Bell's Combat Helo Family Continues the March Onwards

Bell's family of H-1 helicopters continues to rack up the hours, with the H-1 Viper and Venom passing the half-million flight hour mark across the worldwide fleet.

The aircraft have continued to be a favorite among pilots and troops alike, thanks to a competent blend of performance, flying dynamics, and firepower. The H-1 family has even found fans overseas, helped along by the aircraft's compact, easily shipped frame and simple parts support. Despite the Viper's age, the basic design has continued to see updates to remain modern with a suite of power upgrades, electrical modifications, improved datalink capabilities, and weapons integration. 

“The H-1 continues to be the premier example of a family of aircraft that can do more with less and deliver unmatched interoperability and expeditionary agility,” said Mike Deslatte, Bell H-1 vice president and program director. “We are thrilled to reach this tremendous milestone and excited for the future of both the Viper and the Venom as they continue to grow in number and capability around the world.”

“We are proud that the first 500,000 flight hours of the UH-1Y and AH-1Z included constant deployments to austere deserts, numerous types of naval vessels, and frigid cold environments in support of U.S. and allied service members on the ground and at sea,” said Nate Green, Bell H-1 program manager. “With the Viper and Venom sharing 85 percent commonality of parts, a major advantage of this program is that a single readiness improvement or capability upgrade can often support both aircraft.”

“This milestone highlights the crucial missions our customers have accomplished with the H-1 during this time. Congratulations to the U.S. Marine Corps and their allies on this tremendous milestone. Bell is proud to be your partner on this platform,” added Deslatte.

FMI: www.bellflight.com