Army Aviation Heritage Foundation Gateway Chapter Holds First St. Louis Public Ride Event of the Season

By Carmelo Turdo

The Army Aviation Heritage Foundation Gateway Chapter held their first St. Louis ride event of the season at Creve Coeur Airport on Saturday, May 17. Throughout the day, the chapter's Vietnam War-era Huey and Cobra helicopters could be seen, and their characteristic rotor slap heard, over the Missouri River just west of the airport as their passengers received the flight of a lifetime. The Aero Experience was there to capture several Huey and Cobra flights during our coverage of this event. 

The Army Aviation Heritage Foundation (AAHF) is a flying museum that honors American soldiers and their families through living history programs using former U.S. Army helicopters, including the iconic Huey and Cobra. The AAHF is based in Hampton, GA with additional chapters in Mesa, AZ and St. Louis. Many of the AAHF members themselves are Army veterans who flew and maintained these aircraft during their service. Contact the AAHF to become a member and join the chapter near you.

The Gateway Chapter's 1968 Bell UH-1H Huey served in Vietnam from 1969 to 1971 with the 191st Assault Helicopter Company, named the "Boomerangs" because they always came back from their missions. It served at Fort Sam Houston, TX (1971-1975) and Fort Rucker, AL (1976-1995) before being retired and becoming part of the AAHF fleet in 1998. Today it is flown by veteran pilots and crewed by a new generation of aviation professionals, like Safety Crew Chief and The Aero Experience contributor Alexis Noel, who make these public flights possible. 

The Gateway Chapter's 1967 Bell AH-1F Cobra served in Vietnam with the 227th Assault Helicopter Battalion from 1968 to 1971. It served at Hunter Army Airfield, GA (1971-1981), Korea (1981-1996) and with the TN Army National Guard in Smyrna, TN (1996-2001) before becoming part of the AAHF fleet in 2001. These front-seat riders obviously enjoyed their flights as shown below from Saturday's event. 

The Aero Experience thanks the Army Aviation Heritage Foundation Gateway Chapter for sharing these iconic aircraft with the public on this and other flight events throughout the year. Check their website for the next ride opportunities near you. Here are some concluding views of the Huey and Cobra being tucked away in their hangar at the end of the day.