The successful and versatile Bell UH-1 Huey is sometimes described as the C-130 of helicopters, a reference to a legacy that is as enduring as that of the Lockheed C-130 Hercules transport plane. After all, both ships first flew in the mid-1950s, gained iconic status during the Vietnam War, have seen extensive combat around the world, and remain in production even today (copies of the latest version of the Huey, the UH-1Y Venom, have been joining the ranks of the United States Marine Corps over the past few years see p.26, Vertical 911, ALEA 2011; and p.50, Vertical, ALEA 2010). 

Yet, even as new models of the Huey arise, older models are still providing yeomans service the U.S. Air Force (USAF), for its part, has 59 UH-1Ns in use, many of which are employed around the nations intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) sites. As Air Force Global Strike Command (AFGSC) assets, these versatile aircraft are instrumental in ensuring the security of the countrys 450 nuclear-tipped ICBMs.

The mission we have is vital to national security and nuclear deterrence, and often there are not tangible results, since the big picture is about deterrence, said Maj. Chris Brady, director of operations for the 54th Helicopter Squadron (HS), a unit of the AFGSCs 91st Missile Wing (MW) at Minot Air Force Base (AFB), N.D. Thus, there is not an end result we walk away with, but rather we use the experience we have and build upon it, remaining motivated to support the mission.

Recently, Vertical 911 visited the 54th HS to learn more about the squadron and its essential mission, and how the venerable UH-1N is being used to support both.

The 91st MW, nicknamed the Rough Riders, after Teddy Roosevelts famous volunteer cavalry regiment, is one of three operational USAF missile wings, each of which is responsible for 150 ICBMs (the other wings are stationed at F.E. Warren AFB, Wyo., and Malmstrom AFB, Mont.). As the 54th HSs primary mission is to support the 91st MW, its eight UH-1N Hueys have the Rough Riders name emblazoned on their tails in tribute. 

Due to its primary mission, the 54th HS stands alert 24 hours a day, seven days a week, 365 days a year. (The crews, themselves, may stand 12-hour, 24-hour or 48-hour shifts, depending on the situation at the time. Alert duty also varies based on personnel status, training and other commitments. And, with some 15 percent of the 54ths crew force currently deployed to Afghanistan, flexibility is important.) That 24-hour coverage means the squadron stands ready to scramble and fly tactical-response-force teams at a moments notice, responding to any reports, alarms, sensor activity or other events within the 8,500-square-mile (22,000-square-kilometer) missile complex peppered with silos.

Our main customer, the team we carry in the back, is very specialized, said Lt.-Col. Brett (Mac) Machovina, commander of the 54th HS. They are called the tactical response force, or what we simply refer to as the TRF. They have very sophisticated equipment they carry to deal with any situations that may arise. This may include large sniper rifles, down to gas-powered saws, and much more, to take care of what may go on out in the field.

In its other key missile-support roles, the 54th will make random security patrols and fly airborne escort for nuclear convoy missions (moving pieces of the ICBMs to and from Minot AFB and the silos). On occasion, missile maintainers may need a priority part quite quickly, so it will be strapped into a Huey and flown out to the appropriate silo. And, if weather conditions dictate it for example, if roads are snowed in the 54th may be utilized to transport personnel for missile combat crew swaps. Among its secondary missile-support roles, the 54th can often be tasked with transporting distinguished visitors and leadership around the various sites within the expansive complex.

Finally, outside of its military roles, the 54th HS may also support the city of Minot, known as the Magic City, with search-and-rescue missions. For example, during the devastating floods last spring, the squadron and its Hueys worked closely with North Dakota National Guard crews and their Sikorsky UH-60 Black Hawks, and with a multitude of other agencies and their assets, to assist with response efforts.

The UH-1Ns operated by the 54th HS are equipped with FLIR Systems Star Safire II electro-optical/infrared sensor gimbals, which are operated by the flight engineers in the cabin. The Safires are used for spotting any suspicious activity around the missile sites or potential foes attempting to conduct site infiltrations. At night, all crewmembers also use AN/AVS-9 designated ITT F4949G night vision goggles. (The squadron did have some panoramic NVGs, but they were returned to the manufacturer to work out some deficiencies). Finally, the UH-1Ns are equipped with internal Lucas Western hoists that swing outside the aircraft for use. The squadron, itself, maintains hoisting qualifications, routinely conducting hoist training. 

Despite this additional equipment, the USAFs UH-1Ns are, by todays standards, considered somewhat basic: they still have steam gauges and standard Pratt & Whitney T400-CP-400 Twin-Pac engines. They also average around 12,000 to 13,000 flight hours per airframe (although the aircraft are run through periodic depot-level maintenance now done at Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point, N.C. every eight years or so). 

Yet, there are no current plans for major upgrades to the UH-1Ns: the simplicity of the proven Huey is a huge bonus for the 54th, and the model already has one of the highest aircraft mission-readiness rates within the entire U.S. Air Force. Besides, the nuclear support role is more about who the aircraft are flying the expertise and the capability of the team inside rather than the sophistication of the aircrafts systems. (That said, USAF is investigating the idea of modernization with a request for information, but nothing has been decided at this time.)

The biggest Huey challenge is finding parts for it, a product of its age, remarked Lt.-Col. Machovina. We have civilian contract maintainers, so there is not a big turnover challenge. They are on top of their game for all of the maintenance aspects. That being said, the Huey is incredibly reliable it works, and over the last 40 years most of the bugs have now been resolved.

