Last week they had Marine Week in downtown Detroit. Marine Week is kind of like Fleet Week. It gives the Marines a chance to showcase some of their equipment to the people.
This was the first time that Detroit has hosted Marine Week. Normally it is held in cities that are closer to the oceans but apparently they wanted to outreach to areas that don't normally get to see them.
Of course what got me interested when I read that they were going to do a joint aerial-ground demonstration. Since I don't have many opportunities to see Marines in action, I figured it would be pretty cool. I didn't arrive in time to see the F/A-18 Hornet or CH-53 Super Stallion pass by but I did catch the Cobra and Huey.
The UH-1 Huey (Iroquois) was a utility helicopter that came out of the Army's need for one. Originally it was designated the HU-1 which gave it the Huey name that stuck more than it's official name of Iroquois. In 1962, the designation was changed to UH-1.
In 1952, the Army identified a requirement for a new helicopter to serve as a medevac, trainer and general utility helicopter. The Army determined that the helicopters at the time were either too large, underpowered or too complex. Twenty companies answered the bid. One of those was Bell Helicopter. In 1955, the Army announced that Bell would get the initial contract. This was initially give the designation XH-40 and it first flew in 1956. In 1960, Bell was awarded a contract for more helicopters.
While the Army was happy with the initial version, improvements were made. The helicopter would ultimately become the icon for the Vietnam War.
By the time production ended in 1987, over 16,000 were produced.
Here is a picture of the Marines lowering down to a barge that was parked in the middle of the Detroit River. I think they were simulating the capture of a pirate ship.
The AH-1 Cobra was developed using the Huey as a basis. As the Vietnam War was expanded, it became clear that the UH-1 Hueys would need an escort of some sort. At first, modified Hueys were used in this roll but that wasn't enough. The Cobra first flew in 1965 and was introduced in 1967.
The Helicopter above was actually a Super Cobra which is serious improvements of the Cobra. It has better engines and a four blade rotor. Originally the Marines wanted to use the Apache but were denied funding.
The V-22 Osprey had a longer road to get to this point than the Huey. After the failure of the Iranian Hostage Rescue, it was determined that the military needed a plane that could ferry troops to the battlefield but take off and land like a helicopter. In 1982, this was known as the Joint Vertical take-off/Landing Experimental Aircraft (JVX). The Marines were really interested in this project.
Bell partnered with Boeing Vertol to produce a version of a tilt-rotor that they already had and because there's was the only proposal, they were awarded a design contract in 1983. In 1985, the JVX became the V-22 and six prototypes were being produced.
In 1988, the V-22 was rolled out but the Army backed out. The Defense Department wanted to cancel it though but Congress kept it going. In 1989, the first prototype flew. The fourth and fifth prototypes crashed in 1991 and 1992. After that, Bell and Boeing went back to the drawing board and flights resumed in 1994. There were a few more setbacks and now the aircraft is one of the safest in the air.
One of the neat things about the plane is that it can fly like a helicopter and I think it can even auto-rotate like one.
But the rotors will tilt forward so it can fly like a plane.
Another picture of the Cobra.
The Huey flaring back to hover over the barge.
I never realized the maneuverability of the Cobra.
I did realize it's thin front.
The operation successful and the marines are pulled from the barge.
A flyby of a C-130 and two F/A-18s.
And I don't think I'll get a shot like this again.
The Marines passing by in their inflatable boats.
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