Huey on Steroids: UH-1Y
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Just posting this up for info and to start some discussion.
Apparently the US Marines are going to start getting new-build UH-1Ys from next year. The UH-1Y is basically a twin-engined (same engines as SH-70B seahawk), stretched and marinised (e.g. can tahan seaspray into engine) Huey 'on steroids'. It's supposed to be able to fly further, lift more and is more survivable than the UH-1N which the Marines are currently using.
For example, the 4-blade rotors are supposed to be able to take a direct hit by a 23mm shell. Of course, your guess is as good as mine as to how many hits it can take...
It even has a funky helmet/ NGV, FLIR sighting system thingy!
I am not sure about cost, but they are supposed to be cheaper than the blackhawk, which is why the Marines wanted them. So, an appropriate replacement for our (now-retired) UH-1H?
Just in case anyone's interested, some interesting links are below:
Naval Technology page: http://www.naval-technology.com/projects/uh_1y/
Article on test Flight: http://www.aviationtoday.com/cgi/rw/show_mag.cgi?pub=rw&mon=1003&file=1003grandfathers_huey.htm
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looks like a cobra mixed with a blackhawk ?
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Just for the sheer heck of it, another few more photos.
Maybe I should point out that the pics (here and in the previous post) are of the pre-production test rigs that are currently being put through the tests.
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Actually, the UH-1Y is supposed to have '84% commonality' in parts with the AH-1Z, which is the upgraded AH-1W which the Marines are currently using.Originally posted by bismarck:looks like a cobra mixed with a blackhawk ?
The UH-1Y and the upgrade of the 'snakes' to the AH-1Z standard are part of the same program.
Below is a pic of a 1Y and a 1Z next to one another while they were undergoing tests on a helicopter carrier. Its pretty clear the rotors and running gear are identical.
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i wanna see those somalians try shooting em down this time...
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I'd like to see our RSAF fly them.
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and beat the piss out of our enemies, if u mayOriginally posted by LazerLordz:I'd like to see our RSAF fly them. -
hmmm not a bad idea for singapore to get them to replace the Hueys. Anyway up to now no news of next generation utility chopper?
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I think I read somewhere on this forum that the plans to replace the Hueys have been shelved due to financial concerns? Not sure how true this is tho.
Anyway, also found out that Bell-Textron is offering the UH-1Y to Taiwan as Taiwan is on the search for replacements for their UH-1H.
The US marines are getting them from 06, but it seems that they are only going fully operational in 08, if I am not reading the articles wrong. I am not sure how that is all supposed to work out... 2 years to get fully operational?
In any case, the UH-1Y is expected to remain in the Marines up to 2020.
Considering that the first UH-1 prototype flew in 1956, the UH-1 series is one heck of a die-hard! Of course, the UH-1Y is a totally modern aircraft internally, but there's no denying the family resemblance...
Oh yeah, and the Huey is the first aircraft series to run through the whole alphabet!
Edited for grammatical errors.
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hmm...realli?Originally posted by Blockhead:I think I read somewhere on this forum that the plans to replace the Hueys have been shelved due to financial concerns? Not sure how true this is tho.
Anyway, also found out that Bell-Textron is offering the UH-1Y to Taiwan as Taiwan is on the search for replacements for their UH-1H.
The US marines are getting them from 06, but it seems that they are only going fully operational in 08, if I am not reading the articles wrong. I am not sure how that is all supposed to work out... 2 years to get fully operational?
In any case, the UH-1Y is expected to remain in the Marines up to 2020.
Considering that the first UH-1 prototype flew in 1956, the UH-1 series is one heck of a die-hard! Of course, the UH-1Y is a totally modern aircraft internally, but there's no denying the family resemblance...
Oh yeah, and the Huey is the first aircraft series to run through the whole alphabet!
Edited for grammatical errors. i don rmb seeing a UH=1J, k or even L there.. -
Actually there were quite a few variants that were designated, but either were produced in low numbers or weren't widely used due to the specific tasks the variant was made for. I have shamelessly ripped the following list of variants from the following site: http://www.vectorsite.net/avhuey.html
The list is not really fully complete since it is not totally up to date, and does not include the UH-1Y and the AH-1Z. Note that the UH and the AH designations never crossed, e.g, no UH-1Q or W, but there was AH-1Q and W. I guess the AH-1 is counted as family. (there were also AH-1Q,R,S,T, i think) However, there was a UH-1U, if I am not mistaken...
Please note that 204 and 205 were both the original single-engine 'hueys', with the 205 being the stretched version. the UH-1H was from the 205 series. 212, 214 and 412 are twin-engined.
Model 204 variants include:
XH-40: Three initial prototypes, with Lycoming T53-L-1 engine (522 kW / 700 SHP) and teetering-bar rotor.
YH-40: Six evaluation rotorcraft, with T53-L-1A engine (574 kW / 770 SHP) and 30 centimeter (1 foot) fuselage stretch.
HU-1: Nine preproduction rotorcraft, similar to YH-40.
UH-1A (HU-1A): Initial full-production rotorcraft, similar to YH-40. 183 built.
UH-1B (HU-1B): Stretched variant with wider-span rotor. Early production fitted with T53-L-5 engine (642 kW / 860 SHP), later production with T53-L-11 engine (821 kW / 1,100 SHP). At least 1,033 built.
Model 204B: Commercial version of UH-1B.
UH-1C: Gunship-optimized UH-1B with T53-L-11 engine, Model 540 rotor, and greater fuel capacity. About 750 built.
UH-1E: USMC version of UH-1B, with rescue hoist, rotor brake, and USMC avionics. 250 built.