Of course, said Machovina, The good ole UH-1N can be challenging to fly in bad weather, since there is [neither] a stability augmentation system nor an autopilot. The UH-1N cockpit is [also] a 1960s-vintage steam gauge design.  

Even with those limitations, the 54th HSs crews practice a lot of difficult flying. We frequently train flying ILS [instrument landing system], TACAN [tactical air navigation system] and localizer approaches; fly tactical low-level and formation flights, and train with NVGs at night, going down to 50 feet AGL [above ground level], explained Machovina.

Indeed, when not flying actual tasked missions, the unit is often training and maintaining aircrew currencies. This is especially vital as Minot is the first operational assignment for most of the 54th HSs aircrews. New pilots arrive here as co-pilot qualified only, then go through an aircraft commander certification program and later, an intense instructor upgrade syllabus. A select few will also ultimately achieve evaluator pilot status. Some pilots are trained on site, while others are sent to the two sister missile wings or to the UH-1N schoolhouse at Kirtland AFB, N.M. New flight engineers, meanwhile who will become responsible for operating the FLIR and hoist, and for flight safety duties go through their own extensive process to become instructors and evaluators.

Although the UH-1Ns can technically be flown as single-pilot aircraft, the squadron flies with a minimum of two pilots and one flight engineer. A second flight engineer will be on board for low-level routes, nighttime NVG missions and training new flight engineers. The extra personnel help when dealing with the areas sometimes-difficult flying conditions. 

Said Maj. Craig Harvey, the 54th HSs operations group chief of helicopter standardization and evaluation: The whiteout flying here can be challenging at first, but eventually pilots become accustomed. The pilot, co-pilot and flight engineer all work in conjunction to mitigate that risk, and pilots flying in snow become very proficient at dealing with whiteouts we get snow from October throughout March. We have winds here in the Great Plains that can get up to over 50 miles per hour, and thus we get ground blizzards. Although, said Harvey, Once you get about 15 feet above the ground, it is clear and you can see forever. And, the old stalwart Huey can certainly handle these winds: We can fire up and fly the UH-1N with up to 52-mile-per-hour winds.

Of course, flying in the Peace Garden State does have its perks. Said Machovina, During winter-time flying, you can see some amazing stuff. On occasion and under the right conditions, we actually can have contrails coming out of our Huey engines at 50 feet over the ground. NVGs make it easier to see the Northern Lights, and that is an amazing sight.

With so many of the 54th HSs personnel on their first operational assignments, the squadron has learned to rely heavily on the talents of its most experienced aviators. According to Machovina, Majors Brady and Harvey are examples of incredibly experienced pilots that came here from special operations units, having flown all kinds of assets here and abroad, and have brought their expertise with them to North Dakota so we can defend these nuclear missiles better. This expertise, coupled with some of our other line pilots, has considerably changed the game, compared to what it used to be.

What the new pilots lack in experience, however, they make up for in energy and drive. Observed Brady, Our crews, with maybe only a few years in the Air Force, find new, innovative ways and ideas to support the mission it is impressive and they exceed their assigned positions daily.

This innovation, commitment and teamwork were on display in the response to the areas spring 2011 floods. Recalled Harvey: During the floods, the 91st MWs primary focus was on maintaining the missile launch facilities. The men and women of the 91st MW worked around the clock, sandbagging, raising roads, moving dirt, pumping out water whatever it took to ensure our facilities were functional, intact and mission-capable. The Hueys were a force multiplier and they were used to track the progress of the wings efforts and monitor the rising water levels so the wing could be proactive with the sandbagging efforts throughout the crisis.

The 54th HS also provided help for the town itself. Said Harvey: In the Souris River, assorted flat-bottom boats and airboats were used to patrol the flooded areas, but once the sun went down, the powerlines became difficult to see and avoid.  Therefore, if a night rescue became necessary, the UH-1N with [its] FLIR would be used to search for any survivors. We worked hand-in-hand with the [North Dakota] Army Guard Black Hawks in the event a survivor needed to be rescued from the flooded valley using a hoist. We also established helicopter landing zones throughout the city to facilitate a survivors expedient transportation to the local medical facilities. A temporary hospital, with helicopter landing zone, was established on the north hill of Minot in case the river split the city, isolating families on the north side of town from the citys treatment facilities, which were on the south side of town.

In addition to providing that around-the-clock standby duty for search-and-rescue missions, a Minot AFB press release said the squadron also engaged in such mission roles as distinguished visitor support, media support to CNN film crews, another 53 flight hours of flood mitigation and delivered logistical support where needed, just to name a few. And, then squadron volunteers helped with flood clean-up and rebuilding after the 54ths official duties were complete. 

Its that type of dedication and commitment that is gaining the 54th Helicopter Squadron a host of accolades. In 2011, the squadron garnered several awards, won top honors in the Global Strike Challenge helicopter competition the first time in the competitions 17-year history that a helicopter crew from Minot had won and were recognized as the best overall helicopter squadron in the Air Force Global Strike Command. Machovina was understandably proud of his young squadron and the tradition of excellence they have been building one that is likely to be as enduring as the Hueys his crews fly. 

In fact, while numerous models have been eyed as replacements for USAFs venerable UH-1N Hueys, given the current budget climate it is likely they will remain in service for a number of years to come. Consequently, the tried-and-true Hueys and energetic and dedicated young crews of the 54th Helicopter Squadron seem destined to continue their unique partnership and fulfill their vital and little-known role of defending a third of the United States nuclear arsenal.