Bell UH-1 Iroquois

Development


In 1996, the USMC launched the H-1 upgrade program by signing a contract with [Vous devez être inscrit et connecté pour voir ce lien] for upgrading 100 [Vous devez être inscrit et connecté pour voir ce lien] into UH-1Ys and upgrading 180 [Vous devez être inscrit et connecté pour voir ce lien] into [Vous devez être inscrit et connecté pour voir ce lien].^{[Vous devez être inscrit et connecté pour voir ce lien][Vous devez être inscrit et connecté pour voir ce lien][Vous devez être inscrit et connecté pour voir ce lien]}

The H-1 program created completely modernized attack and utility helicopters with considerable design commonality to reduce operating costs.

The UH-1Y and AH-1Z share a common tail boom, engines, rotor system, drive train, avionics architecture, software, controls and displays for over 84% identical components.
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The Y-model updates an airframe that has been central to the Marine Corps aviation in Iraq.

The Huey has many mission requirements including command and control (C²), escort, reconnaissance, troop transport, medical evacuation and close air support.

Typically detachments of 2-4 Hueys have been deployed with detachments of 4-8 Cobras.

The forward mounted weaponry of the Cobra combined with the door guns of the Huey provides a 240° field of fire.

U.S. Marine Corps pilots from Marine Light Attack Helicopter Training Squadron 303, Marine Aircraft Group 39, 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing, prepare to land a UH-1Y Huey belonging to the squadron, during confined area landing training at Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, California (USA), 28 August 2008.

The squadron was the first in the U.S. Marine Corps to train air crew and maintainers for the UH-1Y.

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Over the years new avionics and radios, in addition to modern door guns and safety upgrades, have greatly increased the UH-1N's empty weight.

With a maximum speed of approximately 100 knots (190 km/h) and an inability to lift much more than its own crew, fuel and ammunition, the UH-1N, while useful, is limited in its utility.

The Y-model upgrades pilot avionics to a glass cockpit, adds further safety modifications and provides the UH-1 with a modern [Vous devez être inscrit et connecté pour voir ce lien] system. However, the biggest improvement is an increase in engine power.

UH 1N reconvertis Y & AH 1Z

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By replacing the engines and the two bladed rotor system with four composite blades the Y-model will return the Huey to the utility role for which it was designed.

Originally the UH-1Y was to have been remanufactured from UH-1N airframes, but in April 2005 approval was granted to build them as new helicopters.

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Bell delivered two UH-1Ys to the U.S. Marine Corps in February 2008.^{[Vous devez être inscrit et connecté pour voir ce lien]} As of September 2009, the UH-1Y is in full-rate production, with the Marine Corps expected to have 21 by the end of the year.

^{[Vous devez être inscrit et connecté pour voir ce lien]} The Marine Corps plans to eventually buy 160 of the Y-models to replace their inventory of N-models,^{[Vous devez être inscrit et connecté pour voir ce lien]} with aircraft deliveries to be completed by 2016.[Vous devez être inscrit et connecté pour voir ce lien]

Design

The UH-1Y variant modernizes the UH-1 design. Its most noticeable upgrade, as compared to previous variants, is a four-bladed, all-composite rotor system designed to withstand ballistics up to 23 mm.

A 21-inch (530 mm) insert just forward of the main door has been installed for more capacity.

The UH-1Y features upgraded engines and transmission, a digital cockpit with flat panel multifunctional displays, and an 84% parts commonality with the AH-1Z.

Compared to the UH-1N, the Y-model has 125% increased payload, almost 50% greater range, and higher cruise speed.
The UH-1Y can keep up with the other helicopters it is supposed to be escorting rather than slowing them down.

The UH-1Y will have more power to maneuver aggressively and evasively. Ground forces commanders riding in the Y-model will have radios, fire power and the range to match the transport helicopters carrying their troops.

Operational history

The UH-1Y and AH-1Z completed their developmental testing in early 2006.During the first quarter of 2006 the UH-1Ys were transferred to the Operational Test Unit at the NAS Patuxent River, where they began operational evaluation (OPEVAL) testing.

^{[Vous devez être inscrit et connecté pour voir ce lien]} In February 2008, the UH-1Y and AH-1Z began the second and final portion of OPEVAL testing.[Vous devez être inscrit et connecté pour voir ce lien]

On 8 August 2008, the Marine Corps certified the UH-1Y as operationally capable and was deployed for the first time in January 2009 as part of the [Vous devez être inscrit et connecté pour voir ce lien] of the [Vous devez être inscrit et connecté pour voir ce lien].

Operators


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• [Vous devez être inscrit et connecté pour voir ce lien] has received 31 UH-1Ys from its order of 70 as of October 2010.