Helicópteros Bell: libros - historia, modelos y técnica

Famously pictured in the opening credits of the popular television series M.A.S.H., Bell's Model 47 helicopter was the first helicopter certified for civilian use in March 1946 and went on to serve a wide variety of military and civilian applications.

With its signature bubble canopy, the Model 47, and particularly its H-13 Sioux military variant, served in both Korea and Vietnam. It became a stalwart in civilian aviation with a variety of uses: agricultural aerial sprayer, aerial firefighting, police work, aerial oil exploration, medevac, news coverage, and mail service.
More than 5,600 Model 47s were built, many under license in Japan, Italy, and the United Kingdom. The type retains its popularity in the civilian market to this day.

This book is part of the Legends of Warfare series.

Seit ihrem Erstflug Mitte der 1950er-Jahre entstanden von der legendären Bell UH-1 "Huey" über 16.000 Exemplare - kein anderer Hubschrauber weltweit hat auch nur annähernd ähnliche Bauzahlen erreicht!
Und auch hierzulande hat vermutlich jeder schon einmal das typisch "knallende" Rotorengeräusch der UH-1 gehört, das dem Hubschrauber auch den Spitznamen "Teppichklopfer" einbrachte.

Modernisierte Varianten stehen noch heute rund um den Globus im Einsatz, auch die Heeresflieger haben die UH-1D (noch) im Einsatz. Das ausführlich aktualisierte Standardwerk von Robert Busse beschreibt diesen berühmten Hubschrauber.

Die Bell UH-1D - die "Huey" - ist nicht nur bei der Bundeswehr eine Legende. Kaum eine Maschine hat das Bild des Hubschraubers so massgeblich geprägt wie dieses Muster. Die Silhouette und der unverwechselbare Sound machten aus der UH-1 so etwas wie den Archetyp des Hubschraubers.
Nach mehr als 45 Jahren Dienstzeit bei verschiedenen Teilstreitkräften der Bundeswehr naht für die "Huey" die Zeit ihrer endgültigen Ausmusterung. In diesem Buch setzt der Autor - der auf zahlreichen Mitflügen aussergewöhnliche Perspektiven und Eindrücke sammeln konnte - der "Huey" ein Denkmal.

Developed by Bell in the early 1950s, the UH-1 Iroquois was the first turbine-powered helicopter to enter production for the U.S. military. Originally designated the HU-1A for "Helicopter Utility", it was quickly nick-named the "Huey", a moniker that stuck even after the aircraft was reclassified UH-1 in 1962.
Designed as a medical evacuation, transport and utility helicopter, the UH-1 was extraordinarily successful with more than 16,000 built. The XH-40 prototype flew in 1956, production commenced in 1959, and by 1962 the Huey entered combat service with the 57th Medical Detachment in S.E. Asia.

The UH-1's history in combat includes a long and meritorious service in Vietnam, where its distinctive airframe and two-blade teetering rotor came to symbolize the concept of air mobility. Hueys of various configuration flew in a wide variety of roles, and were modified as cargo carriers, search and rescue platforms, gunships and for reconnaissance and electronic warfare missions.
Of over 7000 UH-1s to serve in Vietnam, an astonishing 3305 were destroyed including some of the last American aircraft lost in the war, the Hueys used to evacuate the U.S.Embassy in Saigon at war's end.
In addition to Army service, UH-1s flew for the U.S. Air Force and U.S. Navy as well as for air forces around the world. With the introduction of the UH-60 Black Hawk the UH-1 was phased out of the U.S. Army fleet by 2004, although residual aircraft continue tofly with the National Guard.

Originally created by Bell and the U.S. Army, this pilot's manual contains technical, operational and emergency information for the UH-1H/V model Huey.

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-1 Iroquois.
The original design called for a helicopter that could be used for transport, airborne 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.

Contents: Introduction - Design and Development - Operation History - Variants - Colour plate commentary.

Often described as the US Army's aerial jeep the UH-1 Iroquois ('Huey') was the general-purpose vehicle that provided mobility in a hostile jungle environment which made rapid troop movement extremely challenging by any other means.
Hueys airlifted troops, evacuated casualties, rescued downed pilots, transported cargo externally and enabled rapid transit of commanders in the field.

