Performance above the ‘razor’s edge’: UH-1Y welcomed aboard Cherry Point in 2011

MARINE CORPS AIR STATION CHERRY POINT, NORTH CAROLINA, UNITED STATES

01.05.2012

Story by Lance Cpl. Glen Santy 

II Marine Expeditionary Force   

MARINE CORPS AIR STATION CHERRY POINT, N.C. - On Sept. 28, a 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing Marine light attack helicopter squadron received three exceptional pieces of equipment that changed East Coast Marine Corps operations.

“My personal thoughts on the UH-1Y aircraft are that it is an incredible leap in capability that was sorely needed,” said Maj. Matthew Humphrey, the operations officer with Marine Light Attack Helicopter Squadron 167. “The ability to perform missions without being on the ‘razor’s edge’ of performance and limitations is something that provides those flying and crewing the aircraft a measure of safety and confidence they haven’t always had.”

Before the arrival of the aircraft formally named the UH-1Y Venom and dubbed the “Yankee” and “Super Huey,” East Coast HMLA squadrons used the UH-1N Huey. The older model limited the squadrons on their mission capabilities and forced them to choose between one operation and the next.

“The UH-1Ys have provided HMLA-167 the ability to conduct all the assault support missions that utility aircraft were designed to do,” said Humphrey. “Prior to the arrival of the Y’s the ability to conduct all the mission sets assigned was significantly reduced due to lift capabilities of the UH-1N.”

Humphrey added the Yankees also allow the Marines to fly mixed sections to greater effectiveness. For example, the AH-1W Super Cobra no longer had to limit its performance to allow the old UH-1Ns to keep up and that they can now utilize their maximum performance ability.

“The 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing is responsible for all six functions of Marine Corps aviation,” said Humphrey. “What the Yankees do is provide to the MAW the flexibility to send one asset that is capable of many of those six functions.”

Humphrey added the schedule for the Yankees to be fully integrated into the East Coast is still under review but that the HMLA’s should all be outfitted with and converted to the UH-1Y aircraft by the middle of the calendar year of 2014.

“I think the Yankee, like many newly minted aircraft, is still working some of the bugs out,” said Humphrey. “Software fixes, hardware realizations, imperfections that manifest themselves in the finished product but didn’t show up on the drawing board will always exist and the Yankee is no different.”

Humphrey said the issues were mostly minor in his opinion and like most issues will be corrected over time.

“I love the new aircraft and think it has provided Marine Aircraft Group 29 and 2nd MAW with an asset that allows the commander to support those units he needs to better than he’s ever been able to before,” said Humphrey.

• Date Taken: 01.05.2012
• Date Posted: 01.06.2012 12:13
• Story ID: 82113
• Location: MARINE CORPS AIR STATION CHERRY POINT, NORTH CAROLINA, US