On September 7, 1965, Bell Helicopter conducted the first flight of the AH-1 Cobra, the world’s first purpose-built attack helicopter.
Developed from the UH-1 Huey, the AH-1 was created in response to the U.S. Army’s need for a dedicated gunship during the Vietnam War. It incorporated the Huey’s engine, transmission, and rotor system but introduced a narrow fuselage, tandem seating for a pilot and gunner, stub wings for weapons, and a chin-mounted gun turret.
The Cobra entered service in June 1967 and was deployed to Vietnam soon after. It provided close air support, escorted transport helicopters, and operated in “hunter-killer” teams alongside OH-6A scout helicopters. In Vietnam alone, Cobras flew more than one million operational hours, though approximately 300 were lost in combat.
Over the following decades, the AH-1 served as the backbone of the U.S. Army’s attack helicopter fleet, seeing action in conflicts including Grenada, Panama, and the Gulf War. It was gradually replaced by the AH-64 Apache, with the Army retiring its last Cobras in 2001.
The type was also adopted by the U.S. Marine Corps and exported to countries such as Israel, Japan, and Türkiye, where it saw combat use. Variants including the twin-engine AH-1 SeaCobra and SuperCobra were later developed, and surplus airframes have been adapted for civilian roles such as aerial firefighting.