The UH-3H helicopter, once active in Indian skies, has now been installed as a museum exhibit on Beach Road, Visakhapatnam. De-inducted by the Indian Naval Air Squadron 350 in 2024, the aircraft introduces visitors to the operations and responsibilities of naval aviators through an accessible display of interiors. It was positioned on its seafront pedestal with the help of a heavy-duty crane, guided into place under the supervision of engineers and naval staff.The UH-3H Museum is the newest link to Visakhapatnam’s distinctive sequence of maritime museums. Within a short distance stand the INS Kursura Submarine Museum, the TU-142 Aircraft Museum, the Sea Harrier Museum, and the Visakha Maritime Museum. Together, they create a continuous coastal corridor of naval history, each site contributing a separate aspect of India’s defence and maritime traditions.Inside the newly inaugurated UH-3H helicopter Museum, a glass-fronted entrance leads into galleries with photographs, panels, and audio-visual materials that outline the helicopter’s history. The exhibition culminates with the aircraft itself, positioned for visitors to explore its interior. The arrangement allows them to observe the crew compartment and cockpit in detail, providing a practical sense of its operational use.Originally designed by Sikorsky for the United States Navy, the UH-3H helicopters served for decades. Six refurbished aircraft, acquired alongside INS Jalashwa, were inducted into the Indian Navy in 2009 and stationed at INS Dega. Known as Saaras, these aircraft undertook search and rescue duties and humanitarian assistance during cyclones and floods in Andhra Pradesh and Odisha.Now preserved on the city’s shoreline, the UH-3H Museum completes Visakhapatnam’s maritime circuit, offering a connected record of naval service across land, sea, and air.Photo: