AAH Competition (AH-64 rivals)

[overscan]

Boeing-Vertol for Army AAH competition, 1973

Mockup only.

[Matej]

One more... Some other pictures here:

http://www.hitechweb.genezis.eu/helicopters3.htm

[overscan]

1972 US Army AAH Program : Competition for the Advanced Attack Helicopter was between the Hughes Model 77 (YAH-64) and the Bell 409 (YAH-63).

Other contenders were the Boeing Vertol AAH and the Lockheed CL-1700, a Cheyenne derivative. The Hughes Model 77 was selected and designated the AH-64 Apache.

[flateric]

BTW, http://www.anigrand.com/AA2063_YAH-63.htm

[Pioneer]

Has anyone got a 3-view line drawing of the Boeing-Vertol AAH proposal???

Regards
Pioneer

[sferrin]

1972 US Army AAH Program : Competition for the Advanced Attack Helicopter was between the Hughes Model 77 (YAH-64) and the Bell 409 (YAH-63).

Other contenders were the Boeing Vertol AAH and the Lockheed CL-1700, a Cheyenne derivative. The Hughes Model 77 was selected and designated the AH-64 Apache.

It's too bad they didn't use an improved Cheyenne itself as that CL-1700's ugliness is exceeded only by Boeing's entry.  I wonder how a Cheyenne with Apache's avionics and sensors would do.

[overscan]

Bell YAH-63

[Iranian F-14A]

The Boeing-Vertol model looks as if it shares components with the Boeing YUH-61A.Maybe they did it like Bell when they took the Huey and made the Cobra.Kept the engine and tailboom,but made the cockpit more for the gunship role and deleted the troop cabin.Maybe its me,but just something I noticed.

[Matej]

The Boeing-Vertol model looks as if it shares components with the Boeing YUH-61A.Maybe they did it like Bell when they took the Huey and made the Cobra.Kept the engine and tailboom,but made the cockpit more for the gunship role and deleted the troop cabin.Maybe its me,but just something I noticed.

Yes, you are right. Both helicopters shared some avionics, rotor system, shaft, many parts of tail etc.

[Matej]

Another interesting Hughes AAH picture - in packed form. Original specifications also called for using of ejector seats and carrying additional antitank missiles internaly, so the helicopter should be re-armed during short landing. Mi-24 crews do it sometimes.

[elmayerle]

It's nothing to do with the competition, but some time back I worked with some folks who helped design the AH-64 and I learned something amusing.  Those little masts with flat tops on both engine nacelles?  Those are supports for the nacelle structure when it's open for maintenance work; the flat spots are the same adjustable feet you find on desks, chairs, etc. mounted on a faired strut.  It lets the open nacelle be used as a maintenance shelf.

[Skybolt]

Don't know what you all think, but in my opinion the US Army today in the war it fights today  would  make a better use of the Cheyenne (or some derivative, e.g. two engines and more armor) than of what it can do with the AH-64, which was targeted to a completely different scenario (anti-tank ambush, popping up from behind the trees, shot a Hellfire and run the faster you can before the Soviet could trow everything they have at you).

[overscan]

YAH-63 mockup

[overscan]

YAH-63

In the second pic you can see the proposed change of the cannon to a lower mounted "chin turret" with the sensors moved to the front of the nose. As Hughes had noted, it was better to crush a $20,000 dollar gun in landing or crash than a $200,000 dollar sensor.

[overscan]

Splendid shot of YAH-63 looking mean and moody,and on show at the US Army Aviation Museum.