1. Development

2. Design

3. Operational history
    Potential operators 

4. Operators

5. Specifications

6. See also

7. References

8. External links

The Bell UH-1Y Venom^[4] (also called Super Huey)^[5] is a twin-engine, medium-sized utility helicopter, built by Bell Helicopter under the H-1 upgrade program of the United States Marine Corps. One of the latest members of the numerous Huey family, the UH-1Y is also called "Yankee", based on the NATO phonetic alphabet pronunciation of its variant letter.^[6]

The UH-1Y was to have been remanufactured from UH-1Ns, but in 2005, it was approved for the aircraft to be built as new. After entering service in 2008, the UH-1Y replaced the USMC's aging fleet of UH-1N Twin Huey light utility helicopters, first introduced in the early 1970s. It is currently in full-rate production,^[7] with deliveries to the Marines to be completed in late 2018.^[8]

Development

In 1996, the United States Marine Corps launched the H-1 upgrade program by signing a contract with Bell Helicopter for upgrading 100 UH-1Ns into UH-1Ys and upgrading 180 AH-1Ws into AH-1Zs.^[9][10] The H-1 program created completely modernized attack and utility helicopters with considerable design commonality to reduce operating costs. The UH-1Y and AH-1Z share a common tailboom, engines, rotor system, drivetrain, avionics architecture, software, controls and displays for over 84% identical components.^[11][12]

Over the years new avionics and radios, in addition to modern door guns and safety upgrades, have greatly increased the UH-1N's empty weight. With a maximum speed of approximately {{convert|100|kn|km/h}} and an inability to lift much more than its own crew, fuel and ammunition, the UH-1N, while useful, is limited in its utility.{{Citation needed|date=February 2017}}

The Y-model upgrades pilot avionics to a glass cockpit, adds further safety modifications and provides the UH-1 with a modern FLIR system. However, the biggest improvement is an increase in engine power. By replacing the engines and the two-bladed rotor system with four composite blades, the Y-model will return the Huey to the utility role for which it was designed. Originally the UH-1Y was to have been remanufactured from UH-1N airframes, but in April 2005 approval was granted to build them as new helicopters.^[7][13]

The Y-model updates an airframe that has been central to Marine Corps aviation in Iraq.{{Citation needed|date=February 2017}} The Huey has many mission requirements including command and control (C²), escort, reconnaissance, troop transport, medical evacuation and close air support. Typically detachments of two to four Hueys have been deployed with detachments of four to eight Cobras.{{Citation needed|date=February 2017}} The forward-mounted weaponry of the Cobra combined with the door guns of the Huey provides a 240° field of fire.{{Citation needed|date=February 2017}}

Bell delivered two UH-1Ys to the U.S. Marine Corps in February 2008^[14] and full-rate production was begun in September 2009.^[15] The Marine Corps plans to buy 160 Y-models to replace their inventory of N-models.^[16]

Design

The UH-1Y variant modernizes the UH-1 design. Its most noticeable upgrade over previous variants is a four-blade, all-composite rotor system designed to withstand up to 23 mm rounds. A {{convert|21|in|mm|adj=on}} fuselage extension just forward of the main door has been added for more capacity. The UH-1Y features upgraded engines and transmissions, a digital cockpit with flat panel multifunctional displays, and an 84% parts commonality with the AH-1Z. Compared to the UH-1N, the Y-model has an increased payload, almost 50% greater range, a reduction in vibration, and higher cruise speed.^[11][17][18]

Operational history

The UH-1Y and AH-1Z completed their developmental testing in early 2006.^[19] During the first quarter of 2006 the UH-1Ys were transferred to the Operational Test Unit at NAS Patuxent River, where they began operational evaluation (OPEVAL) testing.^[20] In February 2008, the UH-1Y and AH-1Z began the second and final portion of OPEVAL testing.^[21]

On 8 August 2008, the Marine Corps certified the UH-1Y as operationally capable and it was deployed for the first time in January 2009 as part of the aviation combat element of the 13th Marine Expeditionary Unit.^[22][23] The UH-1N Twin Huey was retired by the Marines in August 2014, making the UH-1Y the Marine Corps' standard utility helicopter.^[24]

Potential operators

On 11 October 2017, the Defense Security Cooperation Agency notified the United States Congress of the potential sale of 12 UH-1Ys and related systems and support to the Czech Republic for a cost of US$575m.^[25]

Operators

{{USA}}

• United States Marine Corps^[2]
  • HMLA-167^[26]
  • HMLA-169^[27]
  • HMLA-267
  • HMLA-269^[28]
  • HMLA-367^[29]
  • HMLA-369{{Citation needed|date=April 2017}}
  • HMLA-469^[30]
  • HMLA-773^[31]
  • HMLAT-303^[32]

Specifications

|ref=Bell UH-1Y guide,^[11] International Directory of Civil Aircraft^[33]
|crew=one or two pilots, plus crew chief, other crew members as mission requires
|capacity=6,660 lb (3,020 kg) including up to ten crashworthy passenger seats, six litters or equivalent cargo^[34]
|length main=58 ft 4 in
|length alt=17.78 m
|span main=48 ft 10 in
|span alt=14.88 m
|height main=14 ft 7 in
|height alt=4.5 m
|area main=1,808 ft²
|area alt=168.0 m²
|airfoil=
|empty weight main=11,840 lb
|empty weight alt=5,370 kg
|loaded weight main=
|loaded weight alt=
|useful load main=6,660 lb
|useful load alt= 3,020 kg
|max takeoff weight main=18,500 lb
|max takeoff weight alt=8,390 kg
|more general=
|engine (prop)=General Electric T700-GE-401C
|type of prop=turboshaft
|number of props=2
|power main=1,828 shp for 2.5 min; 1,546 shp continuous
|power alt= 1,360 kW for 2.5 min; 1,150 kW continuous
|power original=
|max speed main=164 kn
|max speed alt= 189 mph, 304 km/h
|max speed more= for 30 minutes
|cruise speed main= 158 kn, 182 mph, 293 km/h
|cruise speed alt=long range cruise (LRC): 135 kn, 155 mph, 250 km/h
|never exceed speed main= 198 knots
|never exceed speed alt= 227 mph, 366 km/h
|stall speed main=
|stall speed alt=
|ferry range main=
|ferry range alt=
|range main=
|range alt=
|range more=
|combat radius main= 130 nmi
|combat radius alt= 150 mi, 241 km
|combat radius more=with 2,182 lb, 990 kg payload
|endurance= 3.3 hr
|ceiling main=20,000+ ft
|ceiling alt=6,100+ m
|climb rate main=2,520 ft/min
|climb rate alt=12.8 m/s
|loading main=
|loading alt=
|thrust/weight=
|power/mass main=
|power/mass alt=
|more performance=
|armament=*2 external stations for 70 mm (2.75 in) Hydra 70 or APKWS II^[35] rockets

• 2 pintle mounts for 7.62×51 mm M240D machine guns, .50 in (12.7 mm) GAU-16/A machine guns, or 7.62×51 mm NATO GAU-17/A Gatling guns

See also

• US Helicopter Armament Subsystems
• List of active United States military aircraft

• Bell 212
• Bell 412
• Bell UH-1N Twin Huey
• Bell AH-1Z Viper

References

External links

• UH-1Y Venom page on BellHelicopter.com
• [https://web.archive.org/web/20070624103148/http://acquisition.navy.mil/programs/air/uh_1y UH-1Y Venom page on US Navy RDA site]
• UH-1Y Venom page on GlobalSecurity.org
• "US Navy proposes more UH-1Ys, AH-1Zs despite test phase setback", Flight International, 22 August 2008.

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