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Huey helicopter photo by Eric Friedebach-

Top 10 Amazing Facts about Huey Helicopter Combat Missions, Cape Town

 The Huey helicopter is a renovated combat mission art craft situated in Cape Town, South Africa. The Huey is a true marvel to behold as it is an actual veteran of the Vietnamese war that took place from 1955 -1975.

This aircraft was operated by the U.S. when the government had some 550,000 troops engaged in the Vietnamese battle.

The U.S. sent troops and supplies to South Vietnam by sea and aircraft like the Huey to fight the spread of the Chinese communist.

The Huey was then purchased and transferred to South Africa renovated and serves as entertainment aircraft offering charters and thrilling stimulated combat flying for thrill seekers.

Here are 10 amazing facts about the Huey Helicopter in Cape town:

Huey helicopter photo by Cpl. Michael Petersheim-

1. It is the Only Licensed Army Helicopter in the World that offers these Chartered Flights

Huey’s are characterized as utility military helicopters designed for optimum internal stretcher carriage. The Huey that was produced by the American aerospace company Bell Helicopter was first named the Bell UH-1.

It has been named the workhorse of the army during the Vietnam war. The helicopter is only known for carriage capacity during was time.

The Huey Helicopter at cape town is the only privately owned aircraft of its kind in the world that is licensed to offer adventure flights to civilian clients.

The South African Civil Aviation Authority certified it for commercial use in April 2007 and is a once-in-a-lifetime experience as there are not many other places offering civilian flights on a war helicopter.

Huey helicopter photo by Eric Friedebach-.

2. There is an Inland Simulated Combat Flight

The pilot and crew of the Huey helicopters combat missions are trained and skilled personnel who operate with utmost care and precision.

The former veteran of the US Army Huey Crew Chief who was hired when the helicopter was first bought helped to renovate it.

He also trained other pilots on how to properly steer the aircraft and teach them combat flight techniques during wartime.

These techniques are still in use for visitors to experience during the combat mission simulation.

To help with the simulation there are also speakers in the helicopter that play combat music that help visitors embrace the experience to the fullest.

The visitors also get a chance to learn more about these aircraft and pilots’ experiences during war times when they had to deal with heavy firepower and missiles aimed at them.

Huey helicopter photo by Unknown-

3. The Huey was Originally Manufactured in 1966.

The Huey was first manufactured in 1966 and assigned tail number 66-01009 by the American aerospace company Bell Helicopter for use by the US during the Vietnamese war.

They are classified as the first member of the prolific Huey family created with the first turbine-power engine.

The helicopter also produces a loud deep sound that travels for miles because of the blades that rotated at the top of the helicopter.

The large blades create larger vortices behind each blade, therefore as each vortex is intercepted by the next blade the louder, and deeper the slap.

The aircraft was also made with thick metal light enough to take off but strong enough to withstand trajectories in its direction.

With the ample space and strong engine with blade power, the Huey was the optimum aircraft for the missions to Vietnam.

Huey helicopter photo by Steve Nimmons-

4. After the Combat Mission, the Huey was Restored to Serve in the Entertainment Sector

The Huey first served in the US Army and then was assigned to the 129 helicopter Assault Brigade. The Huey served here for three years before it went ahead and did several tours in Germany and Alaska.

In 1970 It was sent to the US Army Helicopter Training School at Fort Rucker Alabama to be used for pilot training until it was surpluses in 1966 by the US Army.  

The helicopter was then flown to the Davis-Montham Air Force Base in Tucson Arizona where it was mothballed.

The aircraft was finally auctioned in 2001 when an aviation enthusiast purchased and prepared it for civilian use. 

The helicopter was acquired in 2003 but took three more years before it was delivered to South Africa due to a long export approval application process.

The renovation then began after a former veteran US Army Huey Crew Chief who had 47 years’ hands-on experience on Huey’s assisted the engineers in the total refurbishment.

The helicopter was stripped down completely, fitted out with all new components which included the engine, gearboxes, and blades, and repainted in its former military colors.

5. The Huey is Flown with Doors in an Open Position

The Huey had an incredible added feature for optimum user experience. The visitors get to fly with the doors open to enjoy the panoramic view and blasts of fresh air.

The visitors have to fasten seatbelts before takeoff for safety measures, especially with the open door feature.

There are also fitted cam coders and cameras that have to be attached to the strap to take amazing photographs of the scenery or themselves wearing the club’s range of Flight Suits, Combat Jackets, and Military-style Poncho.

6. Daily Inspections are Conducted by a Team of Engineers for Safety Measures

The crew has to keep track of the helicopter for ideal flying and safety concerns. As is required by the government the Combat Mission institution also does daily inspections of any irregularities that are reported immediately.

The aircraft cannot be flown unless it is approved by the team of engineers who are hired for the maintenance and safety of the aircraft.

Written documentation of successful adequate investigations has to be provided to ensure absolute safety and peace of mind.

In addition, only the most experienced pilots are hired to fly the Huey Helicopter Combat Mission.

7. The helicopter Served in  Vietnam with the US Army

The Huey was used by the U.S. in the Vietnamese war.  This was on November 1st, 1955 when President Eisenhower deployed the Military Assistance Advisory Group to train the Army of the Republic of Vietnam.

The U.S. had feared communism would spread to South Vietnam and then the rest of Asia and had to step in. 

This in turn rebuilt the forces of the Vietnamese army and upgraded their logistics system and weaponry like the Huey helicopters.

Finally, on April 30th, 1975, NVA tanks rolled through the gate of the Presidential Palace in Saigon ending the war.

8. The Huey was used for Medevac, Command, and Control, Transportation, and as Assault Gunships

Huey’s also known as the Bell UH-1 series Iroquois structure was built for optimal storage.

This allowed the aircraft to be used as a Medevac to carry needed medical supplies and personnel as well as carry patients.

The aircraft was also used for transportation, command, control, and carrying weaponry such as missiles, grenades, bales of gunpowder, and guns.

9. The Helicopter only does low-level Flying

Low flying refers to any flight at or below 500 feet AGL. It has to be practiced only in designated low-flying zones.

Aircraft must adhere to flight levels in aviation and aviation meteorology which is an aircraft’s altitude at the standard air pressure, expressed in hundreds of feet.

Aircraft that offer open door experience have to stay at a low level due to the pressure build-up.

10. It has Been Featured in Movies

The aircraft is a great tourist attraction that also features in movies as a prop. Its invaluable and important usage during the Vietnam War was widely recorded by depicting accurately in featured films.

Numerous Hollywood films like Apocalypse Now, M.A.S.H, Full Metal Jacket, and Platoon have used Huey’s as props on set.

In South Africa, the helicopter has approximately 15 feature movies and various television series since it was first opened to the public.