A 1965 photo of the first Cobra Helicopter. Max Faulkner Star-Telegram BY TERRY EVANS
Read more here: http://www.star-telegram.com/news/local/community/fort-worth/article34279419.html#storylink=cpy
Posted on 09/08/2015 1:34:26 AM PDT by sukhoi-30mki
DENTON - Many people will go about their lives on Labor Day unaware that it’s the golden anniversary of the first flight of an aircraft that played a huge role in the Vietnam War.
“The Cobra saved hundreds if not thousands of lives in Vietnam by flying as an escort to Hueys,” said Mike Folse, 81, of Denton.
Folse, a Bell Helicopter engineer from 1954 to 1971, said he designed the Bell AH-1 Cobra in an act of desperation. After Bell lost a contract to Lockheed for production of an attack helicopter, Folse said he started working on a conceptual sketch of a new warbird.
Less than six months later, the Cobra prototype, known as Model 209, made its maiden flight at Fort Worth’s Amon Carter field, launching a new breed of military helicopters.
“The early flights were sprinkled with visits from high-ranking military officers, and they all wanted a ride in the Cobra,” said Gene Colvin, 79, of Fort Worth, who was a Cobra test pilot during its development. “Their enthusiasm for what the aircraft would do over and above the old Huey made the Cobra the first helicopter weapons platform that was designed as a fighter from the ground up.”
Folse said that 80 percent of the Cobra — its engine, transmission, tail boom and tail rotor, as well as its main rotor — came from the UH-1C Huey. Having so many parts already in U.S. government inventories made the process easier, Folse said.
The resulting design became the blueprint for virtually every attack helicopter that followed.
IT WAS THE TRAILBLAZER FOR WHAT WE HAVE IN THE ATTACK HELICOPTERS.
Mike Miller, 61, a Cobra pilot
“Without the Cobra, you wouldn’t have the Apache, the European Tiger, the Italians’ Man
(Excerpt) Read more at star-telegram.com ...
A 1965 photo of the first Cobra Helicopter. Max Faulkner Star-Telegram BY TERRY EVANS
Read more here: http://www.star-telegram.com/news/local/community/fort-worth/article34279419.html#storylink=cpy
A most wonderful accomplishment. He has much to be proud of.
Cobras are still butte kickers.
Got to watch 4 Cobra’s light up the side of a hill east of FSB Bastogne in December of 1970. They unloaded with with guns and rocket pod’s then we hit it with our 175’d and 155’s. It was thundering in the A Shau that day!
Got to watch 4 Cobra’s light up the side of a hill east of FSB Bastogne in December of 1970. They unloaded with with guns and rocket pod’s then we hit it with our 175’d and 155’s. It was thundering in the A Shau that day!
I used to repair and rebuild their engines (T-53 gas turbines) - they were some real work-horses, durable as all get out.
The 1965 prototype is missing its skids???
I did two skits in the Army. In my first hitch I fell in love with helicopters in Vietnam, by watching them fly over in quantities, watching the gunships workout, and finally got my first ride from a hot LZ in a UH-1. The C141’s and Carabou’s just did not compare to a helicopter.
My second hitch I got an MOS change to 67Y, AH-1G Cobra Crew Chief. Mostly on a Cobra with tail number 67732. Had Pres Ford decided to go back into Vietnam, I would have been in the leading element to retake Ton Sun Nhut.
Thank you for your service, sir.
There’s a Cobra on display at the Danville, VA tank museum.
The one thing that surprised me when viewing the cockpit is how small the seats are. You’d need a 30” waist to be comfortable sitting in one.
The UH-1C had two door gunners. The Cobra has none.
I remember the transition from UH-1Cs to Cobras and from OH-23 to OH-6’s ...GREATEST thing since sliced bread for us!.... http://d-1-10thcav-vietnam.com/
Less than six months later, the Cobra prototype, known as Model 209, made its maiden flight at Fort Worth’s Amon Carter field, launching a new breed of military helicopters.
...
I believe the A10 was also a “back of the napkin” design. Another great weapon.
Most of the troops were pretty lean back then.
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