View Full Version : That magnificent flying machine--the HUEY
http://www.justhelicopters.tv/Play/TabId/267/VideoId/201/Homage-To-Huey.aspx
I have met and come to know the "HUEY" in many forms and venues. I have parachuted and rappelled from the Huey. I have ridden one into a forbidden country in the dead of night and when I was out and it departed, the sound of its rotors fading in the distance was the most lonely sound in the world. But when it returned from my extraction (twenty some days later) it was the most welcome sound I ever heard. I have ridden it into hot LZs and have been extracted from even hotter LZs on that magnificent bird. I have been med-evaced on it and even taken joy-rides on it. I have crashed in one (during an extraction from a very hot LZ) and have the bracelet made from the drive chain of the tail rotor to prove it. ( It is given in a ceremony to those who survive helicopter crashes) I have been extracted from tree tops underneath it--that is truly a thrill, hanging in a harness while it fly away in the confusion and gunfire below. I have shared an adult beverage or two with its crew members after missions and I was always quick to concede that their balls were much bigger and brassier than my own.
I could go on and on but you get the message, I am sure.
CPTAUSRET
09-05-2010, 17:38
Nice remembrance. Great aircraft!
dr. mabuse
09-05-2010, 18:16
Excellent post sir. :D
I, too have fond memories of the "HUEY". I remember most of the things that you remember and I also remember riding a "McGuire Rig" from the bush west of Song Be to the air strip in Song Be.
As an aside, We gave the "slick" pilots training on the McGuire Rig so that they would know what to be aware of when they pulled a team out of a hot spot. The "gunship" pilots all stood around and joked about the slick pilots being made to take that training. One individual in particular, a major who commanded a gunship, said that you wouldn't catch him at the end of a string "like a yoyo".
The next evening as one SF team was being pulled from a hot LZ, the major's gunship crashed into the Nui Ba Ra mountain side into triple canopy jungle. It
was too dark to mount a rescue, so the major and his crew were stuck on Nui Ba Ra until 1st light. A slick passed over the gunship at 1st light and radioed back to Song Be that the jungle was too thick to get a chopper in.
It was decided that McGuire rigs were the only answer. The major was informed of the decision and two choppers rigged with McGuire Rigs were dispatched.
As the 1st slick hovered and lowered its ropes, the copilot and two crew member got into the harnesses and linke arms with the outside men extending their outer arms to stabilize themselves as they "flew" through the air.
The second slick dropped his harnesses and the major climbed in. It lifted out of the jungle, and the major, who had no one else to link arms with and no way to hold both of his outside arms, oscillated the entire way back to Song Be. He threw up the entire way and when he finally got to the ground, he dry heaved for 15 minutes. Our SGM leaned over him and said, "you won't get me at the end of a string like a yoyo, SIR!"
Ambush Master
09-05-2010, 19:15
Very interesting @ 2:57 (prox) it went sub-aquatic!! Never seen a Huey down there!!:D
I did get drug out of, AND INSERTED INTO, several TIGHT SPOTS by them, and will NEVER refuse a RIDE!!!!!! As I have said in here before, I owe MY LIFE to the Air Crews that supported us!!!
Check this out!!
Read through the dialog of the thread, then................Put on a Headset/Ear-buds and in a DARK ROOM, listen to this recording several times!!!
http://www.professionalsoldiers.com/forums/showthread.php?t=15653
I knew/know all of the voices that you will hear!! My voice has been in place of their's MANY TIMES!!
There is NO JUSTICE LIKE HOT JUSTICE!!!
Take care
Martin
Team Sergeant
09-05-2010, 20:18
I loved the HUEY also, (anything beats walking;)) but was very glad to see the arrival of the BLACKHAWK in the 80's! :D
My first experience with the Huey, was when I was in the 8th grade, summer. BLM rented a Huey to assist with wild Mustang round-ups. I got a ride, flying low to the ground in narrow canyons. The pilot, the real deal, AirMobile/Medivac pilot from Vietnam. Needless to say, I was hooked.
It was this same pilot that said, "Helicopters fly because they are so ugly the earth repels them." I thought the bird looked cool.
