The Huey Challenge

[NC_Rotorhead]

The Huey Challenge

This is a list of all the US Navy's TH-1Ls built (45). (Bell 204 with the 540 rotorhead). These were used for advanced training at NAS Ellyson Field and NAS Whiting Field in the 70s/and early 80s. Of the survivors most went to AMARC in the early 1980s and many were released to the civilian market, schools, and museums.

The challenge is to "find" a photo of each of these 45 TH-1Ls in either it's original Navy paint or in civilian paint. There is no Ultimate purpose, just to see what the power of the internet can do.

Here is what I have been able to do: I'll tell you from searching, that it isn't an easy task. I've tried.



1. Joe Baugher's Serial Number Website: http://home.att.net/~jbaugher/
a. Joe lists 157806-157850. These are good numbers.

b. Joe has listed 157859-157903 as a second serial of TH-1Ls also. I find no evidence of those ever existing.

2. I personally have flown 41 of the 45 Row in yellow). The ones I missed were either assigned elsewhere or written off in earlier accidents.

3. I won't post photos from Airliner.net but I'll link to their site. I've found a few.

4. I've found a few TH-1Ls at NAF China Lake (Targets) and I will link to their site: http://www.chinalakealumni.org/index.htm

5. I've searched the FAA registry and found several registered and deregistered TH-1Ls. Searched the NTSB and found the Civilian USA accidents.

6. Note that all TH-1Ls served in the red and white paint jobs. But not all red and white paint jobs are TH-1L's. HT-18 was the primary squadron flying these aircraft. At times the squadron had over 70 aircraft in it, well over the maximum number of TH-1Ls. After Vietnam wound down, all the surviving Navy UH-1Ls (157851-157858) migrated to Whiting Field. As the Marine Corps traded in their UH-1Es for the UH-1Ns, the "best" of those "E's" migrated to Whiting. Once they got painted in their training garb, it is very hard to differentiate between the models except for the Bureau Number. I can't prove it yet, but I believe that originally the side numbers, started with 136 and went to 180. With the additions of the UH-1Ls and the UH-1E I believe that this numbering system got interfered with.

7. The problem with this challenge are the years gone by. It's going to take someone with a shoebox of photos.

8. I've found 14 registered by FAA, 5 appear to have crashed, some numerous times. A series of FAA "AD"s were issued on the aircraft requiring costly fixes so their numbers appear to have dwindled in the civilian world.

9. Rotospot: World rotorcraft registration: A cursory look found 1 in Portugal. http://www.geocities.com/rotorspot/index.htm

10. I'll begin adding the photos that I have. Sorry to say I was more busy flying then, than taking photos.

Here is a photo of my spreadsheet on the TH-1L History. Forum doesnt like spreadsheets. I'll post the links from the sheet shortly.



157847


All of 157847


157839


157812 (this is one I never flew, but found a photo)


157831 CS-HBV Portugal
http://i36.photobucket.com/albums/e49/c ... CS-HBV.jpg

The only way to solve this is by people who have laid eyes on these birds around the country. I've already found out that Ventura County has deregistered thiers in favor of Bell 205s.

Thanks for looking and for any insight you might have.

Regards
Steve

Last edited by NC_Rotorhead on Mon Dec 10, 2007 1:28 pm, edited 1 time in total.

[NC_Rotorhead]

This 157834 (N204VC) Sheriff's Department. I understand it's deregistered. Whereabouts unknown.

http://www.airliners.net/open.file/0497187/L/

Regards
Steve

[NC_Rotorhead]

157842 at Pax River, MD on display.
http://www.airliners.net/open.file/1148589/L/

157841 at AMARC
http://www.airliners.net/open.file/0737943/L/

157835 and 157836 awaiting thier turn as targets at NAF China Lake
http://www.chinalakealumni.org/IMAGES/R ... Curtis.jpg

157817 at the American Helicopter Museum, West Chester, PA
http://helicoptermuseum.org/AircraftIma ... opterID=10

Regards
Steve

[m50a1ontos]

This 157834 (N204VC) Sheriff's Department. I understand it's deregistered. Whereabouts unknown.

http://www.airliners.net/open.file/0497187/L/

Regards
Steve

I think the tail boom for this one came to China Lake a few years ago....then it vanished again. It may have been used for parts for the HAL-5 H-1 Restoration....that bird has also been moved "somewhere".

