Developed by Bell in the early 1950s, the
UH-1 Iroquois was the first turbine-powered
helicopter to enter production for the U.S.
military. Originally designated the HU-1A
for ¿Helicopter Utility¿, it was quickly nick-
named the ¿Huey¿ ¿ a moniker that stuck
even after the aircraft was reclassified UH-1
in 1962.
Designed as a medical evacuation, trans-
port and utility helicopter, the UH-1 was
extraordinarily successful with more than
16,000 built. The XH-40 prototype
flew in 1956, production commenced in 1959,
and by 1962 the Huey entered combat
service with the 57th Medical Detachment
in S.E. Asia. The UH-1¿s history in combat
includes a long and meritorious service in
Vietnam, where its distinctive airframe
and two-blade teetering rotor came to
symbolize the concept of air mobility.
Hueys of various configuration flew in a
wide variety of roles, and were modified as
cargo carriers, search and rescue platforms,
gunships and for reconnaissance and
electronic warfare missions. Of over
7000 UH-1s to serve in Vietnam, an
astonishing 3305 were destroyed including
some of the last American aircraft lost in
the war ¿ the Hueys used to evacuate the
U.S.Embassy in Saigon at war¿s end.
In addition to Army service, UH-1s flew for
the U.S. Air Force and U.S. Navy as well as
for air forces around the world. With the
introduction of the UH-60 Black Hawk the
UH-1 was phased out of the U.S. Army
fleet by 2004, although residual aircraft
continue tofly with the National Guard.
Originally created by Bell and the U.S.
Army, this pilot¿s manual contains
technical, operational and emergency
information for the UH-1H/V model Huey.
