The UH-1 was developed from 1955 US Army trials with the Bell Model 204. The initial designation of HU-1 (helicopter utility) led to its nickname, Huey. It was first used by the military in 1959 and went into triservice production in 1962 as the UH-1. The last were produced in 1976 with more than 16,000 made in total, of which the majority (7,000 or so) were deployed in Vietnam. In Vietnam, 2,202 Huey pilots were killed and approximately 2,500 aircraft were lost, roughly half to combat and the rest to operational accidents.

SPECIFICATIONS (UH-1D):

Crew: 1-4

Capacity: 3,880 lb including 14 troops, or 6 stretchers, or equivalent cargo

Length: 57 ft 1 in with rotors (17.4 m)

Fuselage width: 8 ft 7 in (2.6 m))

Rotor diameter: 48 ft 0 in (14.6 m)

Height: 14 ft 5 in (4.4 m)

Empty weight: 5,215 lb (2,365 kg)

Loaded weight: 9,040 lb (4,100 kg)

Max takeoff weight: 9,500 lb (4,310 kg)

Fuel capacity: 1,400 lb (840 kg))

Powerplant: 1× Lycoming T53-L-13B turboshaft, 1,400 shp (1,045 kW)

PERFORMANCE:

Maximum speed: 135 mph (220 km/h)

Cruise speed: 125 mph (205 km/h)

Range: 315 mi (510 km)

Service ceiling: 19,390 ft (Dependent on environmental factors such as weight, outside temp., etc) (5,910 m)

Rate of climb: 1,755 ft/min (8.9 m/s)

Power/mass: 0.15 hp/lb (0.25 kW/kg)