FLUG REVUE Datafiles: Bell UH-1Y (UH-1(4B)N)

Bell UH-1Y

(Also known as UH-1(4B)N)

Type
Military transport helicopter (Militärischer Transporthubschrauber)

Country (Land)
USA

Manufacturer (Hersteller)
Bell Helicopter Textron
PO Box 482
Fort Worth, Texas 76101
USA

Phone: 001-817/280-8415
Fax: 001-817/280-8221

General (Allgemeine Angaben)
Crew (Besatzung): 2

Power plant (Antrieb): 2 x General Electric T700-GE-401
Power (Leistung): 2 x 1286 kW (1723 shp) for 2,5 minutes in an emergency, 2 x 1259 kW (1690 shp) for 30 minutes and 1070 kW (1437 shp) max. continous.

Dimensions (Abmessungen)
No data available

Weights (Massen)
Empty weight (Leermasse): 5025 kg
Max. useful load (max. Zuladung): 3365 kg
Fuel (Kraftstoff): 1436 litres
Max. take-off weight (Max. Startmasse): 8390 kg

Performance (Flugleistungen)
Max. speed (max. Geschwindigkeit): 296 km/h (160 kts)
Max. cruise speed (max. Reisegeschwindigkeit): 274 km/h (148 kts)
Hover ceiling (Schwebeflughöhe):
- out of ground effect (ohne Bodeneffekt): 915 m at mid-mission weight
Max. range (max. Reichweite): 648 km (350 NM)
Mission radius (Einsatzradius):
- 203 km/h with eight troops and four crewmembers, 20 min reserve and 30 min time on station
Endurance (Einsatzdauer): 3,01 h with 20 min reserve
g-load (g-Belastung): + 2,5 / - 0,5

Costs (Kosten)
In 2002 it was said that the total AH-1Z/UH-1Y upgrade programme will cost around 3,7 billion US-Dollars.

Customers (Kunden)
The US Marine Corps plans to upgrade 100 of its UH-1Ns to the new standard.

Competitors (Konkurrenz)
Sikorsky UH-60 Black Hawk

Remarks (Bemerkungen)
The UH-1Y is the lastest in a long range of "Huey" transport helicopters. It is based on the UH-1N currently serving with the US Marine Corps, and existing airframes will be totally rebuilt to the new standard, with about 80 per cent of structure and equipment being new. The main features of the UH-1Y are:

a four-bladed main rotor with composite blades
General Electric T700 engines, giving 100 per cent more power than before
aluminium transmission cases to reduce corrosion
fuselage stretch behind the cockpit to make room for avionics
enlarged fuel tanks, with capacity nearly doubled
new, integrated avionics suite, including GPS and digital map system
self protection system with radar, laser and infrared missile warners, engine IR suppression, an IR jammer and countermeasures dispenser

The UH-1Y programme runs in parallel to the AH-1Z SuperCobra, with the aim of achieving at least 85 per cent commonality of major components, including rotor, engines, avionics and tailboom.

History (Geschichte)
Bell first proposed its UH-1N upgrade to the Marine Corps in the spring of 1994. Pre-design and configuration studies were then undertaken from the end of 1995. After much debate, during which Sikorsky promoted its UH-60 Black Hawk in a multi-service buy, a development contract for the UH-1Y (then dubbed the UH-1(4B)N) was awarded in January 1997, valued at 134 million US-Dollars. The critical design review was scheduled for September 1998.
Bell modified two UH-1Ns to the new standard for flight testing and evaluation. The first flight was expected in November 2000, but power was applied to the first UH-1Y on 26 June 2001 at the flight test center in Arlington. This marked the beginning of integrated avionics system functional tests.
An unveiling ceremony was held at Arlington on 13 December. A successful first flight was then achieved on 20 December 2001. The aircraft (Yankee 1) lifted off at 16.40 CST with Monte Nelson (Bell Helicopter) and Major William Randall (US Marine Corps). They performed low and high IGE hovers, pedal turns, acceleration and an estimated 15 kts ground speed. The helicopter will move to Patuxent River in May 2002.
Deliveries were planned to begin in mid 2003, but recent problems probably will delay this. In January 2002, a schedule adjustment was expected which will lead to the first three UH-1Ys being handed over in 2006.
Production capacity is foreseen as 12 aircraft per year, but now there are even rumours that there will be no remanufacture of UH-1N airframes but new build.

Last updated 28. January 2002

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