Huey goes high tech

[unhappycamper]

The new Bell UH-1Y Huey, assigned to Marine Medium Helicopter Squadron 163 (Reinforced), prepares to take off from the flight deck of amphibious assault ship Boxer in October as another UH-1Y flies overhead. Boxer is the first ship in the fleet to have the new helicopter aboard as part of its rotary wing aircraft augmentation for deployment.


Huey goes high tech
By Gidget Fuentes - Staff writer
Posted : Monday Dec 15, 2008 7:26:51 EST

CAMP PENDLETON, Calif. — Its distinctive “whoop-whoop” will soon disappear from the flight line at Camp Pendleton Marine Corps Air Station, but the Vietnam-era Huey utility helicopter technically isn’t going anywhere.

The Corps is replacing its UH-1N Hueys with the next generation UH-1Y “Yankee,” which debuted this past summer, and now the first three are preparing for their initial operational deployment overseas, joining the 13th Marine Expeditionary Unit and the Boxer Expeditionary Strike Group when they leave San Diego in January.

With four rotor blades instead of two, the Yankee produces a faster, higher pitched “chop-chop” sound, similar to the Navy’s four-blade S-60 Seahawk helicopters. “The tradeoff,” said Maj. Christopher Chown, a Huey pilot leading the H-1 transition team at Pendleton’s Marine Helicopter Training Squadron 303, “is you don’t hear them coming — but that’s a good thing.”

But there is much more to the new Huey than its sound signature. It will provide the Corps with enhanced capabilities: more lift, greater speed, longer range and better survivability. Coupled with a “glass” cockpit, integrated avionics and heads-up helmet displays for the pilots, this bird is a utility helicopter for the 21st century, officials say.

It has been more than 10 years since the Corps’ top officers decided to upgrade the H-1 fleet, which includes the AH-1W Super Cobra attack helicopter and, soon, the new and improved AH-1Z. With the first upgraded Hueys arriving this summer, the program is two years ahead of its fielding schedule.


Rest of article at: http://www.marinecorpstimes.com/news/2008/12/marine_huey_121408/%2e