UH-1 Huey Gunship

Gunships were a nalural outgrowth of Bell Helicopter's famed UH-1 (originally HU-I) Iroquois, affectionately known to its crews as the Hucy. The concept of armed helicopters was not new before the Hucy arrived in the late 1950s; however, early helicopters performed poorly when tested as gun platforms. These aircraft lacked the performance - particularly in engine power - to be effective in an armed combat role.