Vietnam Choppers

[helimadness]

Hi All.
Recently did a yacht race from Hong Kong to Vietnam. Beat the record by 4 min :-)
On my way leaving I had a afternoon spare in Ho Chi Minh (Saigon) so decided to visit the war Museum.
First thing I saw after walking in was a Chinook, then a collection of other Helis planes and tanks. Guessing they have been dropped in the Museum straight out of the field and not had too much don't to them. Certainly only fitted out for one Job. Blade Clearance on the Huey looks a bit marginal. Wouldn't want to go inverted :-)

bombs.jpgChinook.jpgfast plank.jpgHuey blade clearance.jpghuey cabin.jpghuey with gun.jpgHuey.jpgplank with big bombs.jpgplank with fan.jpgPlank.jpg

After going inside the Museum and looking around It kinda didn't feel right to take pictures. There are plenty on the walls showing the pain that so many people have gone through and are still going through today. Staggering there are still people dying in recent times from left over effects of the war. Leaving the Museum I certainly had a different feeling than when I first walked in. I truly feel sorry for any one that was involved in that Vietnam war.

Hope you enjoy the pics. If you ever get a chance I can highly recommend a visit.

Cheers

[Jamin_00]

Wow, some great pics.

[milly0812]

I'm surprise to see how similar the swash, head and blade setup on the Huey is to our models

[Eltezz]

I'm surprise to see how similar the swash, head and blade setup on the Huey is to our models

I think you mean the other way round...

[helimadness]

You can tell its old its go a fly bar

[PKNEC]

Well done on the win.
The pics do look poignant,but a reminder of what can happen when it all goes wrong.
Really enjoyed viewing them.

[Ian_R]

I was very impressed watching & hearing the "whup-whup" noise from this one Huey Helicopter UK - Bell Huey UH-1H 72-21509 - UK Huey Helicopter Experience hovering just above the ground with full pitch and very slow rpm

[scallybert]

I'm surprise to see how similar the swash, head and blade setup on the Huey is to our models

It's a 'Bell Young' flybar (invented by Arthur Young.) They have no paddles, but have dampers.

Ours are generally Bell-Hiller (Hiller helicopters have paddles, and the flybar drives the main blade cyclic - like on Walkera 4#3, etc), which is a combination of the two.

[Pabs]

It's a 'Bell Young' flybar (invented by Arthur Young.) They have no paddles, but have dampers.

Ours are generally Bell-Hiller (Hiller helicopters have paddles, and the flybar drives the main blade cyclic - like on Walkera 4#3, etc), which is a combination of the two.

I was glad someone posted this up :-)

[Mike Sanders]

Have you read the book "Chickenhawk" by Robert Mason? It gives a graphic and rather harrowing account of his involvement in the Vietnam war and a good description of what it was like to fly a Huey in combat. Not for the faint hearted but compulsive reading for a heli addict.

[milly0812]

Have you read the book "Chickenhawk" by Robert Mason? It gives a graphic and rather harrowing account of his involvement in the Vietnam war and a good description of what it was like to fly a Huey in combat. Not for the faint hearted but compulsive reading for a heli addict.

A couple of years back someone over on heliguy recommended that book and I went into dmiths a couple of times to order it but no joy and I forgot all about it. Not a big reader but will try something of recommended so may try amazon

[Pabs]

I've read it and enjoyed it a lot! Great book and really gave an insight into what it was like.

[Eltezz]

Chickenhawk is a superb book that I was first given about twenty years ago. Anybody with the slightest interest in helicopters (and war) will find it absorbing reading. It explains how some of the oddities of helicopter dynamics are put to good practical use - transitional lift being used to get an overloaded Huey into the air and why the Huey's huge roof was a hindrance (wind resistance) once you put the nose down. Definitely recommended if you can get your hands on a copy...

[Malc1]

I went to the War Remnants museum last February as part of an 18 day tour of Vietnam and Cambodia and like you found it to be a very moving place once inside.
Also I did not feel the need to take any pictures other than those outside and of the left over military hardware from the conflict.


Just looked and I seem to have taken the same pictures as you but some from a different angle - great stuff though.

Huey looks to have been from the US 101st Airbourne B Troop 2/17 lift section as I found out later.

I expect you also noticed the 'Tiger' cages and other forms of torture that were used during the very harrowing times that these people had.Not nice at all.


The is one really beautiful and now rapidly developing country to visit and the people are the nicest you could ever meet.

As mentioned,the museum and in fact the whole country is very highly recommended to visit if you ever get the chance.

[tourerjim]

I watched the full documentary of the Vietnam war & seriously recommend watching it, the Huey was built bare bones to use in the war & reported many times could barely lift off having to transport men & machines.