Bell Model 409 / YAH-63 attack helicopter (AAH contender)

[Moose]

Have to disagree Moose.
I do believe it is YAH-63

He edited the post

 

[Orionblamblam]

It's YAH-63 but it does look asymmetric somehow.

It's the dark blotch of camo-paint that throws it off.

 

[Mark Nankivil]

That's the Boeing, this is the Bell 409 thread

Don't think a Bell ad would tout Boeing's product. It is a dfferent angle though to look at the Bell design.

Mark

 

[Moose]

Don't think a Bell ad would tout Boeing's product. It is a dfferent angle though to look at the Bell design.

Mark

He edited the post, it's all good

 

[bercr]

Bell YAH-63 in formation.
Source and credit here:
https://gallery.vtol.org/image/GlOKx

 

[thefrecklepuny]

The YAH-63 has a whiff of the A-129 about it.

 

[overscan (PaulMM)]

The YAH-63 has a whiff of the A-129 about it.

Rather, both have a whiff of AH-1 Cobra.

 

[Scott Kenny]

Rather, both have a whiff of AH-1 Cobra.

More than a whiff. The Bell model numbering system keeps the same suffix but will change first digit when you change the rotor blade count.

The Bell 412 is a Bell 212 with a 4-bladed rotor.
The 409 is a Bell 209 (AH1) with a 4-bladed rotor.

 

[yasotay]

The YAH-63 was overweight and underpowered from the start.

 

[Scott Kenny]

The YAH-63 was overweight and underpowered from the start.

Under-rotored, too. Needed more blades than it had to put the power down.

 

[robunos]

Under-rotored, too. Needed more blades than it had to put the power down.

MOAR CHORD !!

cheers,
Robin.

 

[Colonial-Marine]

I recall reading that Bell was proud of how durable and resistant to gunfire the big 2-bladed rotor on the YAH-63 was. Yet later in the program with failures to meet speed and maybe other requirement, I wonder if they were reconsidering that design choice behind closed doors? Too late to change horses by then.

 

[Scott Kenny]

I recall reading that Bell was proud of how durable and resistant to gunfire the big 2-bladed rotor on the YAH-63 was. Yet later in the program with failures to meet speed and maybe other requirement, I wonder if they were reconsidering that design choice behind closed doors? Too late to change horses by then.

Given the AH1W->AH1Z transformation, I suspect so.

 

[yasotay]

Given the AH1W->AH1Z transformation, I suspect so.

Weight. Hugely over weight, and thus the maneuvering capability was in question. The rotor system did not help. Weight is also how DoD estimates cost.

 

[Scott Kenny]

Weight is also how DoD estimates cost.

Probably shouldn't be.

I don't think that's been a decent rubric for cost estimation since 2000 at the latest.

 

[yasotay]

Probably shouldn't be.

I don't think that's been a decent rubric for cost estimation since 2000 at the latest.

As you know, changing mega-bureaucracies is not an expedient process.

 

[Scott Kenny]

As you know, changing mega-bureaucracies is not an expedient process.

But it's so cathartic to apply baseball bats to heads!

 

[fightingirish]

Today new pictures were uploaded at the SDASM Flickr archive showing the Bell YAH-63 during evaluation.
Here two appetisers, since the other pictures have been posted in similar quality in this topic before.

https://flic.kr/p/2qdanUy

View: https://flic.kr/p/2qdanUy

https://flic.kr/p/2qd96UN

View: https://flic.kr/p/2qd96UN

 

[hesham]

From Aviation magazine 1975

 

[jsport]

30mm Gatling turret is impressive. wondering if it is a bit too much..
thank you Hesham

 

[hesham]

From Technika Lotnicza 1991