Perhaps the most spectacular display at this year’s ILA is the Air Landing Operation mounted by the Heeresflieger (the German Army Aviation Corps). This involved ten examples of CH-53GS Mittlerer Transporthubschrauber (MTH - Medium transportation helicopter), the German Army’s ageing but still useful heavylift helicopter, with two Bell UH-1D Hueys, and two new NHI NH90s, supported by a reconnaissance MBB Bo 105 and a trio of Eurocopter Tiger attack helicopters.
The Vietnam-vintage, 15-seat UH-1D formed the backbone of the US effort in Vietnam, and was made famous by its appearance in movies like Apocalypse Now.
Some 2,008 of these versatile utility helicopters were delivered to the US Army between 1962 and 1966, some being converted for use as gunships, and others as medevac helicopters. Dornier built 352 UH-1Ds for the German armed forces, delivering the first of these to the Heeresfliegerwaffenschule on 20 August 1963. Though the type is now being replaced by the NHI NH90, substantial numbers remain in use.
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Source: Flight Daily News