https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bell_AH-1_Cobra
The Bell AH-1 Cobra is a two-blade, single engine attack helicopter manufactured
by Bell Helicopter. It was developed using the engine, transmission and rotor
system of the Bell UH-1 Iroquois. A member of the prolific Huey family, the AH-1
is also referred to as the HueyCobra or Snake.
The AH-1 was the backbone of the United States Army's attack helicopter fleet,
but has been replaced by the AH-64 Apache in Army service. Upgraded versions
continue to fly with the militaries of several other nations. The AH-1 twin
engine versions remain in service with United States Marine Corps (USMC) as the
service's primary attack helicopter. Surplus AH-1 helicopters have been
converted for fighting forest fires.
Role
Attack helicopter
Manufacturer
Bell Helicopter
First flight
7 September 1965
Introduction
1967
Status
In service
Primary users
United States Army (historical)
Japan Ground Self-Defense Force
Republic of Korea Army
Royal Jordanian Air Force
Produced
Number built
1,116
Unit cost
US$11.3 million (1995) (AH-1 HueyCobra)
Developed from
Bell UH-1 Iroquois
Variants
Bell AH-1 SeaCobra/SuperCobra
Bell 309 KingCobra
By June 1967, the first AH-1G HueyCobras had been delivered. Originally
designated as UH-1H, the "A" for attack designation was soon adopted and when
the improved UH-1D became the UH-1H, the HueyCobra became the AH-1G. The AH-1
was initially considered a variant of the H-1 line, resulting in the G series
letter.
AH-1 Cobras were in use by the Army during the Tet offensive in 1968 and through
to the end of the Vietnam War. Cobras provided fire support for ground forces,
escorted transport helicopters and other roles, including aerial rocket
artillery (ARA) battalions in the two Airmobile divisions. They also formed
"hunter killer" teams by pairing with OH-6A scout helicopters. A team featured
one OH-6 flying slow and low to find enemy forces. If the OH-6 drew fire, the
Cobra could strike at the then revealed enemy. On 12 September 1968, Capt.
Ronald Fogleman was flying an F-100 Super Sabre when the aircraft was shot down
and he ejected 200 miles north of Bien Hoa. Fogleman became the only pilot to be
rescued by holding on to an Army AH-1G's deployed gun-panel door. Bell built
1,116 AH-1Gs for the U.S. Army between 1967 and 1973, and the Cobras chalked up
over a million operational hours in Vietnam; the number of Cobras in service
peaked at 1,081. Out of nearly 1,110 AH-1s delivered from 1967 to 1973
approximately 300 were lost to combat and accidents during the war. The U.S.
Marine Corps used AH-1G Cobras in Vietnam for a short time before acquiring
twin-engine AH-1J Cobras.
The U.S. Army phased out the AH-1 during the 1990s and retired the AH-1 from
active service in March 1999, offering them to NATO allies. The Army retired the
AH-1 from reserves in September 2001. The retired AH-1s have been passed to
other nations and to the USDA Forest Service. The AH-1 continues to be in
service with the US military, by the US Marine Corps, which operate the
twin-engine AH-1W SuperCobra and AH-1Z Viper.
Specifications
General characteristics
Crew: 2: one pilot, one co-pilot/gunner (CPG)
Length: 53 ft (16.2 m) (with both rotors turning)
Rotor diameter: 44 ft (13.4 m)
Height: 13 ft 6 in (4.12 m)
Empty weight: 5,810 lb (2,630 kg)
Max. takeoff weight: 9,500 lb (4,310 kg)
Rotor system: 2 blades on main rotor, 2 blades on tail rotor
Fuselage length: 44 ft 5 in (13.5 m)
Stub wing span: 10 ft 4 in (3.15 m)
Performance
Never exceed speed: 190 knots (219 mph, 352 km/h)
Maximum speed: 149 knots (171 mph, 277 km/h)
Range: 310 nmi (357 mi, 574 km)
Service ceiling: 11,400 ft (3,475 m)
Rate of climb: 1,230 ft/min (6.25 m/s)
Armament
launchers, or one of each, in the M28 turret. (When one of each was mounted, the
minigun was mounted on the right side of the turret, due to feeding problems.)
2.75 in (70 mm) rockets - 7 rockets mounted in the M158 launcher or 19 rockets
in the M200 launcher
M18 7.62 mm Minigun pod or XM35 armament subsystem with XM195 20 mm cannon
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