Vertipedia - Bell AH-1W SuperCobra

Sometimes known as the ‘Whiskey Cobra', the aircraft was designed as an attack helicopter to be operated by two crew. The first production aircraft was delivered in March 1986, 32 months after the award of the development contract.

The aircraft could carry the following armaments,

2.75 and 5 inch rockets
TW, Hellifire, Sidewinder and Sidearm missiles
Parachute flares
Turreted 20mm, chin mounted gun (General Electric M-197 Vulcan cannon)

The aircraft aircraft was capable of the following roles,

Escort to transport helicopters
Close-in/Landing Zone fire support
Forward air controller
Anti-armor

Overview

Data on design, manufacture and status

Design authority: Bell Helicopter Textron, Inc.

Primary manufacturer: Bell Helicopter Textron, Inc.

Parent type: Bell AH-1 SuperCobra

Aircraft status: Operational

Configuration

Primary flight and mechanical characteristics

VTOL type: Helicopter

Lift devices: 1 Single main rotor

Dedicated control device: 1 Tail rotor

Crew required: 2 in Tandem arrangement

Landing gear: Skids

Key Characteristics

Data on key physical features

Aircraft Details

Data on aircraft configuration, weights, flight performance and equipment

Layout and Dimensions

Weights and Performance

Engine Details

Primary Lift Device

Primary Control Device

Overall Dimensions
Overall Height:	4.19 m	13.7 ft
Overall Length:	17.70 m	58.1 ft
Overall Width:	14.60 m	47.9 ft

Airframe Dimensions
Airframe Length:	13.90 m	45.6 ft
Airframe Width:	3.28 m	10.8 ft
Airframe Height:	4.17 m	13.7 ft

Landing Gear Dimensions
Landing Gear Base:
Landing Gear Track:

Cabin Dimensions
Cabin Internal Height:
Cabin Internal Length:
Cabin Internal Width:

Weights
Max Gross Weight (ground):	6,690 kg	14,750 lb
Max Gross Weight (airborne):
Max Take-off Weight:	6,690 kg	14,750 lb
Empty Weight:	4,652 kg	10,255 lb

Climb Performance
Max Rate of Climb:	10 m/s	2,000 fpm

Hover Performance
Hover Ceiling IGE:	4,497 m	14,754 ft
Hover Ceiling OGE:	915 m	3,002 ft

Limitations
Max Level Flight Speed:	299 km/h	162 kts
Never Exceed Speed:	352 km/h	190 kts
Service Ceiling:	6,096 m	20,000 ft

Range and Endurance
Max Range:	526 km	284 nm
Max Endurance:	3 hrs

Provided powerplant data is for uninstalled, sea level, static operations.

Powerplant
Number of engines:	2
Designation:	GE T700-401 turbine
Manufacturer:	GE Aviation

Normal Ratings
Max continuous:
Take-off / rated:
Intermediate:
Maximum:

OEI Ratings
OEI contingency:
OEI continuous:
OEI 30-second:
OEI intermediate:

Main Rotor Characteristics
Diameter:	14.63 m	48.00 ft
RPM:
Direction of Rotation:	Counterclockwise
Hub Type:

Main Rotor Blade Characteristics
Blade Construction:	Bonded aluminum / laminate
Blade Chord:	0.838 m	2.75 ft
Blade Tip Geometry:	Cut-back outer LE
Blade Twist:
Number of Blades:	2

Main Rotor Derived Characteristics
Disc Area:	168.11 m²	1809.6 ft²
Disc Loading:	39.80 kg/m²	8.151 lb/ft²
Solidity:	0.0729

Main Rotor Blade Derived Characteristics
Blade area per blade:	6.13 m²	66.0 ft²
Tip Speed:

Tail Rotor Characteristics
Diameter:	2.97 m	9.75 ft
Configuration:	Tractor
Direction of Rotation:	Top blade aft
RPM:

Tail Rotor Blade Characteristics
Number of Blades:	2
Blade Construction:
Blade Chord:
Blade Twist:

Tail Rotor Derived Characteristics
Disc Area:	6.94 m²	74.7 ft²
Solidity:

Tail Rotor Blade Derived Characteristics
Tip Speed:
Blade Area (per blade):

References

References and sources used

Bell AH-1 Cobra Variants

Peoples, Kenneth
Aerofax, Arlington TX, 1988 (page 38)
Book
Aerofax Datagraph 4

Expanding USMC Roles for the AH-1W SuperCobra

Crews, Curtis T and Stanzione, Kaydon
AHS Forum 47, 1991 (page 8)
Meeting paper or Presentation
Presented at the 47th Annual Forum of the American Helicopter Society, Mesa, AZ, May, 1991

The Naval Institute Guide to the Ships and Aircraft of the U.S. Fleet

Polmar, Norman
Naval Institute Press, 2001, 2001 (page 456)
Book

Vertical Flight and the United States Marine Corps

Lt. Gen. Charles H. Pitman
VERTIFLITE Vol. 35, Number 7, November/December 1989 (page 20)
Periodical