For those who have fond memories of the Huey, you may want to watch this documentary if you get the chance or purchase the DVD.
http://www.intheshadowoftheblade.com/
The Journey
In The Shadow of The Blade follows the 10,000-mile flight of a restored, battle-scarred UH-1 “Huey” helicopter across America to hear the untold stories of the soldiers who once relied on it for survival and of the families who waited for them to come home. Landing in backyards and farmyards, the war’s symbol became a catalyst for healing as soldiers and citizens came to pay tribute to their shared experience and to the war’s fallen.
Moments captured by the filmmakers as they traveled from the ocean across the plains to the mountains include a Native American blessing of the aircraft, the reunion of a Vietnam War nurse and a Vietnamese woman she helped save 34 years before, an infantryman’s delivery of a message that haunted him for three decades, a door gunner’s meeting with the man he’d helped save, and the army’s highest-ranking prisoner of war’s reunion with the machine that took him “to a very bad place.” Hundreds of veterans from all branches of service rode in the aircraft and shared their stories. By mission’s end at the Vietnam Veterans Memorial and Chapel in Angel Fire, New Mexico, the evocative healing power of In The Shadow of The Blade had been described as “the most important thing to happen to Vietnam veterans since the dedication of The Wall.”
Commentary by General Hal Moore and combat journalist Joe Galloway, co-authors of the best-selling We Were Soldiers Once…And Young, fine-toothed verification of story accuracy and the unfiltered stories of combat veterans deliver what the Library of Congress Veteran Forum describes as “a gold standard for accuracy, insuring that the real experience, as opposed to the Hollywood cliché, is documented for posterity.”
In The Shadow of The Blade has been endorsed by major veteran organizations including the Vietnam Veterans of America, the Vietnam Helicopter Pilots Association, the Vietnam Helicopter Crew Members Association, the DUSTOFF Association and several smaller organizations. It received Best Documentary and Best of Show in the WorldFest Houston International Film Festival in 2004. The aircraft used in the film and three clips are part of a permanent exhibit in the Smithsonian’s history museum.
That sound,, you never forget the sound of the blades. :)
My 1st ride from Tay Ninh airfield out to LZ Jamie, North-East of Núi Bà Đen, In Dec 69, Young 2nd Lt, Very apprehensive, A little scared. Loaded up with a pile of field gear. I get to sit on the floor behind the pilot and hanging out the door,, The chopper is loaded including two Donut Dolly's. I couldn't understand how they could be sleeping?? I later found out they were hung over from the prior nites partying. Turned around a got a quick pic with my little PEN EE..
Six months later, I was on a chopper out of Cambodia, laying on a stretcher, I could not understand why with the mid-day temps in the 90t'y, humidity +80%,, Why I was so cold,, I was shivering, all I heard were the blades..
Next thing I knew it was about 3AM and this nurse was taking my temp, telling me everything was OK..
From BANG to the MASH OR in less than an hour.
I love Huey's..
:)
Noslack71
09-06-2010, 06:20
The HUEY was the sound track of my youth.
Noslack
Interesting song that is part of the documentary I mentioned above. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AfHE6j_eC3U
Interesting song that is part of the documentary I mentioned above. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AfHE6j_eC3U
No - not Interesting - that is an Awesome song.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AfHE6j_eC3U
Great Video and Song.. :lifter
Thanks..
greenberetTFS
09-07-2010, 05:39
Great Video and Song.. :lifter
Thanks..
Absolutely concur...............:):)
Big Teddy :munchin
mojaveman
09-07-2010, 08:16
Huey - the icon of the Vietnam War...
Utah Bob
09-08-2010, 08:33
Nothing sends me down memory lane (and out into the yard) more than hearing the pop pop pop of a Huey's blades in the distance.
Small teardrop here.
Utah Bob
09-08-2010, 08:38
That sound,, you never forget the sound of the blades. :)
My 1st ride from Tay Ninh airfield out to LZ Jamie, North-East of Núi Bà Đen, In Dec 69, Young 2nd Lt, Very apprehensive,
:)
I took that ride! I was even more apprehensive when I met Col Hannas!:D
To all the Blackhawk drivers and lovers, when the last Hawk is retired the crew will be picked up by a UH1H crew.
