A little history. And some pics
The Bell AH-1 Cobra (company designation: Model 209) is a two-blade, single engine attack helicopter manufactured by Bell Helicopter. It was developed using the engine, transmission and rotor system of the Bell's UH-1 Iroquois. The AH-1 is also referred to as the HueyCobra or Snake.
The AH-1 was the backbone of the United States Army's attack helicopter fleet, but has been replaced by the AH-64 Apache in Army service.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 militaries of several other nations. The AH-1 twin engine versions remain in service with United States Marine Corps (USMC) as the service's primary attack helicopter. Surplus AH-1 helicopters have been converted for fighting forest fires. The United States Forest Service refers to their program as the Firewatch Cobra. Garlick Helicopters also converts surplus AH-1s for forest firefighting under the name, FireSnake.
AH-1F "Modernized" Cobra
General characteristics
Crew: 2: one pilot, one co-pilot/gunner (CPG)
Length: 53 ft (16.1 m) (with both rotors turning)
Rotor diameter: 44 ft (13.6 m)
Height: 13 ft 6 in (4.12 m)
Empty weight: 6,600 lb (2,993 kg)
Max. takeoff weight: 10,000 lb (4,500 kg)
Powerplant: 1 × Lycoming T53-L-703 turboshaft, 1,800 shp (1,300 kW)
Rotor system: 2 blades on main rotor, 2 blades on tail rotor
Fuselage length: 44 ft 7 in (13.6 m)
Stub wing span: 10 ft 4 in (3.15 m)
Performance
Never exceed speed: 170 knots (196 mph, 315 km/h)
Maximum speed: 149 knots (172 mph, 277 km/h)
Range: 274 nmi (315 mi, 510 km)
Service ceiling: 12,200 ft (3,720 m)
Rate of climb: 1,620 ft/min (8.2 m/s)
Armament
General Dynamics 20 mm (0.787 in) M197 3-barreled Gatling cannon
Hydra 70 2.75 in (70 mm) rockets - 7 rockets mounted in the M260 launcher or 19 rockets in the M261 launcher
TOW Missiles - 4 or 8 missiles mounted in two-missile launchers on each hardpoint
Are the instrument panels decals? And did they come with the kit? The look pretty impressive.
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