Book 87

Bell UH-1 Huey "Slicks" 1962-75

by Chris Bishop

Published 22 October 2003
The US Army requirement for a light utility helicopter was formulated after the Korean War. Bell's Model 204 design won a competition in 1955, and was given the military designation H-40, later renamed the HU-I Iroquois. The original design called for a helicopter that could be used for transport, airbome battlefield command and control, medical evacuation, fire support co-ordination and search and rescue. Later its missions would be expanded to include troop insertion/extraction, armed escort and special operations. This title details all the technological background behind the development and use of the Huey 'Slick' in Vietnam, as well as covering all the major uses that this transport aircraft was put to.

Book 111

This book examines the design, development and deployment of the Boeing (McDonnell Douglas, formerly Hughes) AH-64A Apache - the US Army's primary attack helicopter, and the most advanced helicopter gunship flying today. It was the most expensive rotary-winged aircraft ever built when it was introduced in the early 1980s, but it has since proved its worth on battlefields all over the world, including action in the Gulf War, Afghanistan, Bosnia, Kosovo and the recent conflict in Iraq. It is a quick-reacting, airborne weapon system that can fight close and deep to destroy, disrupt or delay enemy forces. The Apache is designed to fight and survive during the day, night and in adverse weather anywhere, at any time.

Book 116

Sikorsky UH-60 Black Hawk

by Chris Bishop

Published 5 June 2008
The successor to the legendary Bell UH-1 'Huey', the Sikorsky UH-60 first flew in 1974 and was christened the Black Hawk. It has become one of the most versatile and successful utility helicopters currently in service.

Book 125

Huey Cobra Gunships

by Chris Bishop

Published 10 August 2006
The Bell Huey Cobra was the very first purpose-designed helicopter gunship to become operational and to see combat. Designed in the mid-1960s as an "interim solution" for an armed escort and close-support weapon to support the US Army in the Vietnam War, it is still being manufactured and improved in the 21st century, making it a success far beyond the wildest dreams of its creators. In this book Chris Bishop discusses the origins of the Huey Cobra, the innovations to its design throughout the years and its major combat uses in numerous theatres, including Vietnam, the Iran-Iraq War in the 1980s, US Persian Gulf escort operations, Lebanon 1983, Panama 1989, the Gulf War 1991 and in the current conflict in Iraq.