A look inside the UH-3H helicopter at Visakhapatnam’s new naval aviation museum

Explore the UH-3H Helicopter Museum in Visakhapatnam, a captivating exhibit showcasing India's naval aviation history.

Once a soaring sentinel over the seas, the UH-3H helicopter is ready for its next mission. Not in the skies this time, but as a permanent museum exhibit that narrates a gripping chapter of India’s naval aviation history, offering visitors a rare opportunity to step inside and experience the world of naval aviators.

The Indian Naval Air Squadron 350 de-inducted the last three operational UH-3H helicopters last year. One of them was placed as a museum exhibit in Visakhapatnam. Situated at the Beach Road, the soon-to-be inaugurated UH-3H Helicopter Museum is the latest addition in the maritime museum circuit of Visakhapatnam, the only city in India to have five maritime museums within a 500 metres proximity.

The museum, which is expected to be inaugurated shortly during Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Nara Chandrababu Naidu’s visit to the city, now joins a distinguished line-up of defence-themed attractions in Visakhapatnam. Just a short walk away, visitors can explore the INS Kursura Submarine Museum, a decommissioned submarine turned immersive exhibit; the TU-142 Aircraft Museum, showcasing a maritime reconnaissance aircraft; and the Sea Harrier Museum, home to the iconic naval fighter jet. Together with the Visakha Maritime Museum – which displays models of naval ships in various sizes and the glass dome of the Pakistan Naval Ship (PNS) Ghazi – these institutions form a compelling corridor of military history along the coast.

Set to open its doors to the public soon, the museum will showcase the legacy of the multi-utility UH-3H helicopter, a workhorse of the Indian Navy that has played a crucial role in humanitarian assistance and disaster relief operations (HADR) and Search and Rescue (SAR) Operations during natural disasters or emergencies at land/sea.

Overlooking the Bay of Bengal, the museum complements Visakhapatnam’s other iconic naval exhibits, which are living galleries of India’s maritime and defence prowess.

Seventeen years of history lies within the new UH-3H museum, which aims to preserve and display historical information related to the helicopter. Managed by the Visakhapatnam Metropolitan Region Development Authority, the museum offers an engaging experience for visitors of all ages.

The entryway from the glass facade opens into a vibrant, well-lit gallery where striking visuals and detailed displays trace the journey of the iconic helicopter. An audio-visual presentation adds a dramatic touch to the experience, transporting visitors into the cockpit of a naval aviator mid-mission. The entryway opens into a spacious area where the UH-3H helicopter stands tall, inviting visitors to step inside and explore its powerful features up close. The walk-through gives a glimpse of the cockpit and the crew compartment, shedding light on the triumphs and challenges of naval aviation.