Helicopter naming (U.S.)

Correction; ALL US Army helos are named for Native American tribes.
Why? I dunno.

At the risk of starting an argument. ALL US helos are NOT named after Native American tribes.
One example is the AH-1 Cobra. Another is the HH-3 Seaking. And I'm almost sure that there are others.

Randie

RotorheadTx is correct about the US Army naming "their" helicopters after Native American Indian tribes. I have CRS as to the reasoning. The Cobra was an exception to the rule and the "Huey" was like the A-10 Thunderbolt II beign called "Warthog" by the troops. The Black Hawk is another exception. The Navy has a habit of putting "Sea" in front of all "their" helio's. No argument, just an exchange of thoughts on the topic!

QUOTE: Originally posted by chopperfan At the risk of starting an argument. ALL US helos are NOT named after Native American tribes. One example is the AH-1 Cobra. Another is the HH-3 Seaking. And I'm almost sure that there are others. Randie

RotorheadTX said "US Army" helos, not "US" helos. Black Hawk is a tribe name as well. For some reason, the Air Force calls them Night Hawks or PAVE Hawks, the Navy Sea Hawks and the Coast Guard Jay Hawks.

The Sikorsky Skycrane had the official name of Tarhe. Tarhe was a chief and not a tribe. I believe it is a way for our Army to honor the Native American tribes that helped shape our Army throughout our history.

I don't know why the Cobra wasn't given a Native American name. Perhaps during its inception, McNamara was more concerned with giving defense weapon systems numbers rather than names. Even the Huey used the original nomenclature of HU-1 to form its nickname and the official nickname of Iroquois was rarely used.

I stand corrected, Rob.
As far as the Black Hawk goes. Just curious. Is it a tribe? The black hawk was also a name given to what has been called a tomahawk.

Randie

QUOTE: Originally posted by chopperfan I stand corrected, Rob. As far as the Black Hawk goes. Just curious. Is it a tribe? The black hawk was also a name given to what has been called a tomahawk. Randie

Actually, Black Hawk is like Tarhe, it is the name of an Indian chief and not a tribe. Sorry for my misstatement.

Also the US Army names some of its fixed wing aircraft after tribes as well like the Mohawk.

The Cobra was not named after an Indian tribe because it technically was a variant of the UH-1 Iroquois. It was named "Cobra" after Bell representatives saw the 114th Assault Helicopter Company Gunship Platoon (Cobras) operating in Vietnam and were impressed with their capability. The Cobra was thus named to honor the 114th "Cobras"

All other Army aircraft are named for Native American tribes or significant Native Americans, although unofficial nicknames like Skycrane and Huey do tend to take hold, leaving the initial name lost to everyone but us historical types.

QUOTE: Rob:Also the US Army names some of its fixed wing aircraft after tribes as well like the Mohawk.

Right you are, Rob...

OV-1 "Mohawk"
U-8 "SEMINOLE"
U-21 "UTE"
C-12 "HURON"
T-41 "MESCALERO"
T-42 "COCHISE"
C-23 "SHERPA


Some of the Army's fixed wing aircraft, however, retained their civilian names, such as the C-20 "Grumman Gulfstream", the C-31 *Fokker Friendship*, CT-1 "Jayhawk", U-9 "Aero Commander", UC-35 *Cessna Citation*, and the UV-20 *PILATUS-PORTER*.

The DEHAVILLAND aircraft also retained their Canadian given names, YHC-1/CV-2 "Caribou" and U-1 "Otter". (C-7 was an Air Force designation for the "Caribou". In the Army, YHC-1 was the first 5 Pre-Production versions, and CV-2, the Production version)

Corrections welcomed and appreciated.

Frank

I'll bet the Chicago Blackhawks are surprised they are named after just one Indian. . .

Don

Rob, Cobrahistorian.
That is what makes this forum as good as they come.
Being able to discuss and learn at the same time. And not calling someone an idiot for not knowing.

Randie

"Mohave"

I agree with Chopperfan A very interesting post with no insults or sarcasm.

As a newcomer I feel welcome, the main reason that this forum is the only one on my fav' list. If I may quote Papa-Echo: You guys are the best.

Regards.
P.

Well, POPS.
As a relatively newcomer.....................WELCOME ABOARD!!!!!
Happy modeling!!!!

Randie

Oldhooker,

You're spot-on with most of your info but wasn't the C-23 nicknamed the "Sherpa"?

Army helicopters..... here's a listing of the ones I know about, with the PIASECKI H-25A "Mule" being the one exception to the rule.... anyone know if the "Mule" was a nickname?

TH-13/OH-13 "Sioux"
TH-55 "Osage"
TH-23/OH-23 "Raven"
H-19/UH-19 "Chickasaw "
H-21/CH-21 "Shawnee"
H-25A *"Mule"*
CH-34 "Choctaw"
CH-37 "Mojave"
CH-47 "Chinook"
CH-54 "Tarhe"
AH-56 "Cheyenne"
OH-6 "Cayuse"
OH-58 "Kiowa"
UH-1 "Iroquois"
AH-1 "Cobra"
AH-64 "Apache"
UH-60 "Black Hawk"
TH-67 "Creek"
RH-66 "Comanche"

If I've overlooked any, please refine.

"Go-Go Niner's rolling hot"
Frank

QUOTE: reddog-03: You're spot-on with most of your info but wasn't the C-23 nicknamed the "Sherpa"?

Right you are, Reddog, I stand corrected.... I'll amend the previous post to reflect that, thanks man!

Frank

Gee... I always thought the TH-55 was the "Wobbly Goblin"!!

You guys ARE the best!

For the first few hours at the stick, you'd swear it's the TH-55 "Ohsh*t"!!



Hey Jon, when are you going to Rucker? I'll let you in on a SUPER place to eat just outside the Daleville Gate!! E-Mail me and I'll give you the details, so we won't congest the forum with off-topic stuff.
whitef@gunsagogo.org

Take care,
Frank

I just know I'm going to regret this but

HH-43 Huskie

Regards.
P.

QUOTE: Originally posted by pops I just know I'm going to regret this but HH-43 Huskie Regards. P.

The Huskie was an Air Force helicopter and thus not apropos to the US Army helicopter naming convention. Don't regret asking the question, discussion is always good, especially someone learns something.

Here's irony for you. We name Army Helicopters after people we defeat, in honor of them.

QUOTE: When I did a search about Black Hawk By late April 1832, American regulars and Illinois militiamen began chasing the Indians up the Rock River valley into southern Wisconsin and then west toward the Mississippi. They overtook the exhausted band at the mouth of the Bad Axe River, slaughtering many of them. This crushing defeat persuaded other midwestern tribes to accept removal to the West and ended Black Hawk's public career. After being imprisoned in Virginia for some months, he was sent back to his tribe in disgrace. He died in 1838.

Thankfully, the ones who named Army Helicopters, weren't the ones who desimated the Indians, but paid a recompense to them by assigning their names to our present day winged warriors.

I agree with you completely, however. Personally, I wish the Indians wouldn't have to be the most obscure Race in America! I think they deserve a WHOLE LOT more and a WHOLE LOT better than poverty striken, government regulated reservations in today's America!

Here's to the Indians!
Frank

I think we should consider ourselves lucky. Other countries have fought over land with modern weapons.
The world's a lot smaller now. I can't imagine what happend a couple of centuries ago happening now.

Anyway, that's off topic. I got the answer I was looking for. I just have to keep remembering the oxymoron: Army Intelligence.