Although 'vertical aviation' had only become a practical reality during the Korean War helicopters evolved rapidly in the decade before Vietnam and by 1965 the US Army and US Marines relied on them as primary combat tools.
This was principally because North Vietnam's armed forces had long experience of jungle operations, camouflage and evasion. Generally avoiding set-piece pitched battles they relied on rapid, frequent strikes and withdrew using routes that were generally inaccessible to US vehicles. They commonly relied on darkness and bad weather to make their moves, often rendering them immune to conventional air attack.

Gunship helicopters, sometimes equipped with Firefly searchlights and early night vision light intensifiers, were more able to track and attack the enemy. Innovative tactics were required for this unfamiliar combat scenario and for a US Army that was more prepared for conventional operations in a European-type setting.
One of the most valuable new initiatives was the UH-1C 'Huey Hog' or 'Frog' gunship, conceived in 1960 and offering more power and agility than the UH-1B that pioneered gunship use in combat. Heavily armed with guns and rockets and easily transportable by air these helicopters became available in large numbers and they became a major problem for the insurgent forces throughout the war.

Covering fascinating details of the innovations in tactics and combat introduced by gunship helicopters, this book offers an analysis of their adaptability and usefulness in a variety of operations, while exploring the insurgent forces' responses to the advent of 'vertical aviation'.

Cet ouvrage retrace la carrière du Bell AH-1 Cobra, le premier vrai hélicoptère de combat depuis sa genèse, les premiers prototypes et le premier vol en 1965, sans oublier ses caractéristiques techniques ainsi que ses évolutions.

The Bell AH-1 was the first helicopter designed and built exclusively for combat. First flown in 1965, the AH-1, with its characteristic streamlined silhouette and stub wings, quickly became an indispensable asset and feared opponent.
Development continued over the years and even today much improved and higher performance versions are still in service around the world.

Design, development, and construction are discussed, as well as modifications made during production and the addition of night combat capabilities.
Operational use in Vietnam, Operations Desert Shield/Storm, as well as current day combat are extensively covered. AH-1 use by other armed forces around the world such as Spain, Israel, Japan, Taiwan, Turkey, and others is described as well.

During the Vietnam War fleets of transport helicopters provided U.S. forces with an unprecented level of mobility and proved the concept of "air cavalry". But without adequate support, helicopters such as the Bell UH-1 proved vulnerable to enemy ground fire.
The solution was to develop a helicopter gunship. Bell's first foray into the category was rejected by the Army, but after Lockheed's AH-56 failed to meet critical goals, Bell answered the call with a new design.

Equipped with a tandem cockpit, stub wings for weapons and a chin-mounted gun turret, Bell's Model 209 protoype was smaller and lighter than the AH-56,and used proven components from the UH-1.
Developed in less than nine months, the 209 performed well and easily won the Army competition. In April 1966 the Army placed its first order for 110 aircraft, now designated the AH-1 Cobra or HueyCobra (but also widely known by the nickname "Snake"). Over 1100 would eventually be built, including twin-engine SeaCobra and SuperCobra versions for the Marine Corps.

After entering service in June of 1967, Cobras provided extensive support in Vietnam as fire support platforms, and achieved over a million operational hours. Cobras also flew in Operation Desert Shield, Desert Storm and in Somalia before being retired in the late 1990s.
They continue to fly for the Marine Corps, NATO allies and elsewhere. They also serve in a civil role as fire fighting helicopters. Created by Bell and the U.S. Army, this pilot's flight operating manual profiles the AH-1F Cobra.

Over 300 pages long, this unclassified document is reprinted here in its entirety.

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.

Contents: Introduction - Origins and Development - Variants - Cobra in Action - Foreign Cobra Users - Conclusion - Bibliography - Color Plate Commentary - Index.

Bell's AH-1 Cobra was the first dedicated helicopter gunship to reach frontline service anywhere in the world. Developed as a private venture by the manufacturer, and based on the mechanics of the ubiquitous UH-1 Huey, the Cobra proved a huge success once introduced into combat with the US Army in 1966.
Built as a key weapon in the Advanced Aerial Fire Support System concept of 1965, the AH-1 was one of the few aircraft to reach the combat zone after actual combat experience went into its design. The AH-1 helped reduce the losses being suffered by vulnerable troop transport helicopters by providing effective fire suppression during airmobile operations.

This book explores its history, technology and crew.

Contents: Interim Solutions - 1967 Year of the Snake - Flying Horses - Crescendo - Evaluation: Problems & Progress - Divisional units - Year of Change (1969-70) - Winding Dow - Last Ones Out.