Anyone flown (or fly) the Huey?
Senis Semper Fidelis
Joined: Feb 2001
Posts: 1,288
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From: Lancashire U K
Hueymeister,
Is that you behind the stick, in the photo that is taken obviously, somewhere higher than Blackpool Tower?
And thank you to all who have answered my Q.
Off to play a Centenarie's Cricket Match now, and for a change we have nearly blue skies here in the normally damp North of England
Many regards
Peter R-B
Vfr
Is that you behind the stick, in the photo that is taken obviously, somewhere higher than Blackpool Tower?
And thank you to all who have answered my Q.
Off to play a Centenarie's Cricket Match now, and for a change we have nearly blue skies here in the normally damp North of England
Many regards
Peter R-B
Vfr
Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 910
Likes: 14
From: Here n there.
Yep, IP had just hopped out to empty his peanut size Bladder, best 6 weeks of my flying career, all of it flying in the Alps, 10 miles from Salzburg, at about 7000 ft MSL, mountain biking and enjoying the local fayre!!!
Last edited by Hueymeister; 22nd August 2004 at 15:46.
Joined: Oct 2002
Posts: 323
Likes: 0
From: Down the field!
Huey - operating costs
Hello
Can anyone please provide me with some information regarding Bell Huey’s? I’m particularly interested in knowing the operating costs, service intervals etc of this helicopter. Does anyone have a breakdown for the hourly rate (excluding the initial purchase cost)? I'm after this info as part of a desktop study that a friend of mine is undertaking. I’ve said I’ll do my best to try and find him some information on the subject! Is it possible to fly this helicopter in England on a Public Transport C of A, and if not, can it be registered in America and flown over here in the public transport role?
Any information would be gratefully received!
Many thanks
Grob Driver
Can anyone please provide me with some information regarding Bell Huey’s? I’m particularly interested in knowing the operating costs, service intervals etc of this helicopter. Does anyone have a breakdown for the hourly rate (excluding the initial purchase cost)? I'm after this info as part of a desktop study that a friend of mine is undertaking. I’ve said I’ll do my best to try and find him some information on the subject! Is it possible to fly this helicopter in England on a Public Transport C of A, and if not, can it be registered in America and flown over here in the public transport role?
Any information would be gratefully received!
Many thanks
Grob Driver
Joined: Aug 2000
Aviation Qualifications: ATP+Mil
Posts: 1,629
Likes: 206
From: SW England
Grob,
I used to fly G-HUEY on behalf of Rob Tierney and the RAF Benevolent Fund, before those (insert suitable vehement epithet of your choice here...)s at IAT stitched him - and us - well-and-truly. You can forget operating the Bell 204/5 on a UK PT Certificate, the CAA blocked that back in the early days. Although I believe the reason given is that the aircraft has only one hydraulic system (which most of us could easily cope without for one landing), the real motive was probably to protect the European heli manufacturers from a mass dumping of surplus US Hueys after Vietnam. G-HUEY was operated on a restrictive Permit to Fly; Bristows very kindly undertook supervision of the engineering. Can't give you an answer on the N-reg thing.
I used to fly G-HUEY on behalf of Rob Tierney and the RAF Benevolent Fund, before those (insert suitable vehement epithet of your choice here...)s at IAT stitched him - and us - well-and-truly. You can forget operating the Bell 204/5 on a UK PT Certificate, the CAA blocked that back in the early days. Although I believe the reason given is that the aircraft has only one hydraulic system (which most of us could easily cope without for one landing), the real motive was probably to protect the European heli manufacturers from a mass dumping of surplus US Hueys after Vietnam. G-HUEY was operated on a restrictive Permit to Fly; Bristows very kindly undertook supervision of the engineering. Can't give you an answer on the N-reg thing.
Joined: May 2002
Aviation Qualifications: ATP+Mil
Posts: 18,633
Likes: 1,072
From: Downeast
Grob,
There is a Huey coming to the UK in the first part of the new year...it will not be used for public transport but will be on the Airshow circuit.
As to operating costs....lots of variables...in the USA...if the aircraft is a "commerical" built Standard Catagory aircraft the cost figures are much different than if the aircraft is a "military" built airframe being operated on a "Restricted" catagory. The differences in the catagory has a major effect upon the kinds of work the aircraft can do. Throw in the Public Use catagory (government operated aircraft) and the ex-military aircraft operating costs can vary yet again due to the regulations pertaining to the maintenance shedule that applies for the three different catagory of operation.
What should be a fairly straight forward question becomes complicated quickly when we look at the different catagory aircraft. Sources of parts, maintenance schedules, AD compliance, hull value of the airframe, acquisition costs of the airframe, residual value at time of sale at the end of ownership, insurance costs...all vary greatly.
A Commercial 205 can be had for about 2.5 Million USD....a surplus UH-1H....maybe 500,000 USD (depending upon condition, hours, logbooks, etc.) Parts costs...Bell has never been known to give away parts...and the surplus parts vary in price mainly due to availablility in the market. If you can perform overhauls at your own facility....costs are much cheaper for the surplus parts.
There is a Huey coming to the UK in the first part of the new year...it will not be used for public transport but will be on the Airshow circuit.
As to operating costs....lots of variables...in the USA...if the aircraft is a "commerical" built Standard Catagory aircraft the cost figures are much different than if the aircraft is a "military" built airframe being operated on a "Restricted" catagory. The differences in the catagory has a major effect upon the kinds of work the aircraft can do. Throw in the Public Use catagory (government operated aircraft) and the ex-military aircraft operating costs can vary yet again due to the regulations pertaining to the maintenance shedule that applies for the three different catagory of operation.
