UH-1B Iroquois

The Bell Helicopter UH-1 Iroquois became one of the most iconic aircraft in military history. Developed in 1952 to meet the Army's requirement for a medical evacuation and utility helicopter, it was powered by a single turboshaft engine with a two-bladed main rotor and tail rotor, first flew on October 20, 1956, and entered production in March 1960 as the first turbine-powered aircraft to do so for the United States military. Over more than 35 years of service, the Iroquois went through 13 variations and more than 16,000 Hueys were built worldwide. The HU-1B was an early version whose "HU" designation gave rise to the nickname "Huey," which endured after the designation changed to "UH" in 1962. Powered by a Lycoming T-53-L-11, 1,100 shp engine, the B-model entered Army service in March 1961, and 1,014 were delivered through December 1965. The first UH-1Bs, eight gunships and 17 lightly armed transports, arrived in South Vietnam in May 1963 to support South Vietnamese forces, and by the end of the war the Huey had become a symbol of the Vietnam War and had redefined helicopter warfare. This UH-1B, tail number 61-788, was one of three U.S. Army helicopters to make the first rotary wing flight to the South Geographic Pole in Antarctica, landing there on February 4, 1963, during Operation Deep Freeze. Assigned to the U.S. Army Aviation Detachment, Antarctic Support at Fort Eustis, then called Task Detachment #3, it later returned with 61-789 and 61-803 and was displayed at the New York World's Fair. It is the only remaining aircraft of the three that first flew at the South Pole.

Newport News, Virginia · United States