Liberty War Bird Association (LWBA) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization which serves as a flying museum. By restoring Huey 823 to flight, we have the opportunity to engage with Vietnam veterans and their loved ones, allowing their stories to be told.
Liberty War Birds (LWBA) has a fully restored and flyable U.S. Army UH-1H (Huey) helicopter which can be used to provide support for appropriate activities (see below).
Currently we are able to conduct fly-by’s/fly-overs of events and land, in appropriate and surveyed landing sites, for static displays. Static displays will include accompanying docents who will provide a discussion of this particular helicopter, as well as the role that the UH-1 played in the Vietnam War. Visitors will be allowed to access the aircraft for pictures.
Appropriate activities include:
- Veteran’s events
- Holiday celebrations
- Municipal events
- Social, church, fraternal organization and other gatherings that have an inclusive and respectful theme
- Airshows
Flight support requires sponsor funding and participation in arranging support such as permission to use proposed landing zones, municipal clearance, etc. Please see below for access to cost information and a request form.
LWBA Helicopter support is contingent upon meeting the criteria of our tax-exempt status, our charter to honor Veterans and to educate the general public, particularly about the role of the UH-1 helicopter in Vietnam.
- The current cost for operating the aircraft is $2,500 per flying hour. For general planning purposes you can plan on 1 flying hour for each 50 miles of distance from the Lancaster, PA airport to the location of the event (that computation provides for a 100-mile/1hour round trip).
- The selection of an appropriate helicopter landing zone (HLZ) needs to be done by a member of LWBA, but in general should be at least the size of a football field and should not have any significant obstructions, such as light poles, wires, antennas, high tension lines, etc., in the near vicinity.
- Helicopter operations are normally conducted between the end of March and mid-November of each year, with the winter months devoted to extended maintenance.
- Once an initial affirmative decision to support a request has been made, it will be placed on the schedule but the date cannot be guaranteed until a deposit of 10% of the total estimated cost is received. The deposit is fully refundable in case of cancellation.
