The classic thump sound of former “Huey” helicopters flying over the Illawarra is music to the ears of aviation enthusiasts, all with a rotary wing background as well as Vietnam veterans alike.
A larger former RAAF and Australian Army H model Iroquois has now joined the earlier restored ex Royal Australian Navy B model Huey 898 in the flying wing of HARS Aviation Museum’s line-up.
A third, also a former RAN B model 893, is currently under restoration and has been trucked to Wagga Wagga for a repaint.
More pilots are being retrained to fly the HARS helicopter fleet at public events and at Shellharbour Airport where HARS Aviation Museum is located.
Its history makes the return of 703 to flying so significant.
The Australian story of 703 on began in July 1970 in South Vietnam when the RAAF’s 9 Squadron bought the helicopter from the US military. During its service, the helicopter operated as both a gunship and a ‘slick’ (troop transport). 9 Squadron served in Vietnam from 1966 until 1971.
703 remained with 9 Squadron at Amberley and was involved in operations throughout Australia as well as the South-West Pacific, PNG and Indonesia. Operations included Army support, disaster relief and survey operations in Indonesia and PNG.
With the transfer of the helicopter force to Army Aviation, 703 continued service with the 1st and 5th Aviation Regiments. On disposal from the ADF inventory, 703 was allocated to the RAAF Museum Point Cook in 2012 where it resided before being donated to HARS in 2022 where maintenance is provided by a dedicated HARS team of serving and former ADF people from the three services.
703 is now operating under the Warbird regulations, with the civil registration of VH-X9S (ex 9 Sqn), which reflects its heritage.
Not widely known, the RAN operated seven smaller UH-1B Iroquois or Huey’s in Australia between 1964 and 1989 as trainer and utility helicopters, notably training pilots and crew for the RAN Helicopter Flight Vietnam (RANHFV) with the US Army’s legendary 135th Assault Helicopter Company on four deployments to South Vietnam from 1967 until June 1971.
Like everything at HARS, restoration and flight of these aircraft relies on donations and grants. Visit www.hueyproject.com.au or hars.org.au.
HARS Aviation Museum at Shellharbour Airport is open from 9.30am-3.30pm daily.
