Czech Air Force UH-1Y Delivered

The Czech Air Force's first UH-1Y Venom arrived at Namest nad Oslavou alongside a third AH-1Z Viper, introducing the utility half of the country's H-1 helicopter system. The Venom carries troops, cargo and casualties and shares engines, rotor systems and much of its avionics with the AH-1Z, an arrangement that lets a small air force train and maintain both types together. The aircraft forms part of a twenty-helicopter programme, twelve bought and eight transferred at no cost by the United States, that is replacing the Soviet-era Mi-24 and Mi-35 fleet.