For an overview of the whole Huey family of aircraft see Bell Huey family
The Bell UH-1Y Venom is a twin-engine medium size utility helicopter, part of the United
States Marine Corps' H-1 upgrade program. The helicopter is also called Yankee for its
variant letter, Y. The UH-1Y is currently in full-rate production
to replace the USMC's aging fleet of UH-1N Twin Huey light utility helicopters first
introduced in the early 1970s. 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.
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 tail boom, engines, rotor system,
drive train, 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 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 the Marine Corps aviation in Iraq.
The Huey has many mission requirements including command and control, escort, reconnaissance,
troop transport, medical evacuation and close air support. Typically detachments of 2–4
Hueys have been deployed with detachments of 4–8 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. As of September 2009,
the UH-1Y is in full-rate production, with the Marine Corps expected to have 21 by the
end of the year. The Marine Corps plans to eventually buy 160 of the Y-models to replace
their inventory of N-models, with aircraft deliveries to be completed by 2016.
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 insert just forward of the
main door has been installed for more capacity. The UH-1Y features upgraded engines and transmission,
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 almost 125% increased payload, almost
50% greater range, a reduction in vibration, and higher cruise speed.
The Lockheed Martin target sight system incorporates a third-generation forward looking infrared
sensor. The TSS provides target sighting in day, night or adverse weather conditions.
The system has various view modes and can track with FLIR or by TV. It is also used
on the Bell AH-1Z Viper and the KC-130J Harvest HAWK.
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 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 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.
Operators United States
United States Marine Corps - 54 UH-1Ys in service as of January 2014
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 including up to 10 crashworthy
passenger seats, 6 litters or equivalent cargo Length: 58 ft 4 in
Rotor diameter: 48 ft 10 in Height: 14 ft 7 in
Disc area: 1,808 ft² Empty weight: 11,840 lb
Useful load: 6,660 lb Max. takeoff weight: 18,500 lb
Powerplant: 2 × General Electric T700-GE-401C turboshaft, 1,828 shp for 2.5 min; 1,546 shp
continuous each Performance
Never exceed speed: 198 kn Maximum speed: 164 knots for 30 minutes
Cruise speed: 158 kt, 182 mph, 293 km/h: 135 kn, 155 mph, 250 km/h)
Combat radius: 130 nmi with 2,182 lb, 990 kg payload
Endurance: 3.3 hr Service ceiling: 20,000+ ft
Rate of climb: 2,520 ft/min Armament
2 external stations for 70 mm Hydra 70 or APKWS II rockets
2 pintle mounts for 7.62 mm M240D machine guns, .50 BMG GAU-16/A machine guns, or 7.62
mm 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 US Navy RDA site
UH-1Y Venom page on BellHelicopter.com UH-1Y Venom page on GlobalSecurity.org
"US Navy proposes more UH-1Ys, AH-1Zs despite test phase setback", Flight International,
22 August 2008.