Warbird helicopters - where are they?

Liberator · **Joined:** Mon Feb 28, 2011 3:11 am **Posts:** 837

With the Australian Navy at the end of this week retiring its 36year old Sea King helicopter fleet - with 2 lined up for museums and around 5 i think for sale to tender etc... it makes me wonder like our Australian Army/Air Force UH-1H Hueys none which were kept preserved for flying museums, what is it about modern helicopters that dont make them appeal large scale to warbird enthusiasts?

Sure they are costly, and require care but why do they not get brought and restored or seen at airshows as much?

Only large scale operators is some US groups and a museum in the UK?

I dont think there is even a US Navy warbird SH-3 Sea King in US flying at present which is surprising.. will there ever be one?

What do you think about warbird helicopters?
Will they ever gain more appeal or will warbird focus remain on warbird planes instead?

Phil

JDK · **Posted:** Tue Dec 13, 2011 6:54 am

Here, for a start. The Royal Australian Navy Historic Flight's UH-1B is active and attended the RAAF Pilgrimage early this year and was at the recent Temora Warbirds Downunder show.

http://www.navy.gov.au/Historic_Flights_Huey_takes_off

mustangdriver · **Posted:** Tue Dec 13, 2011 8:33 am

I think part of the reason is because so many of them are still working. When I worked on the helos in Pittsburgh there was another air ambulance company that was using single holed Hueys. Down the road was a heavy lift company that used S-58's and sky cranes.
When it comes to the earlier types I think it may be a parts source issue.

oscardeuce · **Joined:** Wed Jul 27, 2005 3:34 am **Posts:** 1021

Our Museum had 4 UH-1H Viet Nam vets flying. We had the first exemption to give rides and did so for many years. Needed to do $40,000 in AD's per aircraft and FAA pulled the exeption (as they should have) until AD's complied with but would not put in writing they would reinstate once we complied ( as they should have), so we never spent the money to bring them up. We needed the rides to support the flying.
.
Sold the Hueys, cried a little.

SIDSIKO · **Posted:** Tue Dec 13, 2011 9:48 am

Here are 3 Helicopter Warbirds making Inola, Oklahoma look like a location In Vietnam in the 1960's

K5DH · **Posted:** Tue Dec 13, 2011 10:05 am

There are many types of vintage helicopters "warbirding" here in the USA: Hueys, Bell 47 types, OH-6s, OH-58s, Sikorsky S-58 types, Kaman Huskies, various former Soviet types, et al, not to mention all of the vintage 'copters that are still working for a living.

JohnB · **Posted:** Tue Dec 13, 2011 11:54 am

The British Army has a Historic Flight.

There is a Army Aviation Association that flew a very complete (AH-1, OH-13, Caribou, I think a Mohawk) selection of 50s-60s types, but they've sold off many of their types.

It would be nice to see the Navy release a SH-3 and paint it in Apollo recovery markings.

Many of the surviving Huskies didn't survive their new career in logging...I know of 3-4 that were lost in the last 10 years. One is being rebuilt near me.

Having said that, the spare parts are stupidly expensive...even if there is no other application for the parts, some/many surplus vendors still want what they cost the government in the 50s-60s. And as noted above, the FAA doesn't help.

I'd love to see more.

The Inspector · **Posted:** Tue Dec 13, 2011 2:50 pm

http://www.olympicflightmuseum.com @ Olympia WA. airport @ Black Lake has a bunch of warchoppers on display and some flying. They are located next to where the WDFS firefighting copters are parked during winter and for maintenance and they have a bunch of AH-1 and UH-1 water birds in pretty far from warpaint schemes.
It's about 5 minutes off I-5

Chappie · **Joined:** Wed Dec 19, 2007 9:40 am **Posts:** 987

Some warbird helos are still working! :shock:

The latest issue of the Captial Guardian had an article about the last Huey being retired and flown to Ft Rucker. I was lucky enough to get two flights in one in 2007 during our summer camp in Alpena. An hour's round trip to and from the bombing range and a another 15 minute flight around town including a low-level run down a river. Both times I sat in the door gunner's position replaying "Paint It Black" in my head! :lol:

Chappie

Speedy · **Posted:** Tue Dec 13, 2011 7:13 pm

I'll echo The Inspector here about Brian Reynolds and the Olympic Flight Museum. They have a Vietnam act with a restored Huey and Cobra, as well as the last flyable Kaman Husky.

Brian likes helicopters.

seaknight15 · **Posted:** Tue Dec 13, 2011 8:59 pm

Liberator wrote:

With the Australian Navy at the end of this week retiring its 36year old Sea King helicopter fleet - with 2 lined up for museums and around 5 i think for sale to tender etc... it makes me wonder like our Australian Army/Air Force UH-1H Hueys none which were kept preserved for flying museums, what is it about modern helicopters that dont make them appeal large scale to warbird enthusiasts?

Sure they are costly, and require care but why do they not get brought and restored or seen at airshows as much?

Only large scale operators is some US groups and a museum in the UK?

I dont think there is even a US Navy warbird SH-3 Sea King in US flying at present which is surprising.. will there ever be one?

What do you think about warbird helicopters?
Will they ever gain more appeal or will warbird focus remain on warbird planes instead?

Phil

Went TAD to HC-1 at north island from HC-3 for a few weeks cause they needed a engine guy for a few weeks. I hate to say it but the H-3 was a good helo But the 46 could hover better and carry a biger load. No dis respect to the H-3 . look what the prince flys, A westland H-3. And if I don't have a chance later I would like to wish all WIXERS Happy Holidays.
PAPPY

airnutz · **Posted:** Tue Dec 13, 2011 11:55 pm

Speedy wrote:

as well as the last flyable Kaman Husky.

One of two still flying, Kaman maintains N43K as a familiarization bird for their K-MAX. Warbird Kid posted a photo of it last spring...in a "Warbird Helicopter" thread. Wow, it's Deja Vu all over again... :lol:

We mentioned in the past the extremely low time left on Olympics Husky rotor blades. Anyone know if they've got some replacements yet? What will they do when they time out? Build some new ones or will the cost stop the flying?

airnutz · **Posted:** Wed Dec 14, 2011 1:29 am

Rajay's thread, "Warbird Helicopters?", lotta good stuff in here....
www.warbirdinformationexchange.org/phpB ... ilit=Kaman

Ken · **Posted:** Wed Dec 14, 2011 8:53 am

There guys, based in Hampton, GA, do a 4-ship Cobra demo, amongst other things.

Cool video at their home page: http://www.armyav.org/

maxum96 · **Posted:** Fri Dec 16, 2011 2:42 pm

Ken wrote:

There guys, based in Hampton, GA, do a 4-ship Cobra demo, amongst other things.

Cool video at their home page: http://www.armyav.org/

Wow! They're quite the organization! They've got some really kewl stuff. Loved watching the Vietnam demo with the OV-1 Mohawk, Huey, Cobra, and OH-6.

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Warbird helicopters - where are they?

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