What should be a fairly straight forward question becomes complicated quickly when we look at the different catagory aircraft. Sources of parts, maintenance schedules, AD compliance, hull value of the airframe, acquisition costs of the airframe, residual value at time of sale at the end of ownership, insurance costs...all vary greatly.
A Commercial 205 can be had for about 2.5 Million USD....a surplus UH-1H....maybe 500,000 USD (depending upon condition, hours, logbooks, etc.) Parts costs...Bell has never been known to give away parts...and the surplus parts vary in price mainly due to availablility in the market. If you can perform overhauls at your own facility....costs are much cheaper for the surplus parts.
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 19
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From: Bedford, TX
Huey DOC to US Govt
Check this link to find US Military Operating Costs.
http://www.dod.mil/comptroller/rates/fy2003.html
It is interesting to note that US DOD published flying hour cost has not been updated since 2003!
The lowest number shown for UH-1H is $1400, but this includes the burden of logistics system (Supply and Depot) and crew cost.
Probable realistic figure for commercial operator would be $800-900 per hour.
When Bell makes Model 210 available next year with 212 dynamics and commercial TBO & Retirement double the Huey's it will likely be under $600.
http://www.dod.mil/comptroller/rates/fy2003.html
It is interesting to note that US DOD published flying hour cost has not been updated since 2003!
The lowest number shown for UH-1H is $1400, but this includes the burden of logistics system (Supply and Depot) and crew cost.
Probable realistic figure for commercial operator would be $800-900 per hour.
When Bell makes Model 210 available next year with 212 dynamics and commercial TBO & Retirement double the Huey's it will likely be under $600.
Joined: Sep 2002
Aviation Qualifications: CPL
Posts: 4,721
Likes: 636
From: Great South East, tired and retired
Steer clear of the rotten things - being ex-military, they are subject to different rules, and when the big-time users in the US discover yet another fault in some part of the system, you will be required to change yet another part.
Expect to throw away your expensive TT straps every 2 years regardless of condition. We are buying a new mast because of a tiny burr left behind in the spline cutting process. Just had an engine overhaul, checks on T/R cables etc.
This bird must cost us over $30,000 an hour to fly it (we don't do many hours) and although it is a hair-on-yer-chest man's helicopter to fly, it is a tragic waste of money if you were trying to run it commercially.
Don't expect to have passengers inside it, just loads underneath it. And fill in your RIN sheets carefully or your mast and trunnion will not see out their lives. Or yours.
Expect to throw away your expensive TT straps every 2 years regardless of condition. We are buying a new mast because of a tiny burr left behind in the spline cutting process. Just had an engine overhaul, checks on T/R cables etc.
This bird must cost us over $30,000 an hour to fly it (we don't do many hours) and although it is a hair-on-yer-chest man's helicopter to fly, it is a tragic waste of money if you were trying to run it commercially.
Don't expect to have passengers inside it, just loads underneath it. And fill in your RIN sheets carefully or your mast and trunnion will not see out their lives. Or yours.
Joined: Sep 2002
Aviation Qualifications: CPL
Posts: 4,721
Likes: 636
From: Great South East, tired and retired
SASless -
Not exactly broken down - follow the link to see a very-well-maintained Huey.
Just damnably expensive to operate.
Huey at Mascot
Not exactly broken down - follow the link to see a very-well-maintained Huey.
Just damnably expensive to operate.
Huey at Mascot
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 44
Likes: 0
From: Australia
Huey Decor
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 101
Likes: 0
From: somewhere over the rainbow...
Hueys
Hey
Does anyone know where you can buy Bell 204's/UH-1B's/UH-1C's?? I assume you can only get in the the USA, but does anyone know where? I heard that the FAA prohibited the sale of ex mil Hueys cos theyd beat the pants off most civil helicopters (after the Vietnam war).
Cheers for any info
Eoin
Does anyone know where you can buy Bell 204's/UH-1B's/UH-1C's?? I assume you can only get in the the USA, but does anyone know where? I heard that the FAA prohibited the sale of ex mil Hueys cos theyd beat the pants off most civil helicopters (after the Vietnam war).
Cheers for any info
Eoin
Joined: Jul 2002
Aviation Qualifications: ATPL(H)
Posts: 3,052
Likes: 56
From: UK
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 512
Likes: 0
From: Texas
The FAA can't prevent the sale of anything. That's not in the agency's job description. It can, however, permit an aircraft to be licensed or not. The problem is that the UH1 was built as a military machine, and is not certified as a civil aircraft, and has never been maintained IAW FAA regulations. It is possible to buy them, and Garlick has done some conversions, but they are limited to the restricted category, such as logging, and can't be used to carry passengers commercially. A number of UH1 and OH58 aircraft have been given to local police departments and other government entities, and these can be used, because the FAA can't regulate public use aircraft. They don't have to be licensed, maintained, nor do the pilots have to be licensed. Most are operated IAW FAA regulations, but it's voluntary, not legislated.
Last edited by GLSNightPilot; 6th April 2005 at 22:48.
Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 370
Likes: 0
From: 3 Degrees North
You could try Erickson Air Crane in Oregon,US, as they use the B205's as support ships for the Air Crane. The aircrafts are classified as airwork as mentioned earlier and carry crew and equipment relevant to the operations.
Cheers
WLM
Cheers
WLM