No. 3: Uh-1 Huey
Manufacturer: Bell Helicopter
Type: Utility Helicopter
Powerplant: One Textron Lycoming T53-L-13 Turboshaft
Principal Armament: Two 7.62-mm Machine Guns, 16 70-mm Air-to-Surface Rockets
Carrying Capacity: 11 - 14 Troops, 6 Medical Litters or 3,000-pound Cargo
Maximum Cruising Speed: 115 mph
The Bell UH-1 Iroquois, better known by its nickname the Huey, first flew in 1956 and is still in service today. Over 16,000 models have been built, the largest production run of any helicopter in history. With numerous appearances in blockbuster films and television shows, it's become an American icon.
The birth of the Huey came in the wake of the Korean War. During that conflict, the U.S. Army was learning that for rapid Medevac and troop insertion, a faster, more robust helicopter was needed. To achieve that goal, the guys at Bell developed a radically new bird that pushed the avionics envelope.
Helicopter Puzzles
