viking73 Posted April 1, 2021 Share #1 Posted April 1, 2021 Hello Group, My name is Derek and I have a problem - I bought another instrument panel today. This is from a UH-1H Huey! Also included was a Huey "Jesus nut" which I think is really cool! Here's some photos: Now the radio call placard is intact which is great but I'm a little stumped. Would this be a 1971 contact Huey? I don't see any 71-7081 s/n though. All the 1971 machines start with -20XXX. So what would it be?? Thanks for looking!! -Derek Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
viking73 Posted April 1, 2021 Author Share #2 Posted April 1, 2021 Oh - I forgot the "Jesus Nut" - here are a few photos of it :) -Derek Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mikie Posted April 1, 2021 Share #3 Posted April 1, 2021 OK, you got me. I had to look up what a Jesus nut was. What did we do before wikipedia? Mikie Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
viking73 Posted April 1, 2021 Author Share #4 Posted April 1, 2021 Turns out this is the main panel from UH-1D 66-17081. Seems it was upgraded to H and then V standards before it was retired. It also served in Mexico and then with the U.S. State Department. Need to do some more digging to see if she was a Vietnam vet also... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hink441 Posted April 2, 2021 Share #5 Posted April 2, 2021 Really neat project you have there. I would be surprised if that airframe didn’t see service in Vietnam. The “0” at the beginning of the call sign is strange. Is that possibly when the USAF was using the “0” prefix to identify older airframes?? Seems unlikely. Looks like a lot of fun. Keep us updated. Chris Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
viking73 Posted April 2, 2021 Author Share #6 Posted April 2, 2021 11 hours ago, hink441 said: Really neat project you have there. I would be surprised if that airframe didn’t see service in Vietnam. The “0” at the beginning of the call sign is strange. Is that possibly when the USAF was using the “0” prefix to identify older airframes?? Seems unlikely. Looks like a lot of fun. Keep us updated. Chris Thanks Chris! It will be another fun one I'm sure :) The "0" before the s/n is the same as the USAF - it means that the airframe is over 10 years old. -Derek Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mohawkALSE Posted April 4, 2021 Share #7 Posted April 4, 2021 I was going to say it seems modified a little bit compared to a standard Army panel so the Mexico and US State Dept stuff explains thats. Also could tell it had been updated over the years for NVG stuff with the panel going from gray to black. My father always hates seeing Hueys after his time with the black paint in the cockpit, he loved his gray interior. Are you going to fill this one out? Huey instruments seem to be pretty pricey these days. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
viking73 Posted April 4, 2021 Author Share #8 Posted April 4, 2021 9 hours ago, mohawkALSE said: I was going to say it seems modified a little bit compared to a standard Army panel so the Mexico and US State Dept stuff explains thats. Also could tell it had been updated over the years for NVG stuff with the panel going from gray to black. My father always hates seeing Hueys after his time with the black paint in the cockpit, he loved his gray interior. Are you going to fill this one out? Huey instruments seem to be pretty pricey these days. Can you tell what items have been modified from standard US Army configuration? I'd love to turn in back to stock US Army. Yes, it has been painted black to go with the NVG use which is sort of a bummer but I was glad to get one with the radio call so I would know what bird it came out of. I am going to try and fill all the holes up. Haven't priced any instruments yet, I'm hoping to get some from the place I got this panel :) I'll shoot you an e-mail with me details T. -Derek Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MattS Posted April 5, 2021 Share #9 Posted April 5, 2021 Must have spent time in the Iowa judging by the radio frequencies on the bottom, DSM is Des Moines, ALO is Waterloo, CID is Cedar Rapids, and SUX is Sioux City. Here's the panel of the last Huey I flew in; Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Rooster Posted April 5, 2021 Share #10 Posted April 5, 2021 I remember from my time on Hueys back in the day, why they called it the Jesus nut... If it ever broke in the air, everyone in the aircraft was going to meet Jesus. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mohawkALSE Posted April 6, 2021 Share #11 Posted April 6, 2021 13 hours ago, MattS said: Must have spent time in the Iowa judging by the radio frequencies on the bottom, DSM is Des Moines, ALO is Waterloo, CID is Cedar Rapids, and SUX is Sioux City. Here's the panel of the last Huey I flew in; Im gonna say that is a recent restoration that gives rides? They painted the panel back to the Vietnam era gray yet it still has the NVG lights on the glare shield and the goose neck like at the center console. If that was an original Nam panel it would have the big Go , No-Go decal with arrow at the bottom left on it too in that big blank spot to the right. I'll have to go through the pics I have from my father and some of the other guys he flew with, def have some UH-1 panel pics from 69-70 time frame. Derek got your email, I'll respond back soon, have had alot on my plate last couple days. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MattS Posted April 6, 2021 Share #12 Posted April 6, 2021 5 hours ago, mohawkALSE said: Im gonna say that is a recent restoration that gives rides? They painted the panel back to the Vietnam era gray yet it still has the NVG lights on the glare shield and the goose neck like at the center console. If that was an original Nam panel it would have the big Go , No-Go decal with arrow at the bottom left on it too in that big blank spot to the right. It was, the group is based in Indiana. I was in Army aviation during the "black panel NVG" era, I know of what you speak. