UH-1

The US Army's first operational turboshaft-powered helicopter, the Bell UH-1 "Huey", would prove one of the most successful rotorcraft in history, with over 16,000 built. The Huey was and remains a common sight in many of the world's military forces, and still is in first-line service in the US Marines. The Bell Helicopter company had established itself with the piston-powered Model 47, which proved very popular and still remains in service. The next evolutionary step was to develop a helicopter using a turboshaft engine, which provided a higher power-to-weight ratio. The result was the "HU-1 Huey" for the US Army, which went into service as the "UH-1". The Huey was a huge success, with the initial "Model 204" series and enlarged "Model 205" series sold to the Army, Air Force, Navy, and Marines, as well as many foreign users. The Huey would become a lasting trademark of the US war in Vietnam.