Lockheed’s attack helicopter that almost changed Vietnam - AH-56 Cheyenne

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[troublecluster]

The moment I saw that rotating gunnery chair my mind immediately went to "Greetings, Starfighter..."

[neilwarren]

Nobody seems to have mentioned one of the best reasons for going with the AH-1. It has about 40% parts interchangeability with the UH-1. Really streamlines logistics.

[Mariner]

I built a Cheyenne model as a youngin' back in 1972 - was crushed to learn the project was cancelled. Amusing that in 1986 I became a Naval Aircrewman - and later did the Maverick missile tests for the Seahawk helicopter.

[joshuabessire]

Bell:"We're making America's first jet fighter."
Lockheed:"We're making America's first good jet fighter."
Bell: We're making America's first attack helicopter."
Lockheed:"We're making America's first good attack helicopter."
Bell:" ....Listen here you little shit!"

[forgetittube]

McNamara, his impact, cancelling programs he wasn’t invested in, is legendary

[Tutisclutis]

Seeing how much the Cobra have changed from it's original design, makes me wonder how the Cheyenne would look today.

[jgr]

Bell was building a current generation attack chopper, while Lockheed was already working on the future of attack helicopter. They could have coexisted.

[biddinge]

A big part about the cheyenne, was not only the push prop and actual functioning wings, but the special stsbilized rotor blade system. It didnt use a traditional swash plate, it used a system similar to what toy helicopters actually use, with a stabilizing bar on top for a inherently stabilized system gyroscopically.

[LayOverWeb]

As a former AH-1 instructor pilot, the Cobra could do its mission but just barely. The real reason for the cancellation of the AH-56 was the USAF. They took the Army's funding for the project with the USAF promising a close air support aircraft "A-10" that the USAF was trying to cancel as soon as it was built. This fiasco is explained in the biography called "BOYD" the Air Force officer that concocted the scheme.
The A-10 was great but the Army really needed the AH-56 it would still be flying today.
Thank you for the outstanding documentary!

[nullterm]

Minor correction: AH-64 was started by Hughes. Which was bought by McDonnell Douglas 1984. Which was bought by Boeing 1997.

[rileybriggs]

Having 130 successful missile tests and then your first display test failing is like something out of a movie. I like to imagine a bell employee snuck in and cut a wire.

[chheinrich]

Behold, the reason Lockheed never built another helicopter 😂
Edit: I didn’t know Lockheed acquired Sikorsky

[mrbigberd]

You forgot to mention that the Air Force was exerting HUGE pressure that this was THEIR domain under the Key West Agreement. The Army was effectively barred from creating a fast helicopter again which is one reason the Apache is so slow.

[jandraelune]

The AH-64 upgrade that is coming actually brings most of the AH-56 designs to it, minus the belly turret. The reasons for the AH-56 cancellation are superfluous at best.

[DavidSherman-ml]

It was the US Air Force that primarily put a stop to the Cheyenne attack helicopter. The Air Force wanted the skies all to themselves.

[ArchusKanzaki]

Lesson learned time-to-time. "There is nothing more permanent, than a temporary solution".

[MatejBeranek]

this helicopter is awsome! sad thath it got cancelled.
one of my favorite helicopter.

[amramjose]

I saw this copter, not knowing what it was, at Ft Rucker in 2005; impressive, rigid main rotor and pusher prop. By the time it was debuged, I understand it had state of the art avionics and control systems, as well as devastating firepower. Very cool.

[Steven-pj]

The idea that any single weapon system could win the Vietnam War, is to misunderstand the conflict completely.

[michaelwhitefgguocv]

I love your enthusiasm, it encourages my own fascination and wonder.