[NC_Rotorhead]

Hey Rob,

Thanks. Someone close to the Ventura C Sheriffs posted this photo and told me that they had parted out the N204VC and then "disposed of" the remains. That might dovetail with what you said. I do believe that the airframe came from China Lake to begin with. He also said that the VC TH-1L had been an immaculate machine, so I'm sure it was sought after.



Regards
Steve

[NC_Rotorhead]

Another "Sleuth" found this TH-1L 157838 disguised as an Army bird in the Frontiers of Flight Museum at Love Field, Dallas, TX. Not very accurate but looks like they have it well preserved.











Regards
Steve

[Michel C-GNCJ]

I might have a picture of one or more parked outside a facility at Falcon Field in Mesa, AZ...

Will look at it tonight and report back

[NC_Rotorhead]

Thank you Michel.

Steve

[NC_Rotorhead]

Had a few folks find some new TH-1Ls today.

The very first of the Fleet, 157806



2 Photos of 157812, with early and late side number schemes:

Early


Late


157829 going to the "Boat" best guess 1970 as HT-18 was established March 1972 and took all the TH-1Ls from HT-8.


Steve

Last edited by NC_Rotorhead on Mon Dec 10, 2007 1:29 pm, edited 1 time in total.

[Andy Marden]

Steve,
A few notes to update your useful spreadsheet:

157807 is preserved at NAS Whiting Field (last seen Apr07)

157819 is on the Aberdeen Proving Grounds MD (seen Jun00)

157824 went with the USMC from El Toro to Miramar, where it is now stored in a museum compound (last noted Oct07).

157834/N204VC went to the Aviation Warehouse at El Mirage CA from Camarillo. It was seen there JUn03-Oct03.

157835 was noted at Inyokern in Aug99 at the Budd McGee Air Park collection. However, the collection was dispersed by Oct02, does anyone now what happened to all the aircraft?

157848 is displayed in US Army colours outside VVA Post 96, at 241 Lake Ella Drive, Tallahassee FL (seen Sep07).

On the subject of China Lake, just north of the main gate on Sandquist Road is the explosives gate where four Hueys can be found in a compound (seen Jan07). One is HH-1K 157178, does anyone now the identity of the other three please?
Regards,
Andy Marden

USA Military Out of Service

[NC_Rotorhead]

Andy,

Having said that 157807 might be preserved at Whiting Field, then this photo I found might be be it. It was damaged during one of the huricanes that hit the area and was being restored at Whiting. I believe the person in the photo was one on those restoring the ship.

157807 Side Number 137


Regards
Steve

Last edited by NC_Rotorhead on Mon Dec 10, 2007 1:30 pm, edited 1 time in total.

[RickH]

Collings Foundation operates UH-1E BuNo 153762. Civil register N911KK. Former Marine aircraft VMO-2 and VMO-6.

Short fuselage, 540 rotor system, L11 engine.

[NC_Rotorhead]

Andy,

Treasure trove of info, thank you. Note that I made changes in the Spreadsheet reflecting your finds.

Rich,

Thanks for that info. She was also with HML-367 on Okinawa. Flew her also. I look forward to seeing the old gal on the airshow circuit sometime.

Regards
Steve

[NC_Rotorhead]

Andy Marden gave me the clue to hunt here. it's getting a bit hard to find these things now. 157848 is hiding under that Army paint.



Regards
Steve

[NC_Rotorhead]

Got another one. 157845 Looks like this was taken prior to HT-18 splitting off from HT-8 in Mar 1972. This would be at NAS Ellyson Field, Pensacola FL.



Regards
Steve