iscover
The end result of N9-3104/898's doomed practice engine failure. Despite extensive damage, the Navy rebuilt 898 and today it flies on with the Navy's Historic Flight as VH-NW
Aircraft of the ADF — N9 Bell Iroquois
0 comment
Replacement for the Sycamore
As a replacement for the Sycamore, the Bell UH-1B Iroquois offered the RAN several advantages. It was readily available, with a large production run already underway for US forces, and it was already in Australian service.
The first RAAF Iroquois had been delivered in 1962, with a second batch of eight already ordered by the end of that year. The first prototype Iroquois (serialled 55-4459, c/n 1) had originally flown as the Bell XH-40 on October 20 1956, entering US Army service as the HU-1A (‘Huey’) during 1959. The improved model, which was later redesignated UH-1B, flew on April 27 1960. When the RAN ordered its first batch in March 1963, these were the same model as in use with 9 Squadron RAAF at Fairbairn. The UH-1B, or ‘Bravo’, variant of the Iroquois was the most numerous production version to date of what was to become the helicopter synonymous with the Vietnam War. Production of the UH-1B from March 1961 until 1965 amounted to 1010 aircraft.
The three RAN UH-1Bs were delivered to 723 Squadron in May 1964, and were serialled N9-881 to N9-883 (c/n 881 to 883). The aircraft were supplied in what had become the universal RAN helicopter scheme of Oxford blue with white upper surfaces, and carried the naval side codes of 856, 857 and 858. To replace the remaining Sycamores, a further three Iroquois were ordered during December 1963. Then, after the crash of one of the original machines (N9-883) at Jervis Bay on November 11 1964, another was ordered in February 1965. This second batch of four Iroquois, serialled N9-3101 to N9-3104 (c/n 3101 to 3104), was delivered over 1965-66 and were improved UH-1Cs. 
This content is available exclusively to Australian Aviation members.
A monthly membership is only $5.99 or save with our annual plans.
- Australian Aviation quarterly print & digital magazines
- Access to In Focus reports every month on our website
- Unlimited access to all Australian Aviation digital content
- Access to the Australian Aviation app
- Australian Aviation quarterly print & digital magazines
- Access to In Focus reports every month on our website
- Access to our Behind the Lens photo galleries and other exclusive content
- Daily news updates via our email bulletin
- Unlimited access to all Australian Aviation digital content
- Access to the Australian Aviation app
- Australian Aviation quarterly print & digital magazines
- Access to In Focus reports every month on our website
- Access to our Behind the Lens photo galleries and other exclusive content
- Daily news updates via our email bulletin
Want to see more stories from trusted news sources?
Make Australian Aviation a preferred news source on Google.
Click here to add Australian Aviation as a preferred news source.
