Warplanes: December 8, 2000

Archives

: systems.--Stephen V Cole

While everyone can recognize an AH-64 Apache, few would recognize the AH-63, its rival that it defeated 24 years ago today. The AH-63 was produced by Bell (which called it the Model 409) and was basically a larger and more advanced version of the AH-1 Cobra. After an extensive fly-off, the AH-64 was selected over the Bell entry. Key points of the decision were: 

@ The AH-63 used a two-bladed rotor, which was three-feet wider than the four-bladed rotor on the Apache.


@ The AH-63 used a smaller three-wheel landing gear, making it slightly more likely to tip over if landing on rough terrain.


@ The AH-63 used a three-barrel 30mm gatling gun, which was heavier than the single-barrel 30mm chaingun developed for the AH-64.


@ The AH-63 was overweight and weight-reduction programs had failed to reduce it.


@ The AH-63 was slower and less maneuverable than the AH-64, despite using the same engines.


@ The AH-63 used a high-speed drive between the engines and transmission rather than the intermediate gearbox of the AH-64. The high-speed drive proved balky, hard

 

X

ad

Help Keep Us From Drying Up

We need your help! Our subscription base has slowly been dwindling.

Each month we count on your contributions. You can support us in the following ways:

  1. Make sure you spread the word about us. Two ways to do that are to like us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter.
  2. Subscribe to our daily newsletter. We’ll send the news to your email box, and you don’t have to come to the site unless you want to read columns or see photos.
  3. You can contribute to the health of StrategyPage.
Subscribe   Contribute   Close