By John C. Milliman
PMA-276 Public Affairs

NAVAIR PATUXENT RIVER, MD - The latest version of the Marine Corps' venerable UH-1 Huey utility helicopter, the UH-1Y, made its first flight here July 3.

With Marine Maj. Jeff Greenwood and Bell Helicopter test pilot Gregg Shimp at the controls, "Yankee One" made a 30-minute flight to check rotor track and balance and to check out instrumentation, according to Robin Locksley, H-1 Integrated Test Team Lead.

Yankee One's first flight at Pax follows an extensive modification period after its last flight at the Bell Helicopter flight test facility in Texas and relocation here, Locksley said. The helicopter now has 52.9 flight hours under its belt.

The first of two UH-1Y prototypes here, Yankee One joins Zulu One, the first of three AH-1Zs here for flight testing, in testing the advancements being made to the Corps' utility and attack helicopter fleet.

H-1 Upgrade Program is upgrading the Marine Corps' aging fleet of combat utility and attack helicopters by remanufacturing UH-1N Hueys and AH-1W Super Cobras to share a common drive train, rotor head, tail boom, avionics, software and controls for 84 percent commonality between the two aircraft.

Over the 30-year expected lifespan of the aircraft, this commonality is projected to save the Marine Corps approximately $3 Billion in operating and support costs.

And because of the Marines' unique expeditionary nature, this commonality will also reduce the logistical "foot print" of Marine light attack helicopter squadrons, or HMLA's, that operate both aircraft. The common features of the aircraft mean less spare parts will be required to be kept on hand, training for aircrew and maintainers will be simpler and deployments will be easier.

The UH-1 "Huey" has been in service since 1956. With more than 16,000 produced by Bell and its foreign licensees, in more than 35 variants for the U.S. Department of Defense, foreign military sales and civilian users, it is the most successful military helicopter ever built.

The Corps' current Huey fleet, the UH-1N, is expected to exceed its planned service life of 10,000 hours in FY04. Designed in the 1960's and fielded in the 1970's, the current fleet has never had a service life extension or major upgrade.

While not as "experienced" as the Huey, the Corps' current fleet of Super Cobras is also showing its age and is facing increasing challenges on the 21st Century battlefield. The upgrades being made to both aircraft, in addition to making them easier to field and maintain, will also make them easier to fly, faster, more capable and more survivable.

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CUTLINES

hover.jpg - Marine Maj. Jeff Greenwood and Bell test pilot Gregg Shimp ease Yankee One into the air July 3 for the first flight of a UH-1Y "Huey" at Pax. The 30-minute flight, the aircraft's first since undergoing extensive modification in Texas, consisted of checking the rotor system's track and balance, and the instrumentation. Photo by Paul Davidovich.

aircrew.jpg - Following a successful first flight here of the Marine Corps' newest utility helicopter, the UH-1Y-1 "Huey," Marine Maj. Jeff Greenwood (left) and Bell test pilot Gregg Shimp (right) head to a debrief in Hangar 109. Yankee One (in the background) made its first flight at Pax July 3 to check rotor track and balance, and instrumentation, prior to resuming flight testing. Two UH-1Y's and three AH-1Z's are now here for flight testing. Photo by Paul Davidovich.