Pure Propaganda

After the latest Bell murder, I went to
their web site and got the info below.

Note the claims about the engine
and it's bearingless rotor.

BELL HELICOPTER AH-1Z FACT SHEET

BATTLE TESTED HERITAGE

Over the past 35 years, AH-1 Series Cobra Helicopters have proven themselves and demonstrated their effectiveness in diverse combat situations around the world. Bell products account for over 70% of all non-Soviet tandem seat armed helicopters ever delivered. That legacy continues with development of the most modern armed helicopter available, the AH-1Z.

PROVEN DESIGN, LATEST TECHNOLOGY

The AH-1Z brings together proven AH-1W airframe reliability, a revolutionary new composite four bladed main and tail rotor, impressive performance of General Electric T700 series engines, and fully integrated weapons and avionics systems. The cockpit of the AH-1Z maximizes future digital battlefield operations via an advanced technology mission equipment package (MEP) integrated at the human-machine level by state-of-the-art cockpit design. This combination of combat proven airframe design coupled with the latest technology in systems integration and manufacturing processes has created the preeminent armed reconnaissance helicopter for the current and future battlefield. The AH-1Z provides significant improvements over current armed helicopters in multi-mission capability and selective firepower.

WORLD’S MOST CAPABLE COCKPIT

The cockpit of the AH-1Z features the world’s most capable and compatible integrated helicopter crew stations, incorporating the latest innovations in ‘glass’ cockpit design. Mission-oriented automation, using artificial intelligence software applications for accelerated cognitive decision aiding, ensures that pertinent information is readily available to the crew to enhance their situational awareness while extensive usability testing to reduce crew workload significantly improves mission effectiveness.

The AH-1Z crewstation/MEP is the culmination of many years of experience by BHTI in designing advanced cockpits, featuring state of the art communication, navigation and fire control equipment. Two large, high resolution colour multifunction displays (MFDs) in each crewstation ensure that all mission and flight information is never more than two button pushes away. A full alphanumeric keyboard and a further limited function display complement the MFDs.

The AH-1Z incorporates an Integrated Helmet Mounted Display and Sighting System (IHMDSS) featuring dual cathode ray tube (CRT) projection onto the visor. The IHMDSS can display information from all aircraft sensors including the helmet’s detachable low light image intensification (I2) camera. The IHMDSS allows flight instrument and situational symbology to be overlaid on the projected image. The aircraft also incorporates a digital map system (DMS) capable of providing moving high fidelity three dimensional colour graphic displays and an integrated mission planning system providing flight path, navigation data, threat rings and intervisibility information for pre-planned and pop up threats.

The AH-1Z has a tandem cockpit configuration that enables interchangeable duty functions between fore and aft crew stations, through unique, stowable mission grips. Crewmembers can either fight or fly the aircraft from either crew station. Mission and flight coordination between crew is direct, simple and positive. Cockpit external visibility will be superior to any armed helicopter in operation today or under development. With the pilot in the front, external visibility is virtually unconstrained. The Stability and Control Augmentation System (SCAS) significantly reduces aircrew workload while the ‘side-stick’ cyclic handling qualities are superior to those of a conventional ‘center-stick’ cyclic.

THE BEST TARGETING CAPABILITY
OF ANY ATTACK HELICOPTER

Bell has recently chosen Lockheed Martin to supply the Target Sight System (TSS) for the AH-1Z armed helicopter. The TSS contains state of the art electo-optic sensors and systems that provide target detection, recognition and identification at extreme ranges during day or night operation, and under adverse weather conditions.

The capabilities of the TSS are particularly suited to multi mission requirements. The TSS allows the full capabilities of the Hellfire missile to be realized for attack missions and permits reconnaissance missions to be undertaken at stand-off distances well outside the ballistic range of an adversary’s weapons. Because the TSS is fully integrated into the mission system, the accuracy of the rockets and guns on board are significantly improved. Integration of the TSS also allows the AH-1Z to share its targeting capability through target hand-off to friendly forces, ensuring that the AH-1Z is a full participant in today’s digital battlefield environment.

The TSS can be slewed by either the mission grips or the head motion of either crewmember using the IHMDSS. Once the operator detects a target, its azimuth, elevation and range are recorded in the aircraft mission computer. The information is translated to earth coordinates and the position of the target entered into the aircraft’s DMS. The target can be handed off to other aircraft or ground stations. The number of targets stored in the aircraft mission computer is limited only by system allocated memory.

The capability of the TSS FLIR, TV and laser designator/rangefinder to detect, recognize, identify and designate targets is significantly beyond the maximum range of the weapons of the AH-1Z platform.

