What is a Bell AH-1 Cobra?
A: The Bell AH-1 Cobra is a single-engine attack helicopter developed and
manufactured by the American rotorcraft manufacturer Bell Helicopter.
A member of the prolific Huey family, the AH-1 is also
referred to as what?
A: The HueyCobra or Snake.
The AH-1 was developed using the engine, transmission
and rotor system of what?
A: The Bell UH-1 Iroquois, which had proven itself to be a capable platform
during the Vietnam War.
It was produced in response to fulfil a need for what?
A: A dedicated armed escort for transport helicopters to give the latter
greater survivability in contested environments.
Accordingly, the AH-1 was a dedicated attack
helicopter, featuring what?
A: A tandem cockpit, stub wings for weapons, and a chin-mounted
gun turret.
For several decades, the AH-1 formed the core of what?
A: The US Army's attack helicopter fleet, seeing combat in Vietnam, Grenada,
Panama, and the Gulf War.
In US Army service, the Cobra was progressively
replaced by what?
A: The newer and more capable Boeing AH-64 Apache during the 1990s.
Where did the Israeli Air Force (IAF) operate the Cobra
most prolifically?
A: Along its land border with Lebanon, using its fleet intensively during
the 1982 Lebanon War.
Upgraded versions of the Cobra have been developed,
such as what?
A: The twin engine AH-1 SeaCobra/SuperCobra and the experimental Bell 309
KingCobra.
On 3 September 1965, Bell rolled out its what?
A: Its Model 209 prototype, and four days later it made its maiden flight.
The US Army needed an interim gunship for Vietnam and
it approached how many separate companies with its request to provide a
quick solution?
A: Five.
Submissions came in for armed variants of what?
A: The Boeing-Vertol ACH-47A, Kaman HH-2C Tomahawk, Piasecki 16H Pathfinder,
Sikorsky S-61, and the Bell 209.
During April 1966, Bell's submission emerged victorious
in what?
A: An evaluation against the other rival helicopters.
The US Army promptly signed the first production
contract, ordering an initial batch of how many aircraft?
A: 110
By the end of the year, rapid follow-on orders had
increased this to how many Cobras?
A: 500.
The Bell 209 demonstrator was used for the next six
years to do what?
A: To test weapons and fit of equipment.
The demonstrator was retired to where?
A: The Patton Museum at Fort Knox, Kentucky and converted to approximately
its original appearance.
The Bell 209 design was modified in several respects
for what?
A: Production.
The retractable skids were replaced by what?
A: Simpler fixed skids; this was not due to any recorded design flaw or
serviceably, but it was feared that the landing gear bay could become
inundated with mud.
It was also decided that a plexiglass canopy should
replace the Model 209's what?
A: Armored glass canopy, which was heavy enough to negatively impact
performance.
The umbrella-shaped dive brake was deleted, having
reportedly what?
A: Self-destructed during its first test flight.