New Huey flies into the East Coast

Photo By Cpl. Abigail Brown | One of three UH-1Y Hueys taxis to the Marine Light Attack Helicopter Squadron 167 hangar on Marine Corps Air Station New River, Sept. 29. They are new additions to the squadron's fighting force.  

MARINE CORPS AIR STATION NEW RIVER, NC, UNITED STATES

09.29.2011

Story by Lance Cpl. Martin Egnash 

Marine Corps Installations East       

MARINE CORPS AIR STATION NEW RIVER, N.C. - One of the Marine Corps’ newest helicopters finally made its way to Marine Corps Air Station New River, N.C., and pilots aboard the air station have the privilege of being the first to fly the new ‘Huey’ on the East Coast.

Marine Light Attack Helicopter Squadron 167 became the first East Coast squadron to add the UH-1Y ‘Venom’ to its arsenal, Sept. 29.

The UH-1Y ‘Venom,’ commonly referred to as the ‘Yankee’ for the letter ‘Y’ in its designation, is an upgrade from the older UH-1N ‘November’ version and features many new components.

“This is truly a different aircraft in everything but the frame,” said Capt. Patrick J. Sise, instructor pilot for Marine Air Group 29. “The ‘Yankee’s’ have significantly more power than the ‘November’ model. That extra power helps us with every mission we do.”

Sise explained the new aircraft has larger engines, a larger fuel capacity, a digital display and, most noticeable from the outside of the cockpit, a four-blade rotor system.

These upgrades give the new aircraft a 125 percent greater payload, nearly 50 percent more range and maximum cruise speed, and increases in its versatility compared to the previous model.

“With the older aircraft, you had to constantly be worried about how much weight you’re carrying,” said Sise. “With the Yankee, you actually run out of room before you reach the maximum weight.”

As a utility helicopter, the UH-1 series conduct a wide range of missions. The aircraft can conduct offensive air support, intelligence and surveillance, command and control as well as tactical insertion of troops.

“In the November model, we would have to make sacrifices,” said Sise. “You would have to either bring troops, or rockets, but not both. With such an increase in payload, we can bring everything we could possibly need.”

The UH-1Ys flew to North Carolina from Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, Calif. Upon arrival to the local area, they were escorted by an AH-1W Super Cobra and, perhaps more ceremoniously, an older UH-1N.

“It’s kind of like the old ushering in the new,” said Maj. Christopher M. Chown, one of the pilots who helped fly the new ‘Huey’ to the air station. “Of course the Yankees could have made it here much faster on its own,” he joked.

HMLA-167 pilots have been training for months now in UH-1Y simulators. With this new addition to its already impressive arsenal, the squadron will fulfill their wide variety of roles more efficiently than ever before.

• Date Taken: 09.29.2011
• Date Posted: 10.04.2011 13:28
• Story ID: 77999
• Location: MARINE CORPS AIR STATION NEW RIVER, NC, US