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Model A
Scale 1:40   Length (without rotors) 17"   Rotor 15.5"


Gun and senor housing in nose rotate sideways

Photography by Action Asia Photo
© 2002-8 Action Asia Photo - All Rights Reserved
www.actionasiaphoto.com

Model B
Scale 1:40   Length (without rotors) 17"   Rotor 15.5"

The AH-1W Super Cobra is a day/night all weather Marine Corps attack helicopter that provides en-route escort for assault helicopters and their embarked forces and, further, provides fire support and fire support coordination to the landing force during amphibious assaults and subsequent operations ashore. It grew out of the development of  earlier Cobra versions.

The Cobra was the world's first helicopter specifically designed for the armed helicopter direct fire support role. While the US Army went forward with its sophisticated advanced aerial fire support system program (AAFSS) to provide an attack helicopter, Bell proceeded with another company sponsored prototype - Model 209 - using the Huey dynamics and an airframe similar to the initial design. The 209 first flew in September 1965. The urgent need for greater armed helicopter performance in Vietnam and the success of the 209 led to US Army orders for production models of the 209 as interim attack helicopters, pending production of the AAFSS (which, finally, never occurred).

The Bell (model 209) AH-1G Cobra was first deployed to Vietnam in September 1967. The Cobra's primary mission was to give fire support to troop-carrying Hueys. Its trial-by-fire introduction in Vietnam immediately provided ground commanders with air superiority without the wait of calling in the Air Force. The narrow 38" wide airframe presented a much more difficult target than it's derivative - the 100" wide UH-1. During the Vietnam War, the AH-1G Cobra was used extensively in a variety of missions ranging from armed escort and reconnaissance to fire suppression and aerial rocket artillery.

The US Marines also operated armed Hueys in Vietnam and ordered their own version of the Cobra in 1968. Featuring the Pratt&Whitney Twinpac T400 engine (two 900hp turbo-shaft engines coupled together) the AH-1J Sea Cobra included a new nose turret gun - the three barrel XM-197 20mm - and other improvements.

King Cobra
With increasing demands for higher performance, particularly greater load-carrying capability in high temperature conditions, Bell developed improved dynamic components for the Huey series. Application of these components, which included a larger diameter rotor, led to the 309 attack helo in the early Seventies. This allowed an increased payload, providing more combat capability.

The subsequent Marine-ordered version of the King Cobra was designated the AH-1T. In addition to the modifications for improved combat effectiveness, major efforts were made to incorporate the lessons of the Cobra experience in achieving greater reliability and maintainability. With the TOW missile system added to its weapons, the AH-1T gave a ground attack capability far beyond that first envisioned by their predecessors

Super Cobra
An upgrade made to the AT-1T - the AH-1W - was received in 1986. The AH-1W Super Cobra provides full night fighting capability with the Night Targeting System. The Super Cobra is armed with a 20mm turret gun, TOW, Hellfire, Sidewinder, Sidearm missiles, and 5 inch or 2.75 inch rockets. For Operation Desert Shield/Storm, the US Marines deployed 4 squadrons (48 AH-1Ws) to Southwest Asia and these helicopters destroyed 97 tanks, 104 armored personnel carriers and vehicles, 16 bunkers and 2 antiaircraft artillery sites without the loss of any aircraft. Total inventory for the Super Cobra equals 147 aircraft. Future upgrades and modifications for the AH-1W are underway or in the planning stages. The AH-1W is currently being outfitted with a Night Targeting System/Forward Looking Infrared Radar that provides laser range finding/designating and camera capabilities.

Specs:        AH-1W Super Cobra
Crew:         Pilot in rear, co-pilot/gunner in front
Length:      58 ft
Rotor:        48 ft diameter
Engines:     2 GE turbo-shafts 1,775hp each
Speed:        170 mph
Ceiling:       18,700 ft
Range:        300 miles
Armament: One 20MM turreted cannon with 750 rounds; 4 external wing stations that can fire 2.75" or 5" rockets and a wide variety of precision guided missiles including TOW/Hellfire (point target/anti-armor), Sidewinder (anti-air) and Sidearm (anti-radar)

Related Links
Global Security: AH-1W Super Cobra