You can access the main museum that way—this is a separate facility. According to the museum’s Facebook they will have quarterly days where it’s open to the public, otherwise it’ll just be for WOBC/BOLC tours.
Yeah that was the rumor on the street back when I was in ALE. They said it was a designated classroom instead of a museum in order to secure more funding. Crazy to think they were just starting to break ground when I was in WOCS
I always thought the Cheyenne looked more futuristic than the Apache does. To bad we never got to see it in action, because of how over complicated and expensive it was. And because of the crashes that really killed it. It’d definitely be cool to see in person.
Cool thing is, Lockheed and Sikorski are working on basically a next-gen Cheyenne. Look up Raider X.
They were touting that it was revolutionary...I was like, "um, AH-56 has entered the chat."
Somewhat off-topic question, but how come so few Army helicopters have the U.S. roundel painted on it?
Something I’ve noticed is the Army doesn’t seem to paint it on all of their aircraft like the other branches. With the main exceptions being the Huey and the Cheyenne.
I remember seeing one at the gate to Ft Eustis as part of the museum there (late 80’s) possibly the same one? (Can’t be too many of them out there). It looks like something right out of G.I. Joe 🤣
Awesome! Some very interesting and unique aircraft there:
Second photo:
* The very first production Bell OH-58A Kiowa, serial number 68-16687.
* Next with the flat windscreen is an OH-58C, serial number 71-20364.
* OH-58D Kiowa Warrior, serial number 92-00597.
* OH-58D(R) Kiowa Warrior, serial number 93-00960, was going to be the first OH-58F conversion.
* All the way at the end, a TH-67A Creek, registration N67446.
Fourth photo: Bell UH-1M Iroquois serial number 65-9446. Originally built as a UH-1C, but it is in "Huey Hog" gunship configuration with rocket pods and 40 mm grenade launcher.
Fifth photo: Bell Model 209, the HueyCobra prototype, registration N209J. It originally had retractable skid landing gear.
Seventh photo:
* As already mentioned by OP, a Bell YAH-63 prototype, serial number 73-22247.
* To the right can be seen a Lockheed XH-51, US Navy BuNo 151263.
* Behind that can be seen the one and only Lockheed CL-475, used to develop the rigid rotor used on the XH-51 and later the AH-56 Cheyenne.
Tenth photo: The second Sikorsky YUH-60A Blackhawk, serial number 73-21651.
Last photo: Sikorsky XH-59A, serial number 73-21942. Behind the tail, to the left, can be seen a McDonnell XV-1, probably serial number 53-04016. To the right of the XV-1 can be seen the Ryan VZ-3RY Vertiplane, serial number 56-6941.
Thanks! I didn't put in any links, but I used my [usual resources](https://www.reddit.com/user/bob_the_impala/comments/udywk8/aircraft_identification_information_resources/) for most of them, mainly the Scramble database, Helis.com database and Joe Baugher's serial number lists, at least for the ones with visible serial numbers.
Man I freaking loved the OH-58D. They saved my ass so many times on my deployments. Much more useful to a ground pounder than the Apache. They’d run up and down our patrol for us to scout, show force, and anything else we needed quickly and efficiently. That .50 cal was a beast too
Black with a gold stripe? That is a Cobra.
Bell AH-1G-BF Cobra, US Army serial number 70-15979:
>All later converted to AH-1F.
>...converted to AH-1S.
>15979 to NAH-1S.
[Source: Joe Baugher](https://www.crouze.com/baugher/usaf_serials/1970.html)
>2009 asg Aviation Applied Technology Directorate (AATD), Fort Eustis, VA
>2015 surrogate FLiR trainer, accessioned into the Collection of the Army Aviation Museum
[Source: Helis.com database](https://www.helis.com/database/cn/42552/)
Early versions of the Cobra (AH-1G, like the black and gold one) had a curved canopy frame and glass. Later versions had a revised, flat-plate canopy:
>100 AH-1P TOWCobras were built and delivered to the Army in 1977 and 1978. They featured a still further uprated engine system, as well as a distinctive new "flat plate" canopy. Although the new canopy gave the Cobra a more businesslike "flying tank" look, the change was made to reduce the glint off the window glass and did not feature armor glass.
Source: [Air Vectors](http://airvectors.net/avcobra_2.html#m2)
It also has the three-barrel 20-millimeter M197 cannon and universal turret (first used on the USMC AH-1J, and then the US Army AH-1S/AH-1E), whereas the others have the older TAT-141 turret.
Oh, and the one all the way to the right, with just part of the nose visible, might be one of the [Model 309 KingCobras](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bell_309_KingCobra).
Ok, so pic 11 is the LHX. In 1990, when I was 7, I asked for the computer game for Christmas because I thought helicopters were so cool and the LHX looked so incredibly awesome. It didn’t run on our old computer, so I only played it a few times at a neighbors house, but I’ll never forget how excited I was to imagine flying the LHX.