Delta6
SouthernDZ
09-17-2010, 04:58
I crewed Hueys when I first came in (1977). One of my favorite memories is the left seat running the checklist for a new "wobbly one" who was obviously operating on autopilot. You'd hear, "Landing gear down and welded" followed by "Roger, landing gear....huh?" :D I sometimes miss skids.
My better half flew medevac Hueys for 15 years. One day a young specialist saw her wings and asked her if she flew Blackhawks, she said no, Hueys. He responded with, "What's a Huey?" She said she never felt old till that day. :rolleyes:
drymartini66
09-17-2010, 14:54
Huey - the icon of the Vietnam War...
While deployed last year, we had the Huey gunships that were flown by the Marines right next door to us on the airfiled. When we would walk out to the flight line and hear and see them power up, it was like watching the movies. I was always intrigued by them and that sound was listening to history. :munchin
While deployed last year, we had the Huey gunships that were flown by the Marines right next door to us on the airfiled.
UH-1Y Super Huey's?
If there is a gawd, he will send a Huey when our mission is completed to pull us out on strings and lift us to that great A Camp in the sky. ;)
Richard :munchin
drymartini66
09-17-2010, 15:54
UH-1Y Super Huey's?
If there is a gawd, he will send a Huey when our mission is completed to pull us out on strings and lift us to that great A Camp in the sky. ;)
Richard :munchin
November models. They had Super Cobras there as well. Since we were Chinooks ourselves and had EA-6s across the airfiled, you could say that we had a regular Smithsonian Museum Air Force there. Hehe:D
ian0341fo
09-26-2010, 22:13
Just to let you know, they are still very much alive and kicking. Just spent the day fast roping out of some -Y models last Thursday. Due to the larger transmission and avionics we could only fit 6 in the cabin, but that was with two crewman. Fast roping off the skids was something new. Also, I can't even hang my leg out of the back of a hummer, but apparently sitting with my legs out the door of a Huey while ratchet strapped in is a-ok! I will put some pictures up soon, got another bird on Tuesday.
This has been around among aviators for awhile. Was re-written by one of the CCS, 195th AHC pilots. Hope it makes you laugh.
ORIGIN OF THE WORD "AVIATOR"
This explains it all. Aviators come from a long line of a secret society, formed around one thousand years ago. They are warriors, and here is the proof! Ground pounders can read it and weep!
A little known fact is the origin of the word, "Aviator." In the immortal words of Johnny Carson: "I did not know that."
Phu Khen (pronounced Foo Ken) 1169-? is considered by some to be the most under-recognized military officer in history. Many have never heard of his contributions to modern military warfare. The mission of this secret society is to bring honor to the name of Phu Khen.
A 'Khen' was a subordinate to a 'Khan' (pronounced 'konn') in the military structure of the Mongol hordes. Khan is Turkish for leader. Most know of the great Genghis Khan, but little has been written of his chain of command.
Khen is also of Turkish origin. Although there is not a word in English that adequately conveys the meaning. Roughly translated, it means, "One who will do the impossible, while appearing unprepared and complaining constantly."
Phu Khen was one of ten Khens that headed the divisions, or groups of hordes, as they were known, of the Mongol Army serving under Genghis Khan. His abilities came to light during the Mongols' raids on the Turkistan city of Bohicaroo. Bohicans were fierce warriors and the city
was well fortified. The entire city was protected by huge walls and the hordes were at a standoff with the Bohicans. Bohicaroo was well-stocked and it would be difficult to wait them out. Genghis Khan assembled his Khens and ordered each of them to develop a plan for penetrating the defenses of Bohicaroo.
Operation Achieve Victory (AV) was born. All 10 divisions of Khens submitted their plan. After reviewing AV plans 1 thru 7 and finding them all unworkable or ridiculous, Genghis Khan was understandably upset.
It was with much perspiration that Phu Khen submitted his idea, which came to be known as
AV 8. Upon seeing AV 8, Genghis was convinced this was the perfect plan and gave his immediate approval. The plan was beautifully simple. Phu Khen would arm his hordes to the teeth, load them into catapults, and hurl them over the wall. The losses were expected to be high, but hey, hordes were cheap! Those that survived the flight would engage the enemy in combat. Those that did not? Well, surely their flailing bodies would cause some damage.
