1966 BELL This is a retired 1966 USAF TH 1F UH1 F Bell HUEY helicopter that has been stored in.
Item specifics
| Condition: | Used | Model Year: | 1966 |
| Make: | BELL |
The UH1-F models were in service with our USAF from 1966 to the early 1980’s. Originally, they were tasked with supporting the USAF Strategic AIR Command’s (SAC) ICBM Missile Bases. Some also saw war time use in Vietnam during the war. 119 or 120 UH1-F’s were made depending on the source of information. An additional 26 were made as TH1-F’s variant the training version. This is number 1 of 26 of the TH 1-F, built in 1966. It likely served as a trainer during those 20 years. The trainers like this one came outfitted with every option available from Bell to provide training! The best I can tell is It has a total of around 7500 hours of use. These F models were designed for use with the General Electric T58-GE-3 engine (that is in it). At the time the USAF had a large number of these engines in inventory for use on their Sikorsky HH-3E Jolly Roger heavy helicopter. The engine sits in backwards in the HUEY F model compared to the way it was mounted in front of the rotors on the Jolly Roger (HH-3E). This gives the UH1-F models the distinctive side exhaust exit on the right rear!
Length of fuselage: 44’11” long 57’1” long with blades turning Height: 14’ 5” (blades mounted) Tail rotor: 8’6” Cabin Width: 8‘ 7” Empty Weight: 4403 pounds Gross Weight: 9000 pounds (for flight)
In the early 1980’s the USAF released it into storage mode at Davis Monthan, AFB in AZ. Most aircraft are flown into the base from their assignment. It was placed into moth ball storage mode and stored. When released from Davis Monthan these aircraft found many non-military uses. These F models were the First Model helicopter the California Department of Forestry placed in service as Helitack Fire Fighting helicopters. Some were shipped to Australia as fire fighters and loggers and are still in service today. A few were used in the logging industry here in the USA and a few are still in service in that role. Of course, some were lost in Vietnam. I believe this Helicopter is most likely the last and only Bell TH-1F / UH-F still in moth ball mode all in original condition as equipped including bullet resistant plates on pilots seats, cargo hook, rear seats, etc.
This Helicopter was in Davis Monthan AFB in the 1980’s (I have a book showing it there). It was placed in long term storage for later use as needed. At some point it was relocated to Ellington Air National Guard base in Texas for a period of time. Someone contacted me and reported to me he thinks it was a gate guardian in Texas (I have zero reason to believe this because there are no indications of this on the helicopter mounting etc and it’s still in the wrapping from long term storage in Davis Monthan). It was transferred to the US Customs department after Davis Monthan for several years, so it likely sat in the US Customs yard in Texas waiting for them to place it in service (which never happened because it is still in moth ball mode).
At some point after US Customs released it, it was transferred via a railroad flat car to a non-profit group in Texas. My understanding from a few eye witnesses that saw it at the time, said that when it was unloaded from the rail car, by a tractor that was not large enough to handle the helicopter, it was dropped from about three feet onto its skids. This forced the rear cross tube up into the box that holds it in place. I am not a UH-1 expert and I have not tried to confirm the level of damage in the cross tube box. You can see in the pictures sitting on the trailer it is supported in this area by cribbing blocks to prevent any further damage during storage and shipping. In a short time frame, the US Government determined this nonprofit group to be dishonest in their operations and claims of tax-exempt status as a nonprofit group and repossessed this helicopter from this group. People familiar with the situation reported seeing the Aircraft logs in this nonprofit groups hands but upon the repossession of the aircraft, no logs were turned over and it appears to be the last time any logs were ever seen for this helicopter. The logs were either kept and or destroyed most likely out of spite! THE AIRCRAFT COMES WITH NO LOGS OF ANY KIND! The aircraft does have a cargo hook!
Next the Helicopter was offered to a Museum in Central Texas. The Museum picked up the Helicopter without any logs and placed it in an outside display in its current condition mothballed with the mast and blades removed for eight or so years. The Helicopter does come with the Original sales paperwork from the US Government selling it “ As an Aircraft ” to the Museum and an “FAA Bill of Sale” selling it to the Current owner from the Museum. Most of the old scrap helicopters you see for sale were sold as scrap with all serial numbers removed and no path to ever make them airworthy again! This Helicopter paperwork wise has a traceable ownership history and proof of legal ownership! Hard for the government to make any claim against it in the future!
The current owner will provide an “FAA Bill of sale” to the buyers and any and all paperwork he has on or about the Helicopter to the buyer.
The ideal situation would be someone wanting to restore it to its original flight condition and make it available to the public to be seen in operation. But, that’s just my dream. This could be done as a Experimental Exhibition.
