Huey question

[ZRX61]

I've been searching for birds that were with a friends unit in Vietnam (129th AHC). We knew about the restored one flying in the UK, then I started looking for others. Found quite a few in museums and/or on sticks (at least 6), also found that 2 are flying with the DHS. & some are used for logging etc. The total found so far is 23 & I'm nowhere near finished looking through various databases yet.

The question I have regards B models. I was talking to a guy who has a B, but he mentioned trading it for a Super B... what's the difference?

Btw, the guys who were with the unit were amazed when the total number of survivors reached 9 on Tuesday, they're blown away that there are 23 so far, with more expected to be found.

[JohnB]

A Super B is a civilian mod of either 204 (B's made for the civil and export market) or ex-military Bs.
IIRC, They feature uprated engines and wider rotor blades, possibly a wider tail rotor pylon (which would make them rather like a military C, IIRC).

Widly used for firefighting, logging and other external lift operations.
High dollar machines...not surplus junk.

[ZRX61]

Thanks for clearing that up. I'm not all that genned up on the differences beyond "short ones" & "long ones"

[JohnB]

Thanks for clearing that up. I'm not all that genned up on the differences beyond "short ones" & "long ones"

Easy..the primary production (not later mods) short ones are 204s/ A-B-C-E-F-T-Ls....

The long ones are 205s/D-Hs (plus later mods).

TheUSAF still uses their fleet of circa1969 UH-1N (twin engine long models). I spoke to one of the pilots at an event recently, yep, he's youngerr than the helicopter.
But unlike airplanes, in helicopters their age is relative since all the important (and expensive) stuff is overhaouled/replaced regularly.
He said the USAF uses rebuilt Hs (presumably ex-Army since the AF only had 30 Hs for local rescue to replace the HH-43s, and according to Braugher they've been surplused) "Huey IIs" for heplicopter pilot training. They have a long nose (like the twins) and lots of upgrades.
I don't know if they still use their original serials or have been reserialerd like the Chinooks that have been through the factory 2-3 times each time with a new serial.

[ZRX61]

I don't know if they still use their original serials or have been reserialerd like the Chinooks that have been through the factory 2-3 times each time with a new serial.

2 or 3 of the surviving birds the 129th used in Vietnam are now back at Bell in Ft Worth, I assuming for upgrading or overhaul..?

[ZRX61]

After checking several different databases I've now found somewhere in the region of 50 survivors from just that one unit... including the star of this video:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=p ... 3OVvQV7VN8

[P51Mstg]

The ones back at Bell in FT Worth are going through a factory rebuild/upgrade to the civilian market. Bell acquired military airframes and is "re-manufacturing" them for civilian use. In other words, the military surplus airframes that were being used for restricted uses were taking food out of the mouths of Bell employees and their starving kids. Plus Bell was pretty much on the hook for liability for the aircraft they sold nearly 50 years ago. This is their chance to bring in some cash (a lot of it) for doing an IRAN and repaint and selling them with a standard type certificate (which means they are a lot more valuable)...

Mark H

[stearmann4]

I fly an HH-1K for the Olympic Flight Museum. It's actually an old navalized B with a Cobra engine, transmission and different blades. It will smoke a standard H model Huey, and more maneueverable as well.

Northwest helicopters also makes "Huey Plus" models in which they install a number of mods to include Cobra engine, tail, and rotor blades, along with the BLR fast Fin & Strakes. It truly makes the Huey a modern utility helicopter. In fact, it smokes the LUH-72 Lakota the Army spend so much on. Long live the Huey!

Mike-

[ZRX61]

Another place that had 3 or 4 of the units old helicopters is Dyncorp Inc... who have a somewhat shady rep...

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/DynCorp

[ZRX61]

I fly an HH-1K for the Olympic Flight Museum. It's actually an old navalized B with a Cobra engine, transmission and different blades. It will smoke a standard H model Huey, and more maneueverable as well.

Northwest helicopters also makes "Huey Plus" models in which they install a number of mods to include Cobra engine, tail, and rotor blades, along with the BLR fast Fin & Strakes. It truly makes the Huey a modern utility helicopter. In fact, it smokes the LUH-72 Lakota the Army spend so much on. Long live the Huey!

Mike-

So whats the story with those 2 Cobras sitting on the ramp at the museum?

The guys at NWH also have a former 129th bird: 68-16261/N443YB. That place must be Huey heaven, I counted 74 Hueys reg'd to them during my search. Seems they didn't get the one that showed up on a dump recently (on their FB page), apparently some guy bought the carcass for $1500