Why are american attack helicopters named after American Indians?
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 [C):-)]
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!
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 [C):-)]
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.
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 [C):-)]
[2c] “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 [C):-)]
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
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!
[(-D]
For the first few hours at the stick, you’d swear it’s the TH-55 “Ohsh*t”!!
[(-D]
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.
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.