Type: attack/close-support helicopter
Bureau Number: 159210
Powerplant: one 944-kW (1330-hp) Lycoming T53-L-13 or 1210-kW (1625-hp) T53-L-703
Maximum speed: 277 km/h (172 mph)
Cruising speed: 209 km/h (130 mph)
Range: 574 km (355 miles)
Service ceiling: 3530 m (11,600 ft)
Weights: empty 2754 kg (6059 lb); maximum take-off 4309 kg (9480 lb)
Armament: one M197 20-mm cannon in nose turret and 998 kg (2200 lb) of weapons (XM-18 Minigun pods and XM-157 70-mm rocket pods) on four racks
Dimensions:
Main rotor diameter: 13.41 m (44 ft)
Length, rotors turning: 16.26 m (53 ft 4 in)
Height: 4.17 m (13ft 8 in)
Rotor disc area: 141.26 m2 (1534 sq ft)
The presence of an incoming AH-1 Cobra helicopter is a truly inspiring or deathly frightening sight, depending on your friend or foe perspective. Developed in the mid-60s, modified Cobras continue to be flown by the United States Marines, its narrow footprint ideal for shipboard use.
Following the path of the UH-1 Huey. the Cobra was originally developed for the US Army. Delivered by Bell in 1967, the Cobra would log more than one million operational hours in Vietnam. This helicopter gunship packs an enormous punch with its array of armament featuring TOW missiles and Hellfire missiles along with a three barrel 20mm gun under the nose. An attack aircraft that marked enemy targets, Cobra’s also served as armed escorts for slower, vulnerable aircraft carrying personnel.
During the 1983 invasion of Grenada the Cobra supported Marine operations. In the first Gulf War, Operation Desert Storm, Marine Cobras flew more than 1,200 sorties with no combat loses.
Back to Planes & Flight Deck
|
Search
Facts & Information
The USS Yorktown is nearly 900 feet in length, weighing in at more than 27,000 tons.
|
