Why are U.S. helicopters named after Indian tribes?

According to Van Heuvelen, naming helicopters after Native Americans was once an official Army regulation, which was meant to suggest an aggressive spirit and confidence. Today that regulation and stated intent no longer stands, but the tradition continues.

Why does the military use Native American names?

According to AR 70-28, Army aircraft were specifically categorized as requiring “Indian terms and names of American Indian tribes and chiefs.” Names to choose from were provided by the Bureau of Indian Affairs. Other categories included tanks, which were to be named after American generals like Gen.

Are helicopters named after native tribes?

Army helicopters in particular are mostly named after Native American tribes. For example the AH-64 Apache, CH-47 Chinook, AH-56 Cheyenne, and the UH-72A Lakota. This tradition is believed to have been started in the 1940s before the Air Force was separate from the Army.

Why is the helicopter called Apache?

The AH-64 was named the Apache in late 1981, following the tradition of naming Army helicopters after Native American tribes. It was approved for full-scale production in 1982. In 1983, the first production helicopter was rolled out at Hughes Helicopter's facility at Mesa, Arizona.

What military equipment is named after Indian tribes?

The reason Army helicopters are named after native tribes will make you smile. The Army's helicopters have a number of names you recognize immediately: Apache, Black Hawk, Kiowa, Lakota, Comanche. They are also known as the names of Native American tribes. This is not a coincidence.

Here’s why Army helicopters have Native American names

Why is it called a Chinook helicopter?

The Chinook is a heavy-lift helicopter that is among the heaviest lifting Western helicopters. Its name, Chinook, is from the Native American Chinook people of Oregon and Washington state. A U.S. Army CH-47 departs a landing zone in 2014 after unloading soldiers.

What is the Blackhawk helicopter named after?

Named after the Native American war leader Black Hawk, the UH-60A entered service with the U.S. Army in 1979, to replace the Bell UH-1 Iroquois as the Army's tactical transport helicopter.

How many Apaches does the U.S. have?

More than 1,200 Apache aircraft are currently in service with the US Army and international forces.

Which is better Cobra or Apache?

'From a logistics standpoint, the AH-1 is hands down the winner. The AH-1 has 84% parts commonality with the UH-1. This means spare parts can be split between the two aircraft and dramatically reduce logistics efforts to maintain a certain level of readiness. 'In upgrade speed, the AH-1 also wins.

Can a civilian own an Apache helicopter?

Prior to 2001, the AH-1 Cobra attack chopper was considered the backbone of the U.S. Army's helicopter fleet… and now you can buy your own for the decidedly low price of just around $2 million. The popular aircraft sales site Aviators Market recently published a listing for a 1981 Bell 209 AH-1 Cobra.

What tribe was Chief Black Hawk from?

Black Hawk's Story. Black Hawk was born in Saukenuk, Illinois. A member of the "Sauk" (present-day Sac & Fox) tribe, he belonged to the Thunder Clan.

Who named the Indian tribes?

The word Indian came to be used because Christopher Columbus repeatedly expressed the mistaken belief that he had reached the shores of South Asia. Convinced he was correct, Columbus fostered the use of the term Indios (originally, “person from the Indus valley”) to refer to the peoples of the so-called New World.

What happened to the Chinook tribe?

Because American colonialism severely disrupted Chinook culture, ultimately removing the people to reservations, most information about traditional Chinook life is based on the records of these and other traders and explorers, together with what is known of neighbouring groups.

How are Native American names chosen?

As opposed to the Native American naming tradition, modern society has traditionally turned more to external,rather than internal, inspiration for naming the individual. Native American names are drawn from Nature, which provides the child with a strong sense of being part of the natural environment.

What does the army do with old helicopters?

Some U.S. military organizations, including certain U.S. military museums, are permitted to directly trade or sell military helicopters that have been declared as excess inventory.

Why don t the Marines use the Apache?

The Marine Corps could not use the same variant of Apache that the US Army uses, it would have to be adapted into a marine version and the numbers would simply not be there to make it an economical option.

What will replace the Apache?

The Future Attack Reconnaissance Aircraft to replace Boeing's AH-64 Apache helicopters is on a later timeline than the Black Hawk replacement. But Sikorsky and Bell are competing for that one too, with a design fly-off taking place at the end of 2022.

Does the U.S. Navy have Apache helicopters?

The navalized Apache is viewed as a replacement for the aging Bell AH-1 Sea Cobras that are in service with the Navy and Marines. With the introduction of a four-blade rotor system to the current Marine Sea Cobra, the AH-1W, the Bell Cobra is believed to have reached the limit of its development.

Does the Air Force have Apaches?

The Air Force teamed its newest combat search and rescue helicopter, the HH-60W Jolly Green II, with the Army's AH-64 Apache to training in Florida in May.

How long can an Apache stay in the air?

Aside from an estimated top speed (188 mph) about 20 mph faster than the AH-64D, the AH-64E can hang out longer once it reaches the battle. Given about a 15-minute trip to the field, the old model can stay in the air in a fight for about 2½ to three hours. The Guardian can fight for about three to 3½ hours.

Are Apache helicopters bulletproof?

The Apache is heavily armored on all sides. ... The cockpit is protected by layers of reinforced armor and bulletproof glass. According to Boeing, every part of the helicopter can survive 12.7-mm rounds, and vital engine and rotor components can withstand 23-mm fire.

Can a civilian buy a Black Hawk helicopter?

As a Lockheed Martin company, Sikorsky can now offer international customers via direct commercial sale a BLACK HAWK helicopter integrated with guns, rockets and missiles.