw the number in documents. It did take many years before it was officially unveiled to the public.

Cheers,
Richard

all the USAF aircraft kept their existing designations..

….apart from the F-110, which became the F-4, of course! There are so many odd discrepancies around this time that we could keep a useless but amusing thread going for ever:diablo:

The C-141 received its designation on 13 March 1961, before the 16 September 1962 “rationalization”.

You’re correct, but the H-40 also got its designation before 1962 as well…
So I still see a a discrepancy.

The H-2 and H-3s initally had designations under the old Navy system, so they had to have new numbers post 16 Sept 1962. But there was no need for the Huey to change from the H-40 because, like the C-141, it had a USAF-style designation.

And yes, the F-117 was the other oddball…if for no other reason it wasn’t a fighter. It should have been an A-something.

Bell UH-1H Huey Sight and Sound

Jeez, all this chat about Hueys and not ONE single mention of this??

Ride of the Valkyries

:rolleyes:

Enjoy! :diablo:

Fighters and transports pretty much stuck with the new lower number designations (with certain exceptions…C-141 & F-111 to name two) which is why we now have the F-35 and C-17.

The C-141 received its designation on 13 March 1961, before the 16 September 1962 “rationalization”. The prototype C-141A had the serial 61-2775, indicating it was ordered in FY1961 (1 Oct. 1960-30 Sept. 1961).

The F-111 received its designation in 1961 as well (29 September), so it kept its number (the USAF system was used as the basis for the unified system, so all the USAF aircraft kept their existing designations).

I believe it is the F-117 that is the oddball you were thinking of.

Did 5 years working on G-HUEY (alongside STVA) – some of the most impressive simple ideas I’d ever seen – and almost all Gruntproof.

I worked on Whirlwind HAR10s for 5 years too – and considering that the S-55 was designed in the same era you cant wonder for long, why the HUEY design “took off”. Better Cruise, power, weight, usable loadspace, access both sides, control systems……

A belated Happy Birthday and thanks to the designers.

As for the Chinook – I quite enjoyed my 10 years on the C model too!

Actually, US military still use the Iroquois name in official documents.

True, the Army has its aircraft named after native American tribes…..but even Bell uses the name Huey nowdays.

In fact, it was imbossed on the cast tail rotor pedals. IIRC, The left side said “BELL” , the right pedal said “HUEY”.

As far as your comments on the DoD designation system…I wonder why the H-40 got a new number…the H-1, while the not much later Kaman H-43 Huskie, H-46 Sea Knight and H-47 Chinook got to keep their original numbers? The slightly later Kaman Seasprite became the H-2 and the Sea King (originally called the HSS-2s) became the H-3.
The H-4-5-6 LOH contenders got the new “low” numbers, then it was back to the old higher number series, with the H-53, 54, 58, 64 etc.
Fighters and transports pretty much stuck with the new lower number designations (with certain exceptions…C-141 & F-111 to name two) which is why we now have the F-35 and C-17. The original P-35 (the Seversky predessor to the P-47) and C-17 (a Lockheed Vega) date to the 30s.

I’ve been studying US military avaition since I was 8 years old, and have never seen a reason for the odd backtracking for helicopter numbers.

Although just a mere youngster, the Boeing Chinook first flew 50 years ago and is still in production!:D

http://www.boeing.com/history/boeing/chinook.html

Good ole Iroquois – yep, when I did my engineering apprenticeship I worked on these and we always referred to them as the Iroquois, sometimes the UH-1 (we had ‘Ds and ‘Hs) but very rarely as ‘Hueys’.

It’s difficult to image how advanced the Huey (for the sake of this forum and brevity; too many letters in “Iroquois”) was when it first flew; powered by a turbine when the majority of helos were powered by pistons, sophisticated avionics, plenty of space in the back and able to carry a good sized load. Sure, its showing its age a bit; black boxes all over the show, wiring looms stretching through the fuse under the floor and into the tail boom. When we did group servicings were were always being warned not to get too much swarf in the wiring looms, nor drilling holes in them to get fixtures out. Lots of little angle brackets used to crack with all the vibration all over the show.

We found that the rear bulkhead of the cabin would become dented beyond limits (they were honey comb panels and you just need to look at them to dent them!), so they were a bit of a trick to get out. I can’t remember what the name of the panels were, but you had to remove the bag tanks in the aft fuse, which was a bit of a trick; they had to be heated up and pryed out; we used a length of timber!. One of our apprentices put huge gouges in the walls trying to get one out once.

Replacing the work deck (upon which the engine sits) takes a bit of drilling; monel rivets and hi-loks largely. Hi-loks are no trouble, just crack the collar, unscrew it and knock ’em out, but the bigguns could be tiiight as. Monel rivets are a pain; you need good, solid rivet bursts and a tungsten dolly, otherwise they just work harden and deform – and you go through lots of cobalt drill bits to drill out all of them in the work deck.

Lots of skin bashing in a group servicing of a Huey.

I remember one of our guys dropped a main rotor blade once; he tried to lift one end by himself. We used to have at least five of us to lift them; they weigh a ton. When he dropped it, we had just put one down on some trestles and then cl-a-a-a-a-ang! the guy lost his grip and it bounced off the stand it was on, down onto a set of steps, then onto the floor. We just stood there and watched in slow motion! “n-o-o-o-o-o-o!”

C-130 first flew 1954. Still going strong.

Worked on these too, there was a saying about the Herc that always made us laugh; “Lockheed C-130 Hercules – keeping engineers in overtime since 1955”:D

Production continues of the UH-1Y and civil 412.
That must be a record for a military aircraft.

C-130 first flew 1954. Still going strong.

It is a true Legend with a silly name that no one (even Bell dont anymore) use the Iroquois name but everyone calls it by the reverse of its designation instead!!!

God bless the Huey long may she reign.

curlyboy

Actually, US military still use the Iroquois name in official documents.

Also, the nickname “Huey” came from the original US Army designation, which was HU-1… this was changed in 1962 to UH-1 when Defense Secretary MacNamara ordered the USAF, USN, and US Army to create and use one single aircraft designation system.

An example is the H-43 Huskie… designated H-43 by the USAF, U.S. Navy and U.S. Marine Corps versions were originally designated as the HTK, HOK or HUK, contingent upon their use as training, observation or utility aircraft.

From late 1962 on, the USAF version was HH-43, and the USN/USMC were TH-43, OH-43, and UH-43.

The Sikorsky S-55 was the HO4S for USN/USCG, HRS for USMC, and H-19 for USAF & US Army, but UH-19, HH-19, & CH-19 after 1962.

It is a true Legend with a silly name that no one (even Bell dont anymore) use the Iroquois name but everyone calls it by the reverse of its designation instead!!!

God bless the Huey long may she reign.

curlyboy