Sent: 5/5/2009 1:01:49 P.M. Pacific Daylight Time
Subj: UH-1H 69-15217 - Extreme Makeover 2008

 

Below I have reproduced a story from the VHPA Aviator Newsletter, 2009 Vol. 27, No. 1, since the ship involved was in 3/17 for a while and they are looking for photos or crewmembers.  Since it was C Troop, you two might or might not want to pass this along.  (You will see that we badly need an editor, but you can get the picture.)  Waldo should like all the technical stuff.

 

Chuck Oualline

 

CHARLIE TROOP INFORMATION:-------------------------------------------------------------------

 

 

    UH-1H 69-15217 - EXTREME MAKEOVER 2008

 

    For you Army types having an interest in this sort of thing here's the facts.  69-15217 was delivered to the U.S. Army in March, 1970 and arrived in RVN in May of that year.  It was assigned to the 189th AHC until being transferred to the 162nd AHC in November 1970.  Then, C Troop, 3/17 Cav flew 15217 from July 1971 until it was shipped back to the States in April 1972.  15217 accumulated approximately 1500 combat flight hours during its 23 months in RVN.

 

    15217 waas part of Bell's 210 program and the failed effort at the Army's LUH contract.  Bell went on to sell three model 210 helicopters, S/N 21002 went to Minuteman Helicopters in Missoula and S/Ns 21003, (N510WW) and 21004, (N610WW) went to WorldWind Helicopters in Seattle.  69-15217 is now N610WW, having just completed its first season as a Standard Category, civil helicopter flying on the USFS National Exclusive Use - Type II, IA contract, host base John Day, Oregon.  As far as we know, the other two 210s are not Vietnam vets.

 

    The designation; Model 210 is more for marketing as the FAA Type Certificate shows them as 205Bs.  They flew away from Edwards & Associates in Tennessee as "0" time airframes, (as only an OEM can accomplish that feat of FAA magic).  We think of the 210 as a Huey on steroids; in short, a 212 nose and tail boom was bolted on to the "H" model fuselage, the Lycoming T53-13B engine was replaced with the Honeywell T53-17BCV, rated at 1800 SHP, the M/R GB beefed up to 1290 HP and all 212 drive train/dynamics added.  In general, about the same helicopter as the BHT 205A1++, however gross weight for the 210 is rated at 10,500 on the skids and 11,200 on the hook.

 

    If there are any Army RVN vets out there who may have been crew members on 69-15217, we'd like to hear your stories.  In particular, if you have photos showing the tail number of 15217; this would be terrific as we are hoping to develop a static display for this helicopter.  Contact Rick at 425-271-8441 or rick@wwheli.com and thanks in advance.  N610WW's primary pilot on the Forest Service IA contract is in his early 30s, and, as a former Robbie Ranger, knows very well this is not his fathers's Huey !  There are, however, a few Army RVN vets in this operation, (all older than dirt), flying N610WW too.  Now, if we could just find an OEM
 that processes old pilots to come out the other end 40 years younger, like the helicopters we flew those 40 years ago, you young dudes will never get hired ---

 

    This story was passed to me recently and thought it might generate some interest.

 

                Sincerely,

                Mark S. Hansen

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

If anyone is wanting a Spur Coin contact Chuck Oualline    Please see:  http://northwestvets.com/spurs/spurcoin.htm

For purchase, please contact Chuck Oualline, Spur 3, at: spur3@satx.rr.com

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------