Bell UH-1 Iroquois

Model 205

While earlier "short-body" Hueys were a success, the Army wanted a version that could carry more troops.

Bell's solution was to stretch the HU-1B fuselage by 41 in (104 cm) and use the extra space to fit four seats next to the transmission, facing out. Seating capacity increased to 15, including crew.

The enlarged cabin could also accommodate six stretchers and a medic, two more than the earlier models.

In place of the earlier model's sliding side doors with a single window, larger doors were fitted which had two windows, plus a small hinged panel with an optional window, providing access to the cabin.

The doors and hinged panels were quickly removable, allowing the Huey to be flown in a "doors off" configuration.

The Model 205 prototype flew on 16 August 1960.^{[Vous devez être inscrit et connecté pour voir ce lien][Vous devez être inscrit et connecté pour voir ce lien]}

Seven pre-production/prototype aircraft were delivered and tested at [Vous devez être inscrit et connecté pour voir ce lien] starting in March 1961.

The 205 was initially equipped with a 44-foot (13.4 m) main rotor and a Lycoming T53-L-9 engine with 1,100 shp
(820 kW).

The rotor was lengthened to 48 feet (14.6 m) with a chord of 21 in (53 cm).

The tailboom was also lengthened, in order to accommodate the longer rotor blades. Altogether, the modifications resulted in a gross weight capacity of 9,500 lb (4,309 kg).

The Army ordered production of the 205 in 1963, produced with a T53-L-11 engine for its multi-fuel capability.^{[Vous devez être inscrit et connecté pour voir ce lien]}

The prototypes were designated as YUH-1D and the production aircraft was designated as the UH-1D.

In 1966, Bell installed the 1,400 shp (1,000 kW) Lycoming T53-L-13 engine to provide more power for the aircraft.

The [Vous devez être inscrit et connecté pour voir ce lien] was relocated from the nose to the roof of the cockpit, to prevent damage during landing.

Production models in this configuration were designated as the UH-1H.

205 UH-1H

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UH-1B

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UH-1C

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Marine Corps

In 1962, the [Vous devez être inscrit et connecté pour voir ce lien] held a competition to choose an assault support helicopter to replace the [Vous devez être inscrit et connecté pour voir ce lien] fixed-wing aircraft and the [Vous devez être inscrit et connecté pour voir ce lien] helicopter.

The winner was the UH-1B, which was already in service with the Army.

The helicopter was designated the UH-1E and modified to meet Marine requirements.

The major changes included the use of all-aluminum construction for corrosion resistance,^{[Vous devez être inscrit et connecté pour voir ce lien]} radios compatible with Marine Corps ground frequencies, a rotor brake for shipboard use to stop the rotor quickly on shutdown and a
roof-mounted rescue hoist.

The UH-1E was first flown on 7 October 1963, and deliveries commenced 21 February 1964, with 192 aircraft completed.

Due to production line realities at Bell, the UH-1E was produced in two different versions, both with the same UH-1E designation.

The first 34 built were essentially UH-1B airframes with the Lycoming T53-L-11 engine producing 1,100 shp (820 kW).

When Bell switched production to the UH-1C, the UH-1E production benefited from the same changes.

The Marine Corps later upgraded UH-1E engines to the Lycoming T53-L-13, which produced 1,400 shp (1,000 kW), after the Army introduced the UH-1M and upgraded their UH-1C helicopters to the same engine.

Air Force

The [Vous devez être inscrit et connecté pour voir ce lien]'s (USAF) competition for a helicopter to be used for support on missile bases included a specific requirement to mandate the use of the [Vous devez être inscrit et connecté pour voir ce lien] as a powerplant.

The Air Force had a large inventory of these engines on hand for its fleet of [Vous devez être inscrit et connecté pour voir ce lien] rescue helicopters and using the same engine for both helicopters would save costs.

In response, Bell proposed an upgraded version of the 204B with the T58 engine.

Because the T58 was mounted in front of the transmission on the S-61R, it had to be mounted "backwards" with its
exhaust rerouted to the back of the aircraft.

On 7 June 1963, the Air Force named Bell Helicopter as the winner.

Originally designated the H-48, it was later designated as the UH-1F.

A TH-1F trainer was also built for the USAF, with the first TH-1F flown in January 1967, followed by delivery of 27 aircraft from April to July of that year.

In Italy, Agusta produced a model similar to the UH-1F by re-engining the 204B with the 1,225 shp (914 kW) [Vous devez être inscrit et connecté pour voir ce lien] turboshaft and later the UH-1F's General Electric engine.

The Italian version was exported to the military of the Netherlands, Austria, Sweden and Switzerland.

Twin engine variants

The single engine UH-1 variants were followed by the twin-engine [Vous devez être inscrit et connecté pour voir ce lien] and later the [Vous devez être inscrit et connecté pour voir ce lien].

Bell began development of the UH-1N for Canada in 1968.

It changed to the more powerful [Vous devez être inscrit et connecté pour voir ce lien] twin-engine set.

The U.S. also ordered the helicopter with the U.S. Air Force receiving it in 1970.

Canada's military, the U.S. Marine Corps, and the U.S. Navy first received the model in 1971.