Bell 209 HueyCobra
The Bell AH-1 Cobra was the world's first purpose-built attack helicopter, developed quickly during the Vietnam War by fitting a narrow, tandem-cockpit attack fuselage to the proven engine and rotor system of the Bell UH-1 Huey. Its narrow profile, far slimmer than the transport helicopters it evolved from, presented a much smaller target to ground fire while still carrying rockets, missiles, and a chin-mounted gun. That basic tandem-cockpit, narrow-fuselage layout it pioneered became the standard template nearly every attack helicopter built since, including the AH-64 Apache, has followed. Twin-engine SuperCobra variants remained in US Marine Corps service for decades after the original single-engine Cobra's Vietnam debut.
.jpg){kind=link}
Did you know?
The AH-1 Cobra was the world's first purpose-built attack helicopter, pairing a narrow tandem-cockpit fuselage with the Huey's proven engine and rotor.
Specifications
| Length | 13.6 m (45 ft) |
|---|---|
| Height | 4.1 m (14 ft) |
| Rotor diameter | 13.4 m (44 ft) |
| Crew | 2 |
| Maximum take-off weight | 4.5 t |
| Range | 315 NM (583 km) |
| Service ceiling | 12,200 ft (3,719 m) |
| Optimum ceiling | 8,000 ft (2,438 m) |
| Rate of climb | 1,230 ft/min (6.2 m/s) |
| Fuel capacity | 1,128 l |
| Engines | 1x/2x Lycoming or General Electric T700 |
| Units built | 1,116 |
Curated by CatchFlights from manufacturer documents, ICAO Doc 8643 and reference works; values are left out where no source could confirm them. Sources are listed on our credits page.
In CatchFlights
In CatchFlights the Bell 209 HueyCobra starts as a Very rare catch. The tier is an editorial judgement of how special a sighting of this type is. The more often you catch it, the closer it moves to Common for you.
A catch counts for the manufacturer Bell, the 209 HueyCobra family and the model in your collection, and the daily Type Rating quiz asks about the types of each family.
Catch it yourself.CatchFlights shows the aircraft flying near you on a radar, so a type like this one is only a catch away when it passes overhead. Explore CatchFlights.
Browse all aircraft types, or learn to tell Airbus from Boeing.