1/48 scale plastic model helicopter UH-1Y VENOM

KH80124 - UH-1Y VENOM 1/48 plastic model helicopter

The Bell UH-1Y Venom is an American military helicopter built by Bell Aircraft Corporation. It is intended to replace the Bell UH-1 Iroquois in the Marine Corps.

A modernized version of the Twin Huey helicopters used by the Marines since the 1970s, this model was refurbished and introduced in 2008. The last of the 92 new aircraft ordered was delivered on January 14, 2019.

The main improvement is the installation of a four-blade rotor instead of the two-blade of its predecessor. Made of fiber composites, it is designed to withstand multiple direct impacts from weapons with calibers up to 23 mm. The aircraft also features improved turbines and transmission, and modernized avionics and electronics, thanks to the addition of multifunction LCD screens. Despite this, it retains 84% of the same parts as the AH-1Z combat helicopter. Thanks to these installations, the UH-1Y has a 125% increase in payload compared with the UH-1N, a 50% increase in range, a higher cruising speed and a reduction in structural vibrations, improving the aircraft's stability.

This aircraft is equipped with a 3rd generation Forward Looking Infrared (FLIR) sensor produced by Lockheed Martin, also used on the AH-1Z Viper and the KC-130J Harvest Hawk. This sensor guarantees all-weather target detection and tracking.