AIRCRAFT SURVIVABILITY

The AH-1Z has an advanced electronic warfare self protection (EWSP) suite and incorporates ballistically hardened components that protect it from a broad range of modern threat weapons. In the event of a crash, the aircraft is designed with a proven crashworthy fuel system to reduce the risk of fire and fully stroking crashworthy seats to protect crewmembers from injury.

GENERAL ELECTRIC T700-401 ENGINES

The modular design engines in the General Electric T700 series which power a number of military helicopters have been widely acknowledged for their proven reliability and excellent fuel consumption. The twin T700-GE-401 engines fitted to the AH-1Z ensure that there is always sufficient power margin to meet the operator’s mission requirements.


engine

COMPOSITE BEARINGLESS MAIN ROTOR

Bearingless, composite main rotor systems were successfully tested at BHTI in the early 1980’s and are now standard on the Bell 430 helicopter. Based on the performance of this remarkable rotor system, the USMC decided to incorporate it in their new AH-1Z helicopter. This unique rotor system provides unprecedented agility, substantially increased speed, a smoother ride, a more stable weapons platform, and excellent reliability. It will also reduce crew fatigue and enhance combat mission effectiveness.

The main rotor hub consists of a bearingless assembly utilizing two identical stacked composite yokes, visco-elastic dampers, elastomeric shear restraints, pitch horns, pitch change adapters, composite cuffs, blade retention bolts, drive bushings, splined drive plate, and upper and lower flapping stops.

The four bladed composite bearingless main rotor gives the AH-1Z excellent performance and high payload capabilities.

QUALIFIED FOR THE HARSHEST MARINE ENVIRONMENT

The AH-1Z is designed to withstand operation in the harshest marine environments. The aircraft is ‘wet assembled’ and incorporates aluminum transmission cases to prevent corrosion. In addition to the avionics and electrical systems, the aircraft engines are fully marinized for on-board ship operations with built-in protection from the electro-magnetic environment associated with naval vessels. The AH-1Z also incorporates a unique semi automatic main rotor blade folding capability that enables the aircraft to be easily moved and stored in confined areas.

FIELD EXPEDIENT MAINTENANCE, LOW OPERATING COSTS

Both the engines and airframe have been built with the maintainer in mind. The design facilitates field expedient maintenance as well as extended periods of maintenance free operation. Bell and its suppliers, known for their world-class support, are confident that the AH-1Z will continue the AH-1 tradition of providing industry leading reliability at the lowest operating and through life cost.

MISSION EFFECTIVE, BATTLEFIELD TESTED

The AH-1Z is designed for superior target acquisition/weapons delivery, low altitude high speed flight, multiple weapon fire support, coordination of multi-arms strikes on a broad array of hardened and personnel targets as well as troop transport/utility helicopter escort support. The AH-1Z can be readily reconfigured to meet any of these missions by flight line personnel. The helicopter is capable of performing these missions from prepared or unprepared areas, by day or night, and in adverse weather.

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It Better Be Bell.

It can hover Out of Ground Effect (OGE) at 914 m (3,000 ft) with four TOW and four HELLFIRE missiles, full turret ammunition and rockets...with power to spare. In fact, in standard conditions, with an air-to-air ordnance load the SuperCobra can take off and climb out at more than 4.1 m/sec (800 ft/min) on only one engine. No other attack helicopter even comes close.

Efficient as it is effective, the SuperCobra has the lowest maintenance requirements of any attack helicopter. The fewer maintenance man-hours needed per flight-hour, the fewer maintenance personnel are required. The bottom line is mission availability at a lower cost.

Durability goes far beyond just maintenance costs in the AH-1W. Among attack helicopters, only the SuperCobra has been marinized against harsh environments like salt water and desert sand. Armor protection surrounds the crew. The fuel system itself is designed to survive direct 23mm shell hits. And detection and countermeasure systems include: dual radar warning, infrared jammers, dual chaff dispensers, even infrared reflective paint.

The aircraft of choice of the U.S. Marine Corps, the AH-1W SuperCobra was selected over the AH-64 Apache because of its ability to meet all the Corps' stringent requirements: aerial escort fire support fire suppression, anti-armor and anti-air-with minimal manpower support and cost. The Marines have never been shy about demanding the best.

The real test of an attack helicopter is, of course, in battle. During Operation Desert Storm, the AH-1W comprised less than 20% of the attack helicopter force deployed, yet flew more than 50% of the total attack force flight-hours. In the entire Desert Shield/ Desert Storm campaign, SuperCobras flew more than three times the number of hours per aircraft per month than any other attack helicopter. And during the "100 Hour War," its reliability and 92% mission readiness rate were superior to all other attack helicopters by as much as 24%... without any factory-supported maintenance augmentation.

