Military Aircraft Videos

AH-1 Cobra Crash

AH-1 Cobra Crashes in Desert.The AH-1 Cobra is an attack helicopter manufactured by Bell. It shares a common engine, transmission and rotor system with the older UH-1 Iroquois (nicknamed "Huey"). The AH-1 is also sometimes referred to as the "HueyCobra" or "Snake".The AH-1 was once the backbone of the United States Army's attack helicopter fleet, but has been replaced by the AH-64 Apache in Army service.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 United States Army National Guard and several other users. The AH-1 twin engine versions remain in service with United States Marine Corps as the service's primary attack helicopter.By June 1967, the first AH-1G HueyCobras had been delivered. Originally designated as UH-1H, the "A" for attack designation was soon adopted and when the improved UH-1D became the UH-1H, the HueyCobra became the AH-1G.The AH-1 was initially considered a variant of the H-1 line, resulting in the G series letter.Bell built 1,116 AH-1Gs for the US Army between 1967 and 1973, and the Cobras chalked up over a million operational hours in Vietnam.The AH-1 Cobras were in use by the Army during the Tet offensive in 1968 and through the end of the Vietnam War. Huey Cobras provided fire support for ground forces, escorted transport helicopters and other roles. They also formed "hunter killer" teams by pairing with OH-6A scout helicopters. A team featured one OH-6 flying slow and low to find enemy forces. If the OH-6 drew fire, the Cobra could strike at the then revealed enemy.Huey Cobras supported U.S. Marine operations, during 1983 invasion of Grenada.During Gulf War of 1990-91, the Cobras and SeaCobras deployed in a support role. The Marines deployed 91 SeaCobras and the Army 140 Cobras. Three AH-1s were lost in accidents during fighting and afterwards.U.S. Cobras were also used in operations throughout the 1990s.Cobra helicopter gunships were also used widely by the Israeli Air Force in the 1982 Lebanon War to destroy Syrian armor and fortification.IAF Cobras destroyed dozens of Syrian armored fighting vehicles, including many of the modern Soviet T-72 main battle tanks.The Pakistan Army has also used the AH-1 as its primary gunship helicopter during the mid-1970s tribal uprising in Pakistan's Baluchistan province, where donated Iranian AH-1J were used against tribal insurgents. The recent insurgencies in the Waziristan regions has seen Pakistani AH-1s seeing action against Taliban & Al Qaeda fighters and their tribal allies, as well as operations against insurgents in another more recent Baluch tribal uprising recently led by armed Bugti and Marri tribesmen under the late Nawab Akbar Khan Bugti and the Balochistan Liberation Army since the mid-2000s.AH-1 Cobras continue to operate with the US military, by the US Marine Corps notably in the ongoing conflict in Iraq. The US Army phased out the AH-1 during the 1990s and retired the AH-1 from active service in March 1999.The Army retired the AH-1 from reserves in September 2001. The retired AH-1s have been passed to other nations and to the USDA Forest Service # Crew: 2 - one pilot, one CPG (co-pilot/gunner) # Length: 44 ft 5 in (13.4 m) # Rotor diameter: 44 ft (13.4 m) # Height: 13 ft 5 in (4.1 m) # Empty weight: 6,073 lb (2,754 kg) # Max takeoff weight: 9,500 lb (4,309 kg) # Powerplant: 1× AVCO Lycoming T53-L-13 turboshaft, 1,100 shp * Maximum speed: 190 knots (219 mph, 352 km/h) * Range: 310 nmi (357 mi, 574 km) * Service ceiling 11,400 ft (3,475 m) * Rate of climb: 1,230 ft/min (6.25 m/s)