USMC Work Horse ( Huey Helicopter) is Retired

(NBC San Diego) — A Marine Corps helicopter known as one of the Vietnam Era’s most iconic aircraft is officially history.
The Marine Light Attack Helicopter Squadron 469 (HMLA-469 ) and Marine Light Attack Training Squadron 303 (HMLA-T 303) honored the UH-1N Huey in a farewell ceremony at MCAS Camp Pendleton Friday afternoon.
The old “November” model huey is being replaced by the next generation, UH-1Y “Yankee” aircraft, which flies faster, lifts more and uses more powerful weapons.
The Yankee is also equipped with advanced computer operating systems that mimic video-gaming system controls and displays.
Crews with HMLA-469 were the first to use the new UH-1Y during combat operations in Afghanistan last year. Pilots say the chopper performed exceptionally well in the hot dusty climate in Helmand Province.
It’s increased speed and improved communications systems meant teams could complete more ambitious close air support missions with its leaner, more lethal cousin, the Super Cobra attack helicopter.
While the UH-1N, first used in 1969, had trouble keeping up with the Cobra in the past, that’s not the case for the Yankee model, at least for now.
HMLAT-303 is the first squadron to train with the lighting fast new AH-1Z “Zulu” Super Cobras. Camp Pendleton Marines are expected to take Zulus on their first combat deployment later this year.


Seper Fi and thanks for the service!

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I also was unaware they were still active in the military. I have seen hundreds of them around in civilian service still, like our Search and Rescue, air ambulances, and a couple of the Fish and Game precincts have them too. They are almost as reliable as houses, so I shouldn't be surprised the USMC was still flying the Huey.

 

The Yankee and the Zulu (Cobra) have cross compatability on a mojority of their systems allowing for a more streamlined logistics chain. The cool part is that the transition from N/W to Y/Z is going to be done through reutilization of existing airframes.

( H-1 upgrade program - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia )


Here's your pictures:


And the Zulu:

 

Isn't there a saying that if it ain't 20 years old, dented and leaking oil, it beneath the dignity of a Marine to use it

 

Dang, the Huey was such a great vehicle. They fly over my neighborhood all the time, I guess they are coming in from Fort Hood? We also get shiphooks flying over all the time too.

 

Well, the AF is still flying BUFFs that are over 40 years old so the military usually upgrades or maintains a system rather than building a new one unless the new systems have significant tech or cost advantages (new generation).

 

Ive seen a few coming in from the direction of San Antonio. Also I THINK I have seen some Blackhawks coming from their way? Either that or its a Police Blackhawk????

 

I think "usually" is a pretty broad brush; but, I get your point. I think pretty much everything after 1980 was designed to be upgradable to a certain degree. The M1 Abrams is a good example of keeping the box and changing the contents.

 

alot of vietname era equiptment is still being used to day not only the huey but the AH-1 cobra,M16,M14,and the m109 paladin I also think the national gaurd still uses M60 pattons goes to show no matter how old you are that dont determind that your obsolete on the battle field.

 

The Cobra is one of my all time fav's. Looks decidedly wicked and built for punishment. Didn't the Cobra start the dedicated heli gunship design from scratch?

 

The Snakes are a great plane and were developed for close support. During the battle of Hue they were utilized in the Anti Armor role by the Army in the AH1G configuration. The cobras were originally intended as an interim measure until a dedicated gunship could be developed for the Army. Part of that design competition resulted in the AH1J Super Cobra which became the Sea Cobra with the addition of a second engine and improved turret. The Whiskey model was the Marine Corps equivelant to the Apache with Day night Capability and integrated TOW missile capability. The New Zulu is a straight up beast.

 

Was the Sea Cobra's 2nd engine added for lifting more material or for redundant power in case of failure? ...Why build any other heli gunship when Cobra seemed like it could be upgraded forever? Prolly a whole lot cheaper than building Apaches. Couldn't Cobra hold the suite Apache does?

 

Not at the time. The addition of the second engine was for more power and a benifit or redundancey. The Army program was a service wide upgrade that would allow the M1 Abrams, Blackhawk and Apache to have the same power plant. The Apache and the Blackhawk did not fulfill the requirements that the Marine Corps had for embarkation aboard ships. The Marine Corps was also still using the M-60 Sheridan as their main battle tank, so an upgrade wasn't as beneficial. Since the Marine Corps has adopted/inherited the Abrams the power plants of the Yankee and Zulu are interchangeable with it; which is a huge win, especially considering the expeditionary nature of the Marine mission. The new Essex class LHD/LPH (?) would allow for the space a blackhawk requires; but, I think the Marine Corps would rather utilize the space for more Hueys, beings that neither the Apache or Blackhawk can accomodate a bayonet.

The original Cobras were intended to be airconditioned as well; however, there were issues with the power requirement which was insufficient with the type of engine. The additional cooling requirements of the Apache Avionics suite wouldn't fit in the Cobra airframe, hence the Apache design. By the time the Whiskey came on line avionics had 'shrunk' enough to be squeezed into the Cobra package.

 

Nice Juggs... Maybe a typo with M60 Sheridan? Thought the Sheridan was a recognizance vehicle with an aluminum body. And the M60 was a MBT?

 

You are correct I forget the M-60 and the M-48 were Pattons with the M-551 being the Sheridan. I think I realized that as soon as I pushed the send button.

 

Ditto that. The Cobra is one butt-kickin Helo. One of my Cousins flew in them and my Dad worked on them at Aradmac in the Naval Air Station in Corpus Christi. The one and only time ive ever gone up in anykind of a Chopper, was when he was repairing a Huey that came back from Nam, shot up. We only went up to Hanger Heigth, but hey--I went up in one as a toddler ;-))

 

Geeze. Regret not seeing Mr Evans response, and continuing the conversation...
Remember building a model of the Huey. Thinking modeling started my "hands on" approach to work. Sitting down, reading the instructions [installation manual], gathering the parts needed [parts PO for vendor], assemble [labour], paint [programming]...The box always had some great art on it. Wish I'd kept those. As well as a thorough description of the vehicle, its' stats, and maybe a famous story about a particular weapon/crew and its' glories.
What is better - hobby or internet? hmmm...Can the internet be a hobby?

 

UH1 Huey with absurdly large guns
J.Trevithick "The US Army Kept Trying To Give The Huey Bigger Guns" - War Is Boring

https://warisboring.com/the-u-s-army-kept-trying-to-give-the-huey-bigger-guns-637b70056886?source=collection_home---5------4----------