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mohawkALSE Posted April 6, 2021 Share #13 Posted April 6, 2021 36 minutes ago, MattS said: It was, the group is based in Indiana. I was in Army aviation during the "black panel NVG" era, I know of what you speak. Its funny seeing it gray with the NVG lighting. Id like to check that place out sometime, take my father for a ride. Tried to get one a couple years ago from the AAHF Huey that was up in Port Clinton, OH but they only had 1 seat open and he wanted me to go with him. He didn't need a ride alone on a Huey since he flew them, wanted it to be special with me along too. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mohawkALSE Posted June 22, 2021 Share #14 Posted June 22, 2021 Was going through pics and found the one my father took. Appears the serial is 68-15771 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
viking73 Posted December 21, 2022 Author Share #15 Posted December 21, 2022 Hi Group - This thread is a bit old now but I wanted to show you my progress on the Huey panel I posted last year. Huey instruments can be pricy, that's for sure. Also, the small brackets that attach the eyebrow light are almost impossible to find - as are the little blue lights themselves! Luckily for me, another collector was kind enough to send me a CAD file of the brackets and my machine shop owner friend was able to make some for me! I was also able to pick up a wet compass bracket, for some reason I cut it off in the picture of my panel. Here are some close ups with the brackets installed. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
viking73 Posted December 21, 2022 Author Share #16 Posted December 21, 2022 Here's an overall shot. I do have another vertical speed indicator, it's just not installed in this photo. I am waiting to get the larger brackets from my machine shop friend, hopefully he'll have them for me soon! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
viking73 Posted December 21, 2022 Author Share #17 Posted December 21, 2022 And finally, these are the little blue lights that are hard to find. If you have any for sale, please PM me!! I'm also after 3 of these oil pressure gauges if anyone has any for sale :) Thanks for looking. -Derek Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mohawkALSE Posted December 21, 2022 Share #18 Posted December 21, 2022 That panel has come along way, looking good. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
viking73 Posted March 27, 2023 Author Share #19 Posted March 27, 2023 Hi Group - My Huey panel is nearing completion. I have all the instruments and have found all the warning lights and blue NVG covers for them. I'm getting the last bits cleaned up and they will be installed soon. I even managed to score a glare shield for it! Once everything is complete, I will post here again. *RIP mohawkALSE (Tom)...* -Derek Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GAZOO Posted March 27, 2023 Share #20 Posted March 27, 2023 As I remember the TORQUE on the large JESUS NUT was like 580 FT LBS and not easy to do on top of the Helicopter with a very long LARGE torque wrench , I would have to nearly hang of the edge to get out far enough to leverage 580 Ft lbs of torque :) There is also a smaller side Nut that fits into a few of those edge groves and finally safety wired, and like the name if it comes off you meet JESUS You can land without a tail rotor or even a loss of power but without the main rotor you are ****** Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
72psb Posted March 27, 2023 Share #21 Posted March 27, 2023 Derek, Looks really sweet. I can almost here the turbine spinning up.😁 Bob Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
snake36bravo Posted March 28, 2023 Share #22 Posted March 28, 2023 That's impressive. UH-1H 66-17081 flew for the US State Department during drug operations in Columbia. 0-17081 (MSN 9275) converted to UH-1H. To Mexico 1996/7 under Excess Defense Articles Program but grounded Mar 1998. To US State Department (International Narcotics and Law Enforcement) as N349SD Feb 8, 2008. Registran N349SD cancelled Nov 8, 2013 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
viking73 Posted March 28, 2023 Author Share #23 Posted March 28, 2023 7 hours ago, snake36bravo said: That's impressive. UH-1H 66-17081 flew for the US State Department during drug operations in Columbia. 0-17081 (MSN 9275) converted to UH-1H. To Mexico 1996/7 under Excess Defense Articles Program but grounded Mar 1998. To US State Department (International Narcotics and Law Enforcement) as N349SD Feb 8, 2008. Registran N349SD cancelled Nov 8, 2013 Thanks snake, glad you like it! It's been a real labor of love as they say. No info/evidence on 66-17081 being a Vietnam Veteran? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
itshistory Posted April 5, 2023 Share #24 Posted April 5, 2023 UH-1D 66-17081 flew in Vietnam with the 116th Assault Helicopter Company from July 1968 to March 1969. Aircraft was assigned stateside prior to be shipped overseas. IH Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
viking73 Posted May 1, 2023 Author Share #25 Posted May 1, 2023 Hi Group - Well I am calling this one done (sort of) for now. All the instruments and lights are in place. I'm going to install the glare shield at some point, I am still collecting the proper hardware to attach it. It needs a good cleaning anyway before I secure it to the panel. I also need to figure out some sort of stand I think... Here is how it looks now: Here is the glare shield just sitting loose: And a close-up, all the light are in place as you can see: Thanks for looking, this was a fun build!! -Derek Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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