Marines have been flying the AH-1W Super Cobra since 1986. The last AH-1W was delivered in 1998. The AH-1W is being replaced by the AH-1Z, starting in 2006 as part of a remanufacture program.

Bell Helicopter’s prototype for the AH-1G Cobra flies in front of two UH-1 Hueys, the aircraft it was designed to protect. What was on Mike Folse’s drawing board at Bell Helicopter that day in ...