Photo By Staff Sgt. Kathy Nunez | Hawaii’s first three AH-1Z Vipers arrived to Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, Dec....... read more read more
Subscribe
The first three AH-1Z Viper helicopters arrived to Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, Dec. 15, 2017.
Since the 1980s, the Marine Corps has been flying the AH-1W Super Cobras. The AH-1Zs will replace the AH-1Ws, serving as an upgraded platform of its predecessor. This increases the capabilities of Marine Light Attack Helicopter Squadron 367 on Marine Corps Base Hawaii, and in turn, Marine Aircraft Group 24, 1st Marine Aircraft Wing in Okinawa, Japan.
“We’re looking at coming up on 30 years with the same incredible, rugged aircraft,” said Capt. Travis Brannon, one of the first pilots to fly both the AH-1W and AH-1Z. “However, with the AH-1Z, we have multiple improvements that have been in the works for years. Now, we get to employ that aircraft. It’s a remarkable improvement over the AH-1W.”
The AH-1Z features a new, four-bladed composite rotor system, performance-matched transmission, four-bladed tail rotor, upgraded landing gear and a fully integrated glass cockpit, making it more agile, faster, and carries more ordnance than any other attack helicopter.
With the arrival of the fourth generation attack helicopters to HMLA-367, the training opportunities will not only broaden in Hawaii, but across the Pacific.
“We are oriented towards the Pacific,” said Brannon, a native of Nashville, Tennessee. “Now that the Marine Corps is fully integrating [AH-1Z], I expect an improvement in training and operational capabilities.
The three AH-1Zs are scheduled to fly to Marine Corps Base Hawaii, Dec. 19, 2017, to join HMLA-367.
| Date Taken: | 12.15.2017 |
| Date Posted: | 12.19.2017 22:58 |
| Story ID: | 259231 |
| Location: | JOINT AIR BASE PEARL HARBOR-HICKAM, HI, US |
| Hometown: | NASHVILLE, TN, US |
| Web Views: | 272 |
| Downloads: | 1 |
This work, First 4th generation attack helicopters in Hawaii arrive, by SSgt Kathy Nunez, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
No keywords found.
LEAVE A COMMENT