This helicopter is not in flyable or in operating condition and would likely cost a large amount of money and time to make flyable again. Seller represents the Helicopter and itʼs components to be 99% complete (no inventory of the Helicopter parts have taken place by seller). Most likely some hardware missing (nuts and bolts, you can see a couple things missing in the radio area and dash area. If you don"t see it in the pictures call me and ask I might be able to direct you to it in the photos. Specifically noted is hidden internal damage in the upper rear cross-tube skid support box/ area of this helicopter. There are no aircraft logs or manuals of any kind available from the seller for this helicopter. To summarize, this Helicopter comes with some minor damage, is not flyable at this time, has no logs, is possibly missing some parts and has been sitting for over 30 years.
FYI, all the manuals are available for purchase from different sources around the country for this model helicopter! Blades, tail rotor, stinger, stabilizer bars etc are all on the trailer bed!
THIS SALE IS AN “AS IS-WHERE IS” SALE, Seller will help the buyers in any way he can when he is in the area where the equipment is located (seller is in a west coast states most of the time). THE HELICOPTER IS LOCATED INSIDE A BUILDING (it’s been stored inside all the time I have owned it) in the south western part of South Dakota about 100 miles east of Rapid City, SD.
As you see it sitting on the trailer is how it’s currently stored.
NOW FOR THE NUTS AND BOLTS OF THINGS!
If you require time to conduct a visual inspection of it (15 to 30 mins, you will not be allowed to unbolt, remove, test, any part of it) arrangements will have to be made with the seller prior to close of the AUCTION. ONCE THE AUCTION CLOSES IF YOU’RE THE HIGH BIDDER and reserve is met, IT’S YOUR HELICOPTER!!!!! Contact number is : 760 580-2365
IF YOU DON’T LIVE UP TO THE TERMS OF THIS AUCTION I WILL PROVIDE FEED BACK TO EBAY STATING AS MUCH. NOTE: I MIGHT SEND OUT A SECOND CHANCE OFFER TO THE NEXT BIDDER IF I GET A FLAKE.
DON’T BID ON IT IF YOU DON’T HAVE THE MONEY AND THE WIFE’S PERMISSION!
If you have less than a 5 bid history, I will cancel your bid unless you contact me first to clear it. This is a real sale and I am not playing games with jokers.
I am not a dealer and don’t finance sales. If you’re the High Bidder I expect within 7 days $10,000 US Dollars NON-Refundable Wired into my account or in CASH to me. Then you will have 30 days to remove the Helicopter from it’s location! Once paid in full by wire or Cash, all paperwork i have and the helicopter will be turned over to you.
SHIPPING: THIS IS A LOCAL PICK UP AUCTION! THAT MEANS YOU OR YOUR SHIPPER COMES AND GET IT FROM ME! YOU PAY FOR THE CRANE TO REMOVE IT FROM MY TRAILER AND TO PUT IT ON YOURS!
SPECIAL NOTE: DO NOT BELIEVE ANY SHIPPING QUOTE PROVIDED TO YOU BY EBAY BY CLICKING ON ANY THING ON THIS AD! I DON’T APPROVE THEM AND THEY ARE AS PHONY AS A 3 DOLLAR BILL. THE TRUE PRICE WILL BE DOUBLE OR TRIPLE OR MORE THAN WHAT THEY QUOTE!
You should contact an aircraft shipping company or other group for a real bid.
However: As a convenience to work with an honest buyer I may be willing to offer you a few options: One would be for you to buy the trailer it’s sitting on from me. It’s a high-end Gator trailer thats been parked inside it’s total life and was bought just to move this helicopter. I don’t need to sell the trailer. But, to help the buyer out I would be willing. The trailer is set up to be pulled by either a goose neck or a fifth wheel hitch and has a 10,000 pound plus 12 volt winch mounted on the deck. The trailer has a heavy duty rating for other uses like moving tractors etc., 2 axles 8 wheels and a spare tire and wheel, LED lights, tool box, etc. So If it helps you, you can simply back a heavy duty pickup (like in the picture) under the trailer and drive away. I will sell it to you for an additional $20,000.00 in CASH or Wire Transfer outside of this auction. If this interests you we can talk about it any time you would like. Just call me! 760 580-2365 I can give you the spec’s on the trailer and you will find it’s about the price of a new one, but you will not have to drive to Kentucky to buy it and haul it clear to South Dakota like I did.
A second option is: I might be willing to deliver the helicopter to your location depending on where it is for a price to be agreed upon in advance between us. You would pay this price above the auction price and you would pay for the crane on your end to unload the aircraft from the trailer. For the most part, I am not interested in going very far east of South Dakota but you can ask. This would be a more likely option heading West or southwest of SD.
Contact phone number is 760 580-2365. Call me with any question you have before you bid!
Current date: 2018-07-07