Super Huey — Bell UH-1Y Venom

Super Huey — Bell UH-1Y Venom

UH-1Y Venom of the Marine Tiltrotor Squadron (VMM) 265 on the USS Denver’s (LPD 9) flight deck, note the oval instead of circular jet exhausts as well as the four rotor blades — U.S. Navy photo by Mass Comm Spec 3rd Class Christopher Lindahl

What aircrew does not wish to have more power in their aircraft? The Venom is not only an improved variant of the archetype general purpose (or, all purpose to some) “Huey” helicopter. The Bell UH-1Y is such an evolutionary leap forward it received a new name designation from Iroquois to Venom by the U.S. Marine Corps. Gone is the twin blade rotor disk used to conserve shipboard space for an ultra  modern four blade rotor disk of composite construction. More payload and range as well as greater speed (~100 mph faster) are due greatly in part to the pair of General Electric T700 turboshaft engines of 1546 shp each.

31st Marine Expeditionary Unit (31st MEU) UH-1Y Venom on a Search & Rescue mission near the location of the sunken South Korean ferry Sewol — U.S. Navy photo by Mass Comm Spec 1st Class Matthew Bradley

UH-1Y Venom taking off from the USS Wasp (LHD 1) for an evaluation flight of the aircraft type. Like the venerated Huey, the Venom can be hung with weapons, used for dust-offs or loaded with communication equipment for command-and-control. — U.S. Navy photo by Mass Comm Spec 1st Class Rebekah Adler