Bell AH-1G Cobra
The Bell AH-1 Cobra (also called HueyCobra) owes its existence to the Vietnam War. While the proof of the air cavalry concept was being proven every day, the US Army was also losing huge amounts of helicopters to ground fire. Equipping the troop-carrying “slicks” with door guns helped, and arming the UH-1 Iroquois/Huey with weapons was another interim solution. Clearly, however, the solution lay with a dedicated attack helicopter that could defend the troop carriers.
Bell, the manufacturer of the UH-1, had been also experimenting with a concept of a heavily armed, turreted, and thin fuselage helicopter. The US Army awarded a proof-of-concept contract to Bell, which replied in a heavily modified Model 47 called the Sioux Scout. It failed to win any orders, but Bell kept at it even as the Army pursued the far more complicated and expensive AH-56 Cheyenne. This resulted in the Model 209, based on components of the UH-1 and the original conceptual design.
With the Vietnam War intensifying and the Cheyenne going nowhere, the Army issued a requirement for an interim solution, which the Model 209—built and tested in only eight months—won easily. The Army ordered 110 AH-1Gs in April 1966 and the type was in action in Vietnam a year later. It was highly successful there, and successive marks of the Cobra would continue to fight in America’s wars since—Grenada and both Gulf Wars. US Army Cobras were upgraded continually in the 1980s, resulting in a dizzying number of variants: the AH-1S (with upgraded engine), AH-1P (with flat glass windscreen), AH-1Q (with TOW missile system), AH-1E (with 20mm gatling cannon in nose turret), and AH-1F (with laser rangefinder and countermeasures). In 1988, the Army finally gave up and redesignated the whole lot as AH-1S.
US Army Cobras were finally retired in 2001, but USMC Cobras remain in service, with the fleet being converted to AH-1Z Kingcobras. Israel, Iran, and Pakistan likewise have used and continue to use their Cobra fleet, and it is generally considered to be the most successful and prototypical attack helicopter.
This AH-1G is 67-15574, delivered to the US Army in 1968, and was sent to Vietnam as part of the 17th Cavalry Regiment's Troop C, attached to the 1st Cavalry Division (Airmobile) at Di An, South Vietnam. In 1970, it was transferred to the 114th Assault Helicopter Company ("Knights") at Vinh Long, and would remain with that unit until 1972. While in Vietnam, 67-15574 was hit four times by small arms fire. After returning home, the aircraft would serve with the 82nd Airborne Division at Fort Bragg, North Carolina until retirement in 1975. It was then donated to the Texas Aviation Historical Society in Amarillo, where it remained until 2008. It was acquired by the Palm Springs Air Museum later that year.
When PSAM got 67-15574, it was oddly painted in JGSDF camouflage, though it retained its Army markings. The museum repainted it as it appeared with the 114th AHC, complete with sharkmouth; it carries two rocket pods under the wings. While very effective against North Vietnamese infantry, it was largely ineffective against tanks, which led to the development of the AGM-71 TOW missile.
EDIT (June 2023): A little better picture of this AH-1 in less crowded conditions, taken when we made a return stop at Palm Springs.
Bell AH-1G Cobra
The Bell AH-1 Cobra (also called HueyCobra) owes its existence to the Vietnam War. While the proof of the air cavalry concept was being proven every day, the US Army was also losing huge amounts of helicopters to ground fire. Equipping the troop-carrying “slicks” with door guns helped, and arming the UH-1 Iroquois/Huey with weapons was another interim solution. Clearly, however, the solution lay with a dedicated attack helicopter that could defend the troop carriers.
Bell, the manufacturer of the UH-1, had been also experimenting with a concept of a heavily armed, turreted, and thin fuselage helicopter. The US Army awarded a proof-of-concept contract to Bell, which replied in a heavily modified Model 47 called the Sioux Scout. It failed to win any orders, but Bell kept at it even as the Army pursued the far more complicated and expensive AH-56 Cheyenne. This resulted in the Model 209, based on components of the UH-1 and the original conceptual design.
With the Vietnam War intensifying and the Cheyenne going nowhere, the Army issued a requirement for an interim solution, which the Model 209—built and tested in only eight months—won easily. The Army ordered 110 AH-1Gs in April 1966 and the type was in action in Vietnam a year later. It was highly successful there, and successive marks of the Cobra would continue to fight in America’s wars since—Grenada and both Gulf Wars. US Army Cobras were upgraded continually in the 1980s, resulting in a dizzying number of variants: the AH-1S (with upgraded engine), AH-1P (with flat glass windscreen), AH-1Q (with TOW missile system), AH-1E (with 20mm gatling cannon in nose turret), and AH-1F (with laser rangefinder and countermeasures). In 1988, the Army finally gave up and redesignated the whole lot as AH-1S.
US Army Cobras were finally retired in 2001, but USMC Cobras remain in service, with the fleet being converted to AH-1Z Kingcobras. Israel, Iran, and Pakistan likewise have used and continue to use their Cobra fleet, and it is generally considered to be the most successful and prototypical attack helicopter.
This AH-1G is 67-15574, delivered to the US Army in 1968, and was sent to Vietnam as part of the 17th Cavalry Regiment's Troop C, attached to the 1st Cavalry Division (Airmobile) at Di An, South Vietnam. In 1970, it was transferred to the 114th Assault Helicopter Company ("Knights") at Vinh Long, and would remain with that unit until 1972. While in Vietnam, 67-15574 was hit four times by small arms fire. After returning home, the aircraft would serve with the 82nd Airborne Division at Fort Bragg, North Carolina until retirement in 1975. It was then donated to the Texas Aviation Historical Society in Amarillo, where it remained until 2008. It was acquired by the Palm Springs Air Museum later that year.
When PSAM got 67-15574, it was oddly painted in JGSDF camouflage, though it retained its Army markings. The museum repainted it as it appeared with the 114th AHC, complete with sharkmouth; it carries two rocket pods under the wings. While very effective against North Vietnamese infantry, it was largely ineffective against tanks, which led to the development of the AGM-71 TOW missile.
EDIT (June 2023): A little better picture of this AH-1 in less crowded conditions, taken when we made a return stop at Palm Springs.