AH - 1S - Cobra with Allison McCurdy.jpg

Nice camouflage, I can't even see the Cobra!


"Square Wheels" wrote in message
news:3Uwqj.1349$FA.582@pd7urf2no...

On Thu, 07 Feb 2008 05:43:27 +0000, Square Wheels wrote:

Nice hardware.

But what is the purpose of those sharp spikes on the front
ends of the landing skids? It seems that they could be a
potential danger to any careless member of the ground crew.

RF

"rabid_fan" wrote in message
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On Thu, 07 Feb 2008 05:43:27 +0000, Square Wheels wrote:

Nice hardware.

But what is the purpose of those sharp spikes on the front
ends of the landing skids? It seems that they could be a
potential danger to any careless member of the ground crew.

RF


If you look closely at the one on the left (farside) landing skid, the
"sharp spike" appears to be a square plate with a hole in the center. My
guess is that it is an attachment point for a towing attachment, or towing
dolly. It seems reasonable, since there are wheels attached to the back of
the skids, that there should be some method of attaching wheels to the front
of the skids to facilitate moving the helicopter on the ground for
maintainance, or what ever else is needed. I really don't think the Army
would ask a pilot to fly the helicopter into the hanger for maintainance.

They could also probably be used to tie the main rotor in a fore and aft
position, when the helicopter is on the ground.

Ken

On Thu, 07 Feb 2008 18:24:21 -0800, Ken Barnes wrote:


If you look closely at the one on the left (farside) landing skid, the
"sharp spike" appears to be a square plate with a hole in the center.


That seems correct. After just a cursory glance the attachments
appear pointed and sharp, but that's probably due to the particular
angle of the photograph. On close inspection the shadows cast by
those same points (the sunlight comes from almost directly overhead)
reveal a rather large central hole which would indicate a place
for hooks or something similar.

Anyway, only more images of the Cobra could settle the matter.

RF

On Thu, 07 Feb 2008 18:24:21 -0800, Ken Barnes wrote:


If you look closely at the one on the left (farside) landing skid, the
"sharp spike" appears to be a square plate with a hole in the center.


I found this image after a quick search:

http://www.aircav.com/cobra/ahgal07/ah1j-002.html

They are definitely tow bar attachment points and also maybe
tie-down points for the rotors as well.

RF

As an x cobra crewchief what your seeing are rings used for tie down of the
main rotor and for attaching the tow bar....


"Square Wheels" wrote in message
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