Why did helicopters fly low in Vietnam?

Vietnam’s mountainous terrain stressed the underpowered, obsolete helicopters to their limits: They could neither fly fast enough to escape enemy fire nor carry enough armament to pose a meaningful threat.

Were there helicopters in Vietnam?

Several types of helicopters were used during the Vietnam Conflict- from observation and MEDEVAC to gunships and dedicated attack types. The American Bell UH-1 Huey is the most famous of the Vietnam helicopter types and proved a workhorse for air cavalry units throughout the war.

How many US helicopter pilots died in Vietnam?

According to the Vietnam Helicopter Pilots Association, a total of 11,846 helicopters were shot down or crashed during the war, resulting in nearly 5,000 American pilots and crew killed. Of those servicepeople, 2,382 were killed while serving aboard UH-1 Iroquois, better known as the ubiquitous “Huey.”

Why did the CIA use hushed helicopters in Southeast Asia?

The idea of using hushed helicopters in Southeast Asia came from the CIA’s Special Operations Division Air Branch, which wanted them to quietly drop off and pick up agents in enemy territory. The CIA bought and then handed over two of the top-secret helicopters to a firm—by all appearances, civilian—called Air America.

What helicopters were used in the Vietnam War?

The U.S. Army began to use Bell OH-13 Sioux and Hiller OH-23 Raven helicopters, once artillery spotters, to scout ahead of UH-1D Huey formations in the moments before air assaults to gather information about landing zones and enemy locations.

When did helicopter pilots become so popular?

The first big wave of helicopter pilots came after the Vietnam war. But, if you were drafted into the military in 1969 at 18 to be a helicopter pilot and have kept flying since, you have either already retired or are probably considering doing so in the next couple of years.

How did the UH-1B helicopter work in Vietnam?

Units in Vietnam began sending UH-1Bs outfitted with rocket pods and machine guns to circle over the scouts at around 600 feet and attack anything that might interfere with the imminent troop landing. But the Hueys proved too slow to do the job properly, and the need to replace both scouts and protectors was immediately evident.