Anyone flown (or fly) the Huey?
Joined: Jul 2001
Posts: 1,084
Likes: 1
From: the cockpit
Thanks Bronx. great shot.
The aircraft will probably never be retired despite several consiencious attempts by the Oz Defence Forces (ADF) - but the role will be retired. There will be no offensive helo now until the Tiger introduction. The minis have found another home in the ADF but the rocket pods will have to find a home on the nearest museum wall.
The aircraft will probably never be retired despite several consiencious attempts by the Oz Defence Forces (ADF) - but the role will be retired. There will be no offensive helo now until the Tiger introduction. The minis have found another home in the ADF but the rocket pods will have to find a home on the nearest museum wall.
Joined: Oct 2001
Posts: 764
Likes: 0
From: 48 Deg South
Bronx - Got some awesome shots today of that aircraft you posted above. It was number two in our formation. Once I get home and get them developed will post a few here.
Regards
Ned
P.S. Many thanks to Helmet Fire for setting the visit and flights up.
P.P.S Channel 7 didnt end up sending their helo, just sent a ground crew. Glad we didnt go with that option.
Regards
Ned
P.S. Many thanks to Helmet Fire for setting the visit and flights up.
P.P.S Channel 7 didnt end up sending their helo, just sent a ground crew. Glad we didnt go with that option.
on tv tonight
Joined: Jul 2001
Posts: 1,084
Likes: 1
From: the cockpit
Well, it's all over now.
The Huey Funship has been retired. I still have a hangover. The retirement night was great. Ascend, Arm OTW, and many others, were missed, but it was hard to catch up with those who did get there.
Of course we solved the world's gunship problems, invented new and diverse roles for the Huey gunship, and began every sentance with "There I was.......".
But I did get to speak at length with Brian Dirou (sp?) who put together the Aussie version of the Huey gunship in Vietnam. It was very intresting to hear so much about the thought processes behind the selection of it's configuration in preference to selection of the G model Cobra, dispelling the old Aussie legend that our Cobra order was cancelled by the Whitlam Government when it came to power.
And of course there was the rugby result to be celebrated.
A BIG thanks to Autorotate who, at his own cost, siezed the opportunity of photographing the aircraft despite the Defence PR machine not having invited the world's premier helicopter photographer. He flew from NZ to Brisbane in the morning, drove to Oakey (2.5 hours NOT 1.5 hours as I had told him - sorry!) completed the shoot, jumped in the car again and drove back to Brisbane, caught a plane to Sydney, for an overnight, then on to NZ at a sparrow fart on the next day. So when you see those photos, you will know to what lengths he went to in order to help preserve the history of our industry.
THANKS.
The Huey Funship has been retired. I still have a hangover. The retirement night was great. Ascend, Arm OTW, and many others, were missed, but it was hard to catch up with those who did get there.
Of course we solved the world's gunship problems, invented new and diverse roles for the Huey gunship, and began every sentance with "There I was.......".
But I did get to speak at length with Brian Dirou (sp?) who put together the Aussie version of the Huey gunship in Vietnam. It was very intresting to hear so much about the thought processes behind the selection of it's configuration in preference to selection of the G model Cobra, dispelling the old Aussie legend that our Cobra order was cancelled by the Whitlam Government when it came to power.
And of course there was the rugby result to be celebrated.
A BIG thanks to Autorotate who, at his own cost, siezed the opportunity of photographing the aircraft despite the Defence PR machine not having invited the world's premier helicopter photographer. He flew from NZ to Brisbane in the morning, drove to Oakey (2.5 hours NOT 1.5 hours as I had told him - sorry!) completed the shoot, jumped in the car again and drove back to Brisbane, caught a plane to Sydney, for an overnight, then on to NZ at a sparrow fart on the next day. So when you see those photos, you will know to what lengths he went to in order to help preserve the history of our industry.
THANKS.
Joined: Aug 2002
Posts: 240
Likes: 0
From: Australia
Earlier in the posts the EMU's were mentioned and I guess that a lot of you already knew about the RAAF's 9 Squadron involvment in Vietnam but the Royal Australian Navy's 723 Squadron's role with the conflict little is known. So crank up the speakers (and the central heating) and learn a little about the 135th / RAN helicopter flight Veitnam... the EMU's.
http://www.emuinc.org/
also are included are some other links to US Army Flights but the Bushpigs motto has got to be the best one ever..
http://www.emuinc.org/
also are included are some other links to US Army Flights but the Bushpigs motto has got to be the best one ever..
Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 153
Likes: 5
From: Sydney, Oz.
great pics Ned.
ya lucky bugger.. it looked like fun
Glad you got over here to capture the gunships, the official ADF photos were a little sparse.
Thanks for capturing a piece of our history.
and thanks Helmet Fire for setting it up.
ya lucky bugger.. it looked like fun
Glad you got over here to capture the gunships, the official ADF photos were a little sparse.
Thanks for capturing a piece of our history.
and thanks Helmet Fire for setting it up.
Joined: Aug 2002
Posts: 240
Likes: 0
From: Australia
....sorry about the typo.. it should read The Razor Backs of the 120th AHC. Now that you would have to agree is one of the best patches to come out of Veitnam.
http://www.angelfire.com/az3/razorback947/page8.html
http://www.angelfire.com/az3/razorback947/page8.html
Joined: Jul 2001
Posts: 1,084
Likes: 1
From: the cockpit
Those pics Autorotate took are the best pics I have ever seen of the Huey Funship. I seriously reckon that Defence PR should buy them from Autorotate for both the Archives and for the sake of the aviation museum.
Absolutely outstanding. Thanks.
Absolutely outstanding. Thanks.
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 31
Likes: 0
From: Gloucestershire
Looking for Huey blade video
I heard today that the US army (I think) fastned a camera to a Huey hub and videoed the blade in flight showing the amount of bending and flapping that occurs during flight. Has anyone seen it or does anyone know how I could get hold of it at all?
Thanks
Thanks
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 62
Likes: 0
From: Melbourne, Australia
Westlands also had one looking along a blade on an EH-101 (PP3). You used to be able to select it for viewing on the instrumentation monitor, a bit of a weird thing to watch.
Not sure if anyone ever digitised a recording of it.
Not sure if anyone ever digitised a recording of it.
Iconoclast
Joined: Sep 2000
Posts: 2,132
Likes: 0
From: The home of Dudley Dooright-Where the lead dog is the only one that gets a change of scenery.
History rep[eats itself and it is deja vu all over again.
Sikorsky first tried the camera on the rotorhead. The camera was mounted on an S-51 rotorhead, which was attached to a whirl stand. The pictures showed the sinusoidal traveling wave on the blade but it also provided some unexpected data. When they introduced cyclic control they discovered that the advancing blade led and the retreating blade lagged. Up until that time it was assumed the opposite was true.
It is my understanding that when some helicopter pilots saw the film they refused to fly helicopters.
It is my understanding that when some helicopter pilots saw the film they refused to fly helicopters.
