Monday, March 10, 2014

Texas Military Forces Museum - AH-1 Cobra Mopac Expressway display


The Cobra Gunship, The First Helicopter Specifically Designed as a Weapon.

The Bell AH-1 Cobra (company designation: Model 209) 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's UH-1 Iroquois. The AH-1 is also referred to as the Huey Cobra or Snake.

AH-1, "Cobra" and a UH-M "Huey" in flight. 

The AH-1 was the backbone of the United States Army's attack helicopter fleet, but has been replaced by the AH-64 Apache in Army service.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.
In the Cobra the two man crew sit like in a jet fighter. One serves as the pilot while the other the gunner, sits is in the front.
The pilot's view while flying the Cobra. The gunner is seen siting in front.

The gunner's seat in the front of the cockpit.
The introduction of the M134 Minigun.

Although helicopters had mounted single-barrel machine guns, using them to repel attackers hidden in the dense jungle foliage often led to barrels overheating or cartridge jams. In order to develop a weapon with a more reliable, higher rate of fire, General Electric designers scaled down the rotating-barrel 20 mm M61 Vulcan cannon for 7.62×51 mm NATO ammunition. The resulting weapon, designated M134 and known popularly as the Minigun, could fire up to 4,000 rounds per minute without overheating. The Minigun was mounted in the turret and wing pods on AH-1 Cobra attack helicopters and on door, pylon and pod mounts on UH-1 "Huey" Iroquois transport helicopters.

Video of the then newly developed Minigun. 1-1/2 Minutes.
The Huey paired with at the time the newly developed helicopter mounted Mini-Gun became a very powerful ground support weapons system.

AH-1 - Cobra gunship profile. - 5 minutes.

A short Documentary about the development and combat introduction of the "Cobra" helicopter gunship in 1967.

AH-1 - Cobra gunship in Vietnam. - 3 minutes.

Video with interviews of Cobra crew members.
Civilian uses in fighting forest fires.
Surplus AH-1 helicopters have been converted for fighting forest fires. The United States Forest Service refers to their program as the Firewatch Cobra. Garlick Helicopters also converts surplus AH-1s for forest firefighting under the name, FireSnake. 
The Cobra in a civilian fire fighting role.
General characteristics
  • Crew: 2: one pilot, one co-pilot/gunner (CPG)
  • Length: 53 ft (16.1 m) (with both rotors turning)
  • Rotor diameter: 44 ft (13.6 m)
  • Height: 13 ft 6 in (4.12 m)
  • Empty weight: 6,600 lb (2,993 kg)
  • Max. takeoff weight: 10,000 lb (4,500 kg)
  • Powerplant: 1 × Lycoming T53-L-703 turboshaft, 1,800 shp (1,300 kW)
  • Rotor system: 2 blades on main rotor, 2 blades on tail rotor
  • Fuselage length: 44 ft 7 in (13.6 m)
  • Stub wing span: 10 ft 4 in (3.15 m)
A later improved version of the AH-1 had two engines
Performance
Armament

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