Historic “Huey” Helicopters make their final flight at Yuma Proving Ground

It marked the of an era as the UH-1 helicopters, better known as “Huey” helicopters, made their final flight at Yuma Proving Ground.

Today there are only 11 active Hueys in the army and they are all being retired–including the four that have been used for testing at the Yuma Proving Ground.

Huey helicopters were the first turbine-powered helicopters used by the military. More than 16,000 Hueys were built and 7,000 were deployed for combat in Vietnam in the 1960’s.

“It’s kind of the end of an era for these this particular type of helicopter,” says Pilot Ralph E. Arnold. “When people see a Huey fly by they know immediately what it is by the sound. It brings back so many memories.”

In 1975 Ralph Arnold was in flight school and now with more than 40 years as a pilot he’s getting close to retiring his wings. Before he does, the first aircraft he flew is retiring its wings first.

“The army does not support this airframe,” explains Pilot Arnold. “It puts a strain on the system having to support so many different types of airframes. So even though we could support them with parts for a few years to come, a decision was made to go toward a single airframe.”

The retired Hueys are being distributed to law enforcement agencies around the country through the Law Enforcement Support Office. Three of the Hueys are going to California, Florida, and Baton Rouge. The fourth Huey has not been claimed yet, but there is definite interest.

Although the Huey was Arnold’s first love as a pilot it will not be his last.

“They mean a lot to me,” stresses Arnold. “It was the first aircraft that I flew in my career and I thought it would be the last but it probably won’t be… I’ll probably be flying a Black Hawk when I retire.”