Bell Delivers First Production H-1s

Bell Helicopter today delivered the first production version of the AH-1Z upgrade to the Cobra gunship to the U.S. Marine Corps. Earlier this month, Bell delivered the first production UH-1Y, the concurrent upgrade to the utility Huey. The helicopters make up the H-1 program that is intended to provide higher-performance and more easily maintained and supported helicopters to the Marines, in part by increasing commonality between the types. The H-1 program has been plagued with problems and delays that contributed to the departure of Bell CEO Mike “Red” Redenbaugh two weeks ago. More