The plan worked and the Bohicans were defeated. From that day on,whenever the Mongol Army encountered an insurmountable enemy, Genghis Khan would give the order, "Send some of the Phu Khen AV 8-ers."
This is believed, though not by anyone outside our secret society, to be the true origin of the word Aviator (AV 8-er).
Phu Khen's AV 8-ers were understandably an unruly mob, not likely to be socially acceptable. Many were heavy drinkers and insomniacs. But when nothing else would do, you could always count on an AV 8-er. A Phu Khen Aviator. Denied, perhaps rightfully so, his place in history, Phu Khen has been, nonetheless, immortalized in prose.
As the great poet Norman Lear never once said:
"There once was a man named Phu Khen,
Whose breakfast was whiskey and gin.
When e'er he'd fly, he'd give a mighty war cry:
Bend over, here it comes again."
Consider it an honor to be a Phu Khen Aviator. Wear the mantle proudly, but speak of it cautiously. It is not always popular to be one of us.
You hear mystical references, often hushed whispers, to 'those Phu Khen Aviators.' Do not let these things bother you. As with any secret society, we go largely misunderstood, prohibited by our apathy from explaining ourselves.
You are expected to always live down to the reputation of the Phu Khen Aviator... a reputation cultivated for centuries, undaunted by scorn or ridicule, unhindered by progress. So drink up, be crude, sleep late, urinate in public, and get the job done.
When others are offended, you can revel in the knowledge that YOU are a PHU KHEN AVIATOR!
greentick
02-01-2011, 17:08
There is something magical about helos in action - taking off, flying, landing etc.
I always describe riding in a Huey like riding in a washing machine.
Chinook: 2 washing machines chained together.
mojaveman
02-01-2011, 17:29
UH-1H jumps were always a lot more fun than jumping from the higher performance aircraft.
There was also something nostalgic about flying in the aircraft that was the workhorse of the Viet Nam War. I always enjoyed sitting near the door with the wind in my face...
Saturation
02-01-2011, 20:10
Thought this may be of interest-
Project 425 is aimed to encourage patriotism in youth. Veterans bring a restored UH1H to school children to share the history and provide details of they Huey.
The website is bare-bones but glad to hear about their efforts!
Dozer523
02-01-2011, 22:59
ORIGIN OF THE WORD "AVIATOR" Yoo ken stay.:D
Nothing sends me down memory lane (and out into the yard) more than hearing the pop pop pop of a Huey's blades in the distance.
Small teardrop here.
Amen Bob,
My first Army hard-on was an ARTEP with the 3/325, after 5 days of airfield siezures, breaking out of encirclements, and little to no sleep, our BN EXIL on UH1s. I'm sure I was hallucinating but, it was the nearest thing to nirvana I've known.....
OK........streaching a bit perhaps but.......my first ARMY HARD-ON for sure, and I also run outdoors when I hear the pop pop pop.
:cool:....jd
greenberetTFS
02-02-2011, 02:48
That sound,, you never forget the sound of the blades. /quote/JJ_BPK
That's all that needs to be said!..............;)
Big Teddy :munchin
Buddy of mine in aviation (and a damn good man) still flying for the Home Team
in Super Hueys. I have no idea about what upgrades happened but he swears by them.
And yeah, I loved them as well.
I live in the country, but for some reason - I get lots of helicopter traffic to see and hear - but rarely ever do I get to hear that Whop Whop Whop anymore - it is usually just a buzzsaw sound that is hardly worth a look.
One more thing - could not find this posted elsewhere here, but if it is - it does not hurt to post it again. The official, unofficial Poem of Army Aviation.
LOW FLIGHT
Oh, I've slipped the surly bonds of earth
And hovered out of ground effect on semi-rigid blades;
Earthward I've auto'ed and met the rising brush of non-paved terrain
And done a thousand things you would never care to
Skidded and dropped and flared
Low in the heat soaked roar.
Confined there, I've chased the earthbound traffic
And lost the race to insignificant headwinds;
Forward and up a little in ground effect
I've topped the General's hedge with drooping turns
Where never Skyhawk or even Phantom flew.
Shaking and pulling collective,
I've lumbered The low untresspassed halls of victor airways,
Put out my hand and touched a tree.
—Anonymous