Perhaps most impressive, this record was amassed under some of the most adverse environmental conditions ever endured in modern warfare. Temperatures consistently reached the 57-63°C (135-145°F) range. A mix of fine granite/limestone sand dust the consistency of talcum powder, was a constant threat to man and machine. And the air was often filled with a black concoction of burning oil and blowing sand The final result? Marine Corps crews and their AH-lWs destroyed 97 tanks, 104 armored personnel carriers and vehicles, 16 bunkers and two antiaircraft artillery sites.

Day, night or adverse weather, the AH-1W can deliver. Its Night Targeting System integrates the existing TOW and HELLFIRE missile systems with Forward-Looking InfraRed (FLIR), laser range finder/designator, automatic target tracker, TV and a video recorder. The helmet-mounted display integrates the night vision goggles with not only the missile targeting and navigation cues, but also the helmet sight system to control the turret. For exact target location, the SuperCobra's navigation system with Doppler capability leads the way.

Copilot/Gunner Crewstation

Pilot Crewstation

The true test of any attack helicopter is what it can deliver to the battlefield. Designed to seek out and destroy enemy armor and mechanized forces from long range, the SuperCobra is unequaled in the extraordinary variety of firepower it delivers.

It is the only attack helicopter in the world to have the dual anti-armor capability of TOW and HELLFIRE missiles. The HELLFIRE can effectively  defeat heavy armor and hardened fortifications even at ranges beyond 6 km (3.24 nm). When firing in cooperative mode with laser target illumination, the SuperCobra crew has fire-and-forget capability. And the Night Targeting System (NTS) allows the SuperCobra to operate in the autonomous mode and self-designate the target.

If faced with dust, smoke, blowing sand or other environmental conditions that would hamper the laser-guided HELLFIRE, the wire-guided TOW can be utilized at ranges exceeding 3 km (1.62 nm). The SuperCobra also typically carries 70mm (2.75 in) rockets with submunitions warheads.


And, for close range up to 2 km (1.08 nm), a three-barrel  20mm (.79 in) Gatling gun with 750 rounds of ammunition delivers awesome fire-suppression capability. Either crew member can fire the system. With guns in the fixed forward position, the pilot can aim by simply maneuvering the AH-1W. Or either crew member can slave the turret to the helmet-mounted sight, and aim at a target by simply looking at it.

Additional options include the larger  12.7 cm (5 in) Zuni rockets bombs and the soon-to-be-qualified state-of-the-art Maverick air-to-ground missile. Air-to-air ordnance is equally impressive. In fact, the SuperCobra was the first attack helicopter to qualify both the SideWinder air-to-air missile and the SideArm anti-radiation missile. No other attack helicopter made can carry such a wide array of armaments.

The engineers at Bell Helicopter are continually improving the AH-1W SuperCobra. The following are just a few of the new improvements that are, or soon will be, available.

Mechanically, it's remarkably simple-a totally hingeless, bearingless four-blade rotor system that turns with a minimum of moving parts. Two composite yokes replace the dozens of bearings, ping straps, grips and hinges used in ordinary rotors. Spare parts have been reduced by 70%. And maintenance demands along with them.

But the four-blade rotor is more than just a maintenance success. The 10,000-hour composite rotor has increased ballistic survivability-it can take 23mm (91 in) direct hits and still continue to operate. It more than doubles the payload capability of the AH-1W. As for its impact on performance, the results are extraordinary.

Significantly reduced vibration provides pilots better responsiveness and agility. Higher G loads can be sustained in maneuvers, as well as higher cruise and maximum speeds. There's an 80% increase in the SuperCobra's functional flight envelope.
Other improvements include additional wing storage stations for more than a 200% improvement in ordnance carrying capability. An Airborne Target Handover System that can work in conjunction with aircraft such as the OH-58D Kiowa Warrior and the AV-8B Harrier. Additional detection and countermeasure systems, including laser warning, missile warning and engine infrared suppressors. Onboard Global Positioning System (GPS). And to further reduce pilot workload, integrated cockpit enhancements include improvements like multifunction displays, mission data loader, onboard systems monitoring and diagnostics.

A wise decision for many reasons, the choice of an AH-1W SuperCobra is also backed by the expertise and service that can only come from Bell, the most experienced helicopter manufacturer in the world.

AH-1W/4BW COMPARISON

AH-1 | UH-1 | Kiowa | Blackhawk

Choppers Suck!

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