The Bell UH-1Y Venom (also called Super Huey) 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.
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, with deliveries to the Marines to be completed in late 2018.
Video Bell UH-1Y Venom
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. 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.
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 100 knots (190 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.
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.
The Y-model updates an airframe that has been central to Marine Corps aviation in Iraq. 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. The forward-mounted weaponry of the Cobra combined with the door guns of the Huey provides a 240° field of fire.
Bell delivered two UH-1Ys to the U.S. Marine Corps in February 2008 and full-rate production was begun in September 2009. The Marine Corps plans to buy 160 Y-models to replace their inventory of N-models.
Maps Bell UH-1Y Venom
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 21-inch (530 mm) 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.
Operational history
The UH-1Y and AH-1Z completed their developmental testing in early 2006. During the first quarter of 2006 the UH-1Ys were transferred to the Operational Test Unit at the NAS Patuxent River, where they began operational evaluation (OPEVAL) testing. In February 2008, the UH-1Y and AH-1Z began the second and final portion of OPEVAL testing.
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. The UH-1N Twin Huey was retired by the Marines in August 2014, making the UH-1Y the Marine Corps' standard utility helicopter.
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.
Operators
- United States
- United States Marine Corps
- HMLA-167
- HMLA-169
- HMLA-267
- HMLA-269
- HMLA-367
- HMLA-369
- HMLA-469
- HMLA-773
- HMLAT-303
Specifications
Data from Bell UH-1Y guide, International Directory of Civil Aircraft
General characteristics
- 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
- Length: 58 ft 4 in (17.78 m)
- Rotor diameter: 48 ft 10 in (14.88 m)
- Height: 14 ft 7 in (4.5 m)
- Disc area: 1,808 ft² (168.0 m²)
- Empty weight: 11,840 lb (5,370 kg)
- Useful load: 6,660 lb (3,020 kg)
- Max. takeoff weight: 18,500 lb (8,390 kg)
- Powerplant: 2 × General Electric T700-GE-401C turboshaft, 1,828 shp for 2.5 min; 1,546 shp continuous (1,360 kW for 2.5 min; 1,150 kW continuous) each
Performance
- Never exceed speed: 198 knots (227 mph, 366 km/h)
- Maximum speed: 164 kn (189 mph, 304 km/h) for 30 minutes
- Cruise speed: 158 kn, 182 mph, 293 km/h (long range cruise (LRC): 135 kn, 155 mph, 250 km/h)
- Combat radius: 130 nmi (150 mi, 241 km) with 2,182 lb, 990 kg payload
- Endurance: 3.3 hr
- Service ceiling: 20,000+ ft (6,100+ m)
- Rate of climb: 2,520 ft/min (12.8 m/s)
Armament
- 2 external stations for 70 mm (2.75 in) Hydra 70 or APKWS II 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
Related development
- Bell 212
- Bell 412
- Bell UH-1N Twin Huey
- Bell AH-1Z Viper
References
External links
- UH-1Y Venom page on BellHelicopter.com
- 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.
Source of the article : Wikipedia
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