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The Great, Constantly Changing Picture Gallery, Troisième partie: la vengeance!

ChuckMK23

ChuckMK23

FERS and TSP contributor!
pilot
wink said:
This one lives in the AirBase AZ CAF museum. It was way too far gone to ever fly again. But it looks like it did when it rolled out of the factory. Our flying UH-1H had been sitting for 12 years but was in great shape. Hardly took a year to go through it.
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B or C model? Is this period correct for the era as far as armament?
 
Griz882

Griz882

Frightening children with the Griz-O-Copter!
pilot
Contributor
ChuckMK23 said:
B or C model? Is this period correct for the era as far as armament?
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That’s a C model. They tended to do most of the gunship duties. The M5 subsystem (a 40mm grenade launcher) is not typical but was certainly used. The rocket system is pretty typical but I’d say the M2 mounted by the gunner’s seat would be a novel addition to a typical VN era gunship. @wink is it painted up as a 282nd Assault Company ship? At one time their motto was “Slicks are for kids…With Balls.”
 
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Gatordev

Gatordev

Well-Known Member
pilot
Site Admin
Contributor
wink said:
My restoration team did pretty well with a hulk. Last duty was LA NG. Actually had sea shells hornets nest and sand in it. Corrosion everywhere. More than 75% of fasteners had to be drilled out. Don't underestimate a bunch of old retired military folks.
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That's my point, though. Why aren't the fish eyes on there if they sourced the fairings for it? It's very possible the F didn't actually have them, just the cutouts, but given how good everything else looks (including the mismatched ALE-39, which adds a nice touch of authenticity), I'm surprised the fish eyes aren't there (even if they had to be fabricated).
 
wink

wink

War Hoover NFO.
None
Super Moderator
Contributor
Griz882 said:
That’s a C model. They tended to do most of the gunship duties. The M5 subsystem (a 40mm grenade launcher) is not typical but was certainly used. The rocket system is pretty typical but I’d say the M2 mounted by the gunner’s seat would be a novel addition to a typical VN era gunship. @wink is it painted up as a 282nd Assault Company ship? At one time their motto was “Slicks are for kids…With Balls.”
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Yes, the aircraft served with the 282nd AHC in Vietnam. Third platoon, the Huey Gunships and Cobras, used the Alley Cat call sign. Slicks used Black Cat. It is a B model. A gunship from the start. The Cs had a bigger motor and upgraded rotor and blades. As I recall, this aircraft has the Charlie rotor, which may have been what made you think Charlie. At the time we didn't have the proper rotor for a Bravo and there was much discussion about whether to present it as a B or C. We finally opted to present it as a B since that is what it was manufactured as and how it flew in Vietnam. We now have the proper rotor but do not want to haul it out of the museum and conduct surgery on it. What makes this aircraft stand out are the sights. We have the original optical sights for both rockets and grenade launcher. They are a hard find due to their fragility.

The armament load out is a bit heavy for a Bravo with chunker ( nose grenade launcher). But they did fly in a variation of this called "Heavy Hog." The M-2 in the door was a thing, but mostly it was M-60s in each door. We sport a M-60 in the port door. The pictured mount for the M-2 is a "local fabrication" that was said to be similar to some "field mods" made in country. We now have the proper M-2 mount in that door. It is incredible the variations of weapons used on Hueys during Vietnam. Some were one offs, a hair brained idea of some CWO3 that were never approved or seen outside one unit, and others were official, but hair brained none the less.

Our history is good. We have all the records for the aircraft, including combat damage and personnel casualties. Think the Army calls it The Gold Book.

282nd-assault-helicopter-company.jpgslicks.jpg


We have guys in the chapter that flew as crew chiefs and gunners. Some on gunships others slicks. Universally, the aircrew that flew guns say the slick crews had the real balls. None of the gunship gunners relished having to sub out on a slick.
 
Griz882

Griz882

Frightening children with the Griz-O-Copter!
pilot
Contributor
wink said:
Yes, the aircraft served with the 282nd AHC in Vietnam. Third platoon, the Huey Gunships and Cobras, used the Alley Cat call sign. Slicks used Black Cat. It is a B model. A gunship from the start. The Cs had a bigger motor and upgraded rotor and blades. As I recall, this aircraft has the Charlie rotor, which may have been what made you think Charlie. At the time we didn't have the proper rotor for a Bravo and there was much discussion about whether to present it as a B or C. We finally opted to present it as a B since that is what it was manufactured as and how it flew in Vietnam. We now have the proper rotor but do not want to haul it out of the museum and conduct surgery on it. What makes this aircraft stand out are the sights. We have the original optical sights for both rockets and grenade launcher. They are a hard find due to their fragility.

The armament load out is a bit heavy for a Bravo with chunker ( nose grenade launcher). But they did fly in a variation of this called "Heavy Hog." The M-2 in the door was a thing, but mostly it was M-60s in each door. We sport a M-60 in the port door. The pictured mount for the M-2 is a "local fabrication" that was said to be similar to some "field mods" made in country. We now have the proper M-2 mount in that door. It is incredible the variations of weapons used on Hueys during Vietnam. Some were one offs, a hair brained idea of some CWO3 that were never approved or seen outside one unit, and others were official, but hair brained none the less.

Our history is good. We have all the records for the aircraft, including combat damage and personnel casualties. Think the Army calls it The Gold Book.

View attachment 35286View attachment 35287


We have guys in the chapter that flew as crew chiefs and gunners. Some on gunships others slicks. Universally, the aircrew that flew guns say the slick crews had the real balls. None of the gunship gunners relished having to sub out on a slick.
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Fantastic…you guys do great work.
 
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