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    This page documents a history of a specific aircraft. The details provided vary from aircraft to aircraft and are dependent on the research and amount of data uploaded to the Aerial Visuals database.

    Airframe Family: Bell 209 / AH-1 Cobra
    Latest Model:AH-1S (Modified) Cobra
    Last Military Serial:68-17046 US
    Construction Number:20774
    Compressed ID:Bell AH-1S (Modified) sn 68-17046 U...
    Latest Owner or Location:Weapons Survivability Lab, NCC China Lake (North), Ridgecrest, California

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    Dates

    Event

    Constructed as an AH-1G-BF by Bell at Fort Worth, Texas, USA.

    Circa September 1969

    Taken on Strength/Charge with the United States Army with s/n 68-17046.

    September 1969

    To Director of Supply and Transportation, Sharpe Army Depot, CA.

    November 1969

    Transferred to C Troop, 3-17 CAV., South Vietnam.

    July 1970

    Transferred to Headquarters and HQ Co., 12th Combat Aviation Group, Long Binh, South Vietnam.

    10 September 1970

    Damaged.
    AH-1G 68-17046 experienced a failure of the left front cross tube upon touchdown following a practice autorotation.

    December 1970

    Transferred to 187th Assault Helicopter Company, South Vietnam.

    14 December 1970

    Damaged.
    AH-1G 68-17046 was involved in a combat incident in South Vietnam following a Close Air Support mission. While landing at base camp, it struck by a mine, causing fragmentation damage to the fuselage. The flight personnel were injured. The helicopter was repaired in theater.

    January 1972

    Returned to the United States.

    By July 1972

    To Army Aeronautical Depot Maintenance Center (ARADMAC), NAS Corpus Christi, TX.

    January 1973

    To Army Aviation Systems Command (AVSCOM), Saint Louis, MO.

    February 1973

    To ARADMAC, NAS Corpus Christi, TX.

    September 1973

    Transferred to Installation Maintenance Flight, 1st Army, Fort Campbell, KY.

    October 1973

    Transferred to 101st Airborne Division, 1st Army, Fort Campbell, KY.

    October 1975

    Loaned to NASA, Langley Research Center, VA.

    By 1981

    Converted to an AH-1S (Modified).

    By September 1981

    Transferred to 11th Air Cav Regt., Fulda, West Germany.

    6 September 1981


    Photographer: Simon Wallwork
    Notes: This US Army AH-1S Cobra is from 11 Air Cav Regt at Fulda, West Germany. Its visiting Detmold in 1981. 68-17046

    By December 2002

    To Weapons Survivability Lab, NCC China Lake (North), Ridgecrest, CA.
    Only the tail boom survives here.
    View the Location Dossier
    Credits
     Data for airframe dossiers come from various sources. The following were used to compile this dossier...
    Print Sources
     U.S. Military Out of Service 2010 by Andy Marden
    Internet Sources
     Aerial Visuals - The Locator by Mike Henniger, Senior Editor
    United States Military Services Serial Number Lists by Joe Baugher
    Vietnam Helicopter Pilots Association
    Individual Contributors
     Mike Henniger
    Max Sabin
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