YAH-63

YAH-63
Name	YAH-63
Type	Attack helicopter
National origin	United States
Manufacturer	Bell Helicopter
First flight	1 October 1975
Introduced	Not adopted
Status	Prototype
Primary user	United States Army

YAH-63. The YAH-63 was a prototype attack helicopter developed by Bell Helicopter for the United States Army's Advanced Attack Helicopter (AAH) program during the 1970s. Designed to meet demanding requirements for anti-armor warfare, it competed directly against the Hughes YAH-64 in a rigorous fly-off evaluation. Although innovative, the YAH-63 was not selected for production, with the contract instead awarded to its competitor, which entered service as the famed AH-64 Apache.

Development and design

The YAH-63 emerged from the United States Army's Advanced Attack Helicopter program, initiated to field a dedicated tank-killing aircraft for the Cold War battlefield in Europe. Bell Helicopter, drawing on experience from the AH-1 Cobra, proposed a twin-engine design featuring a distinctive three-blade main rotor and a tricycle landing gear configuration. Key design elements included a tandem cockpit for the pilot and copilot/gunner, advanced avionics for nap-of-the-earth flight, and a nose-mounted M197 cannon. The aircraft was powered by two General Electric T700 turboshaft engines, chosen for their high power and reliability. Its airframe was designed to withstand hits from 23mm cannon fire, a critical requirement for surviving the dense air defense environment anticipated in a conflict with the Soviet Union.

Operational history

The operational history of the YAH-63 is confined to its competitive evaluation against the Hughes YAH-64. The head-to-head fly-off, conducted by the United States Army, involved extensive testing of performance, weapons systems, and survivability at facilities like Fort Rucker and the Yuma Proving Ground. During these trials, the YAH-63 prototype 73-22246 was involved in a significant accident, though it was subsequently repaired. Despite demonstrating capable handling and meeting many program requirements, the United States Army ultimately selected the Hughes YAH-64 in December 1976. This decision ended the YAH-63's military prospects, and the two prototypes were used for limited further testing before being retired.

Variants

Only the two prototype aircraft, designated YAH-63A and carrying serial numbers 73-22246 and 73-22247, were constructed. No other variants, such as proposed navalized versions for the United States Navy or export models for allies like NATO, were developed following the program's cancellation. The design did not evolve into any subsequent production helicopters, with Bell Helicopter later focusing its efforts on other projects, including the development of the OH-58 Kiowa and the V-22 Osprey.

Operators

The sole operator of the YAH-63 was the United States Army, which evaluated the aircraft strictly as a prototype. No examples were ever delivered to operational combat units such as the 101st Airborne Division or exported to foreign militaries like the Israeli Air Force or the British Army Air Corps. Following the test program, the aircraft were placed in storage, with one eventually placed on display at the United States Army Aviation Museum at Fort Rucker.

Specifications (YAH-63)

* **Crew:** 2 (pilot, copilot/gunner) * **Length:** 44 ft 7 in (13.6 m) * **Rotor diameter:** 48 ft 0 in (14.6 m) * **Height:** 13 ft 5 in (4.1 m) * **Empty weight:** 10,500 lb (4,763 kg) * **Max takeoff weight:** 16,500 lb (7,484 kg) * **Powerplant:** 2 × General Electric T700-GE-700 turboshaft engines * **Maximum speed:** 170 knots (196 mph, 315 km/h) * **Range:** 300 nmi (345 mi, 556 km) * **Armament:** 1 × M197 cannon in nose turret, hardpoints for AGM-114 Hellfire missiles or Hydra 70 rocket pods

See also

* AH-64 Apache – The competing design that won the AAH competition. * AH-1 Cobra – Bell's preceding attack helicopter. * Advanced Attack Helicopter program – The United States Army procurement program. * Hughes Helicopters – The manufacturer of the winning YAH-64. * Eurocopter Tiger – A later generation attack helicopter developed for European forces.

Category:Attack helicopters of the United States Category:Bell aircraft Category:United States military prototype aircraft 1970–1979