Parade will be thunderstruck
A THUNDERING Huey will pass over Coffs Harbour's Anzac Day parade in a flight of remembrance honouring fallen diggers.
The Bell UH-1 Iroquois, owned by Precision Helicopters, will depart the company's hangar at the Coffs Harbour Airport at 9am and fly over the CBD at approximately 9.10am.
The Huey, the world's most widely-used military helicopter, is renowned for its role during the Vietnam War.
During the conflict more than 5000 of the famed choppers were used across south-east Asia as air assault gunships, MedEvacs and personnel transport.
Easily identifiable by its thundering sound and iconic shape the 'Huey' was later idolised in Hollywood blockbusters such as Apocalypse Now, Full Metal Jacket, Platoon and We Were Soldiers.
"Hueys began arriving in Vietnam in 1963," Jo Young of Precision Helicopters said.
"They have logged over 27 million flight hours from the 1950s to the present day making them the most widely used helicopters in the world."
Coffs Harbour RSL president Bob Payne said he was thrilled to have a flight of remembrance during this year's Anzac Day commemorations.
Enthusiasts are welcome to view the Huey's departure from the Precision Helicopters hangar at 77 Aviation Drive at 9am and its return at 9.30am.