TH-1E: Same as UH-1E but with dual controls for training. 20 built.
UH-1F: USAF version of UH-1B, with General Electric T58-GE-3 engine (962 kW / 1,290 SHP) and wider rotor. 146 built.
TH-1F: Trainer version of UH-1F, build in small numbers.
HH-1K: US Navy SAR variant of UH-1B, with T53-L-13 engine (1,044 kW / 1,400 SHP) and USN avionics. 27 built.
TH-1L Seawolf: Trainer version of HH-1K, 90 built.
UH-1L: Utility version of HH-1K, 8 built.
UH-1M: Night combat derivative of UH-1C with sensor systems and T53-L-13 engine. Built in small numbers, some converted from UH-1Cs.
UH-1P: Psychological warfare conversion of UH-1F, with loudspeaker system.
AB-204: Italian Agusta-Bell license-built Model 204. Agusta-Bell offered many custom fits, including a Rolls-Royce / Bristol Gnome H.1200 engine (895 kW / 1,200 SHP) or a General Electric T58-GE-2 engine (988 kW / 1,325 SHP).
AB-204AS: Agusta-Bell maritime warfare version of Model 204, with search radar, dunking sonar, and accommodations for torpedoes and antiship missiles.
Model 205 variants include:
YUH-1D: Prototype / evaluation version of Model 205, with stretched fuselage, T53-L-11 engine, wider rotor.
UH-1D: Production Model 205, similar to YUH-1D. 2,008 built.
UH-1H: Definitive Model 205 version, with T53-L-13 engine and improved avionics. 3,573 built for US Army and 1,372 built for export sales.
EH-1H: Three experimental UH-1H conversions to the SIGINT role.
UH-1H: UH-1H conversion for DustOff / medevac role, with rescue hoist and other small changes. 220 conversions.
HH-1H: USAF version of UH-1H for SAR role, with rescue hoist. 30 built.
CH-118 (CUH-1H): Canadian Armed Forces version of UH-1H.
UH-1J: Japanese derivative of UH-1H, built by Fuji, with T53-L-703 engine (1,343 kW / 1,800 SHP), countermeasures, and cockpit improvements. At least 78 built.
AB-205: Italian Agusta-Bell license-built Model 205, with many optional custom fits.
Model 212 Twin Huey variants include:
UH-1N: UH-1H with PWC T400-CP-400 Twin Pac engine system (1,141 kW / 1,530 SHP). 300 built for USAF, USMC, USN.
VH-1N: USMC VIP transport version of UH-1N, with two conversions and six new-build rotorcraft.
CH-135 (CUH-1N): Canadian Armed Forces version of UH-1N, 50 built.
AB-212AS: Italian Agusta-Bell maritime warfare variant, with search radar, dunking sonar, autopilot system, and capability to carry torpedoes and antiship missiles.
Model 412 variants include:
Model 412: Model 212 with four-blade composite folding rotor and PWC PT6T-3B-1 engine (977 kW / 1,310 SHP).
CH-146 Griffon: Canadian Armed Forces version of Model 412, 100 built.
Model 412SP: Greater fuel capacity and take-off weight.
Model 412HP: Improved transmission system..
Model 412EP: New PT6T-3D engine and redundant digital automatic flight control system.
Model 412EP Sentinel: Heli-Dyne maritime warfare variant produced by Heli-Dyne with radar, sonar, and other gear.
Model 412AH: Attack helicopter variant with Lucas 12.7 millimeter gun turret. Not produced.
AB-412 Grifone: Italian Agusta-Bell variant, modified for multirole military operation.
Model 214 variants include:
Model 214 Huey Plus prototype: Heavy-lift UH-1H derivative with fully-rated T53-L-13 engine, Nodomatic rotor, structural improvements.
Model 214A Isfahan: Improved Model 214 with Lycoming LTC4B-8D engine (2,186 kW / 2,930 SHP). 293 built for Iranian Army.
Model 214B BigLifter: Commercial version of Model 214A, built in small numbers.
Model 214C: SAR version of Model 214A for Iranian Air Force, 39 built.
Model 214ST (Stretched Twin): Biggest member of Huey family, with larger and modernized fuselage, twin GE T700 engines (2,424 kW / 3,250 SHP total). Sold on the commercial and international markets. [/url] -
Think engine sound is turbine smooth no more the distintive tok tok sound of the Huey... imagine riding the UH-1H for some covert mission but its so noisy and wakes everyone up.
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I think u might be right. Since the engines are the same as those on the UH-60, I would expect that they sound pretty the same, as they both have 4-blade rotors as well. Never really heard a Blackhawk tho, so can't really comment on the noise level.Originally posted by seancannot:Think engine sound is turbine smooth no more the distintive tok tok sound of the Huey....
I miss the 'whoop-whoop' noise of the old Hueys tho. I live near one of the RSAF flightpaths and I grew up hearing the old hueys thumping by. You could always hear them coming!
Nowadays, I keep hearing the 'swishing' Chinooks instead.... -
i think the "thup thup" sound was due more because of the two blade rotors rather than the engines .....Originally posted by Blockhead:I think u might be right. Since the engines are the same as those on the UH-60, I would expect that they sound pretty the same, as they both have 4-blade rotors as well. Never really heard a Blackhawk tho, so can't really comment on the noise level.
I miss the 'whoop-whoop' noise of the old Hueys tho. I live near one of the RSAF flightpaths and I grew up hearing the old hueys thumping by. You could always hear them coming!
Nowadays, I keep hearing the 'swishing' Chinooks instead....