Bell AH-1 Cobra

Aircraft Information
> Aircraft Make: Bell Model: AH-1. Nickname: Cobra
> Aircraft Mil Civ Description: Helicopter
> FAA Category and Class: Rotorcraft/Helicopter
> Engine Description: single turboshaft

Aircraft Experience
> As of: 11/7/2024
> Number of Hours Flown: 2
> Number of Times Flown: 1
> Other Aircraft Models Associated: —

First Flown Information
> Sequence First Flown: 70
> Date First Flown: 5/25/1990
> Location First Flown: Fort Rucker Army Airfield, AL
> Who and/or What Organization First Flown With: ATTC, Dimitrov

Recollections: I flew the Cobra and the Apache (see that writeup) the same day.  I sat in the front of the Cobra (where the “stick” or cyclic is a shortened, side-stick-like inceptor) and flew most of the flight.  The stick didn’t make it very easy to fly, it seemed to be heavy, with quite a bit of lag between input and output.  My logbook shows the model as being the “AH-1H” which, unfortunately, I can’t find anything about except some reference to a “super cobra” with the USMC (the one I flew was, for sure, Army).  It MAY have been a twin engine version, perhaps in test.  The serial number was 67-15603. It was a great experience to be able to compare and contrast the old (AH-1) and the new (AH-64).

Years later, while serving at an FAA test pilot, a Cobra project came along (improved hover performance by use of an aerodynamic mod) and I got all excited at the idea of flying from the back seat, with a REAL cyclic.  Sadly, the chain of command didn’t support me (or the other test pilot in the office who was helo qual’d) doing the project, so we delegated it.  

Filed Under: Helicopter, 51-75