AH-1Z Attack Helicopter Builds 1000+ Hours In Testing

With one aircraft in International Falls (MN)undergoing cold weather evaluation flights (and it doesn't get much colder than in International Falls) and the other two conducting test flights at the Patuxent River Naval Air Station (MD), the AH-1Z test fleet exceeded 1,000 flight hours last week.
 
The AH-1Z Super Cobra is the attack helicopter component of the Marine Corps' H-1 Upgrade program to remanufacture the existing AH-1W SuperCobra and UH-1N twin-engine Huey into the 84 percent identical AH-1Z and UH-1Y configurations.

During its first 1,000 flight hours, the AH-1Z achieved 160 knots cruise speed with a maximum airspeed of 220 knots.  In February 2004, the AH-1Z is scheduled to conduct live fire testing at the Yuma Proving Grounds (AZ).

The H-1 Program received a major boost Oct. 23, 2003, from the Defense Acquisition Board when it approved Bell Helicopter's plan to remanufacture six UH-1N and three AH-1W helicopters to the UH-1Y and AH-1Z standard during FY04. A second Low Rate Initial Production lot, currently scheduled to be another six Hueys and three Super Cobras, should enter production in FY05.

"The program's on a roll right now," said Col. Doug Isleib, the H-1 program manager at Patuxent. "The aircraft are performing great, Bell Helicopter as a company is making great strides and the Government/Bell team is really hitting its stride. We're eager to get these tremendously upgraded platforms out to the Marines who need them."

Upgrades incorporated in the upgrade include more powerful General Electric T-700 engines, four- bladed, all-composite, hingeless, bearingless main rotor system and tail rotor, as well as identical drive trains, hydraulics and electrical distribution systems.

By utilizing common systems, Bell says the cost of the logistics support process for the two helicopters will be dramatically reduced and will allow for vastly improved shipboard operability. Far less critical shipboard space will be needed to store spare parts and support equipment. 

When the last of the upgraded H-1's are delivered to the Fleet, the Marine Corps will have received 280 essentially new light/attack aircraft to operate beyond 2020 with a projected savings in maintenance staffing and training, support equipment and spare parts inventories of approximately $3 billion over the life of the program.

Current advanced technology will provide the H-1 Fleet with increased battlefield survivability and greater mission success with fewer combat losses.  In addition the crashworthiness of both the UH-1Y and the AH-1Z will be improved.

The AH-1Z first flew in December 2000, with the UH-1Y's first flight in 2001.  There are three AH-1Z and two UH-1Y aircraft in flight testing at NAS Patuxent River. The H-1 assembly lines will be located at Bell's 184-acre manufacturing facility located at the Amarillo (Texas) International Airport.

This latest milestone, as well as the flights taking place in Minnesota, add to an already impressive lineage - H-1 aircraft have totaled more than 27 million flight hours since 1958 when the "granddaddy" of all H-1's, the HU-1, was delivered. Since then, more than 16,000 H-1 helicopters have been produced making it the most successful military aircraft in aviation history.

FMI: www.bellhelicopter.textron.com