Walk Around Photo Feature:       AH-1S Cobra Attack Helicopter

This is a walk around of an AH-1S Cobra Attack Helicopter, I took these Photos at the Maps Air Museum in North Canton, Ohio in July 2015. The photos may be a little off in their color due to the open hanger door and the sunlight coming in giving a lot of glare.  Also of note of the several Cobra's I've photographed, this one is in the best shape.

History:

The Bell AH-1 Cobra in an attack helicopter manufactured by Bell Helicopter.  The AH-1 Cobra was developed in the mid-1960s as an interim gunship for the U.S. Arm for use during the Vietnam War.  It shares a common engine, transmission and rotor system with the older UH-1 Iroquois.  The AH-1 is also referred to as the Huey Cobra 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  The AH-1 was the backbone of the United States Army's attack helicopter fleet, but has been replaced by the AH-64 Apache in Army service.  Advanced versions are still in service with the United States Marine Corps.

The AH-1S is a mid-life upgrade with a better engine, and equiped with the M65 TOW/Cobra missile subsystem, M65 Telescopic Sight Unit (TSU), and M73 Reflex sight. 

Highlights of the Cobra's Operational Use:

• The Cobra had been deployed to Vietnam by 1968 and were used to the end of the war.  Around 1,100 Cobras were used in the conflict racking up over a million operational hours in Vietnam. Approximately 300 were lost in combat and accidents.
• AH-1T Cobras were deployed in 1983 for the invasion of Grenada flying escort and ground support mission.
• During Desert Shield and Desert Storm in the gulf war 1990-91 Army and Marine Cobras were deployed in a support role.
• Army Cobras provided support for the US humanitarian intervention during Operation Restore Hope in Somalia in 1993.
• They were also employed during theUS invasion of Haiti in 1994.

Aircraft Data AH-1S:

• Role: Attack Helicopter
• Country of Origin: United States
• Manufacturer: Bell Helicopter
• Produced: 1967 - Present,  1,116 built
• First Flight: September 7, 1965
• Introduction:  June 1, 1967
• Retired:  Still in Service 
• Cruise Speed: 141 mph
• Max Speed 172 mph
• Range: 357 miles
• Crew: 2 (Pilot and Co-Pilot/Gunner
• Power-plant: 1 Lycoming T53-L-703 turbo-shaft with 1,800 shp
• Rotor Diameter: 44 feet
• Length: 53 feet 1 inches
• Height: 13 feet 6 inches
• Stub Wing Span: 10 feet 4 inches
• Weights: Empty 6,598 lbs, Maximum Take-Off 9,500 lbs
• Never exceed speed: 219 mph
• Ceiling: 12,200 feet
• Range: 310 miles 

Armament:

• 2x 7.62mm mulit-barrel mini-guns or 2x M129 40mm Grenade launchers, or 1 of each in the M28 turret.
• 2.5 inch rockets, 7 in the M158 launcher or 19 in the M200 launcher.
• M18 7.62mm Mini gun pod
• XM195 20mm cannon
• TOW Missiles - 4 or 8 missiles mounted in a launcher on each hard-point
• Armament can be mixed in various configuations.

The Display Aircraft's Service Record.  AH-1S, #70-16084

• Nov 1972     Built as AH-1G at Bell Helicopter, Fort Worth Texas
•                     Delivered to the United States Army on Nov 28, 1972
• Dec 1972     Troop C, 7th Squadron, 17th Cavalry, 6th Air Cavalry Combat Brigade
•                     1st Cavalry division, Foot Hood Texas.
• Feb 1976     Bell Helicopter Facility, Amarillo, Texas.  Converted to AH-1Q.
• Apr 1976      235th Attack Helicopter Company, Fort Knox, Kentucky.
• Jul 1977       235th Attack Helicopter  Company, Wurzburg, Germany.
• Mar 1978     Corpus Christi Army Depot, Texas.  Converted to AH-1S.
• Oct 1978      Troop C, 7th Squadron, 17th Cavalry, 6th Air Cavalry Combat Brigade,
•                     1st Cavalry Division, Fort Hood, Texas
• Dec 1984     1st Squadron, 6th Cavalry, Fort Hood, Texas.
• Oct 1985      4th Squadron, 9th Cavalry, Fort Hood, Texas.
• Jan 1987      1106th Aviation Classification Repair Activity Depot, California Air National Guard Fresno, California.
• Jul 1988       Troop Q, 4th Squadron, 107th Armored Cavalry Squadron Ohio ANG, North Canton, Ohio.
• May 1994     Transferred to MAPS for static display.