Best Defense
Thomas E. Ricks' daily take on national security.

Viva Huey?

I thought there were no more UH-1s flying in the military inventory. But look at that: An olive drab one just flew past my window on the same flight path that Marine CH-53s and Army UH-60s usually take on what I believe is a prime presidential evacuation path out of DC. Any of you smart ...

Humptyback Treefrog/Flickr
Humptyback Treefrog/Flickr
Humptyback Treefrog/Flickr

I thought there were no more UH-1s flying in the military inventory. But look at that: An olive drab one just flew past my window on the same flight path that Marine CH-53s and Army UH-60s usually take on what I believe is a prime presidential evacuation path out of DC. Any of you smart readers know what I just saw? It didn't make the same "whop-whop" sound as the old Hueys -- its rotors sounded less choppy, smoother, a bit more like a Black Hawk. Is this some sort of National Guard aircraft?

I thought there were no more UH-1s flying in the military inventory. But look at that: An olive drab one just flew past my window on the same flight path that Marine CH-53s and Army UH-60s usually take on what I believe is a prime presidential evacuation path out of DC. Any of you smart readers know what I just saw? It didn’t make the same "whop-whop" sound as the old Hueys — its rotors sounded less choppy, smoother, a bit more like a Black Hawk. Is this some sort of National Guard aircraft?

Thomas E. Ricks covered the U.S. military from 1991 to 2008 for the Wall Street Journal and then the Washington Post. He can be reached at ricksblogcomment@gmail.com. Twitter: @tomricks1

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