The Bell UH-1B Iroquois (commonly called the Huey) was a utility helicopter developed for the US Army in the 1950s. They were used extensively in the Vietnam was by United States ans Australian forces..

The Bell UH-1 Iroquois was developed for the US Army, initially as a medical evacuation and utility aircraft.

The first one made its first flight in October 1956 and they began entering service in 1959.

Eventually over 16,000 of all versions of the UH-1 were produced between 1956 and 1987 for military and civil aervice.

The UH-1B was the second version to be manufactured, entering service in 1961 with 1010 made.

They were first deployed to Vietnam by the United States in 1963 and the RAAF also deployed UH-1s in Vietnam in the mid 1960s.

This model represents A2-384, the first UH-1 to enter RAAF service, initially as a SAR aircraft with No 9 Squadron, RAAF, between October 1962 and 1964.

Data: Utility helicopter. Engines one Lycoming T53-L-9 turboshaft engine of 820kW. Main rotor diameter 13m. Length 12m. Gross weight 3,900kg. Maximum speed 222km/h. Range 470km. Payload, 7 passengers. Crew 2.

Italeri 1/72 kit with Dekl decals completed by Leigh Edmonds in September 2023.