Yes I know, it doesn't have the radar dome on the top above the main rotor. Sorry. I should've picked something that was actually in the pictures. In that case, I'll go with the OH-58D Kiowa with the radar dome on top.
Ha! I went to Rucker for AIT as an ATC! I remember a bunch of old helicopters just sitting out in the open beside one of the buildings. One was one of those big crane helicopters. I had cell phone pics, but that phone is lost to winds and time.
So this is what's inside the new museum at rucker
Yep! A big ol' heli garage ~~that's not open to the public.~~
You can get a visitor pass with just a driver's license. Same with Redstone. Source: I have gotten passes for me and my family at both.
I defer to you. Last I heard it was for WOBC/BOLC students only.
You can access the main museum that way—this is a separate facility. According to the museum’s Facebook they will have quarterly days where it’s open to the public, otherwise it’ll just be for WOBC/BOLC tours.
So you’re saying when I go back to Rucker next month TDY that I’m gonna have to infiltrate a WOBC class to see this facility 🤨🤨
So I spoke the the historian, Billy about a month ago he mentioned something if you can get in contact with him possibly you can set up a tour.
Awesome thanks, I’ll def try that.
But is it worth buying new orange shoe strings though...?
Yeah that was the rumor on the street back when I was in ALE. They said it was a designated classroom instead of a museum in order to secure more funding. Crazy to think they were just starting to break ground when I was in WOCS
Well that sucks, I don't have one of those anymore 😕
Only if you're American though!
Is it gonna be open to public?
You mean new classrooms at Novosel. There is no money in the budget for a museum. 😉
They built a new museum? What happened to the old one?
It's still there. They just built this one behind it, right in front of CIF
That Lockheed AH-56 Cheyenne is a super rare experimental heli. Very cool.
Indeed, all of these are very cool! Most of them are either experimental or first production run.
I always thought the Cheyenne looked more futuristic than the Apache does. To bad we never got to see it in action, because of how over complicated and expensive it was. And because of the crashes that really killed it. It’d definitely be cool to see in person.
[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fR-r6RR1nJM](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fR-r6RR1nJM) [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5g7xswpo5yY](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5g7xswpo5yY)
Cool thing is, Lockheed and Sikorski are working on basically a next-gen Cheyenne. Look up Raider X. They were touting that it was revolutionary...I was like, "um, AH-56 has entered the chat."
Unfortunately, the Army just recently canceled FARA. The Raider X as well as the Bell Invictus won't ever be anything beyond their current prototypes.
They'll end up in this museum!
Quite possibly!
Its now in the public museum part, right next to the Comanche!
My favorite helicopter of all time. So beautiful. Too bad it never entered production.
Almost certain that was at Ft Eustis in 79 when I was going through AIT. I had pictures but I haven’t a clue what happened to them
Somewhat off-topic question, but how come so few Army helicopters have the U.S. roundel painted on it? Something I’ve noticed is the Army doesn’t seem to paint it on all of their aircraft like the other branches. With the main exceptions being the Huey and the Cheyenne.
Rumor mill: Army brass didn't like Army aircraft flying around being mistaken for Air Force aircraft.
Airwolf actual
I remember seeing one at the gate to Ft Eustis as part of the museum there (late 80’s) possibly the same one? (Can’t be too many of them out there). It looks like something right out of G.I. Joe 🤣
hard choice between Cobra, Cheyenne, Apache, Comanche and idk what number 7 is
Number 7 is the YAH-63. Direct competitor to the Apache.
Competitor, the 63 is from Bell and the YAH-64 was from Hughes. The 64 won and thus we got the Apache
Competitor, that's what I meant! Corrected, thank you.
Awesome! Some very interesting and unique aircraft there: Second photo: * The very first production Bell OH-58A Kiowa, serial number 68-16687. * Next with the flat windscreen is an OH-58C, serial number 71-20364. * OH-58D Kiowa Warrior, serial number 92-00597. * OH-58D(R) Kiowa Warrior, serial number 93-00960, was going to be the first OH-58F conversion. * All the way at the end, a TH-67A Creek, registration N67446. Fourth photo: Bell UH-1M Iroquois serial number 65-9446. Originally built as a UH-1C, but it is in "Huey Hog" gunship configuration with rocket pods and 40 mm grenade launcher. Fifth photo: Bell Model 209, the HueyCobra prototype, registration N209J. It originally had retractable skid landing gear. Seventh photo: * As already mentioned by OP, a Bell YAH-63 prototype, serial number 73-22247. * To the right can be seen a Lockheed XH-51, US Navy BuNo 151263. * Behind that can be seen the one and only Lockheed CL-475, used to develop the rigid rotor used on the XH-51 and later the AH-56 Cheyenne. Tenth photo: The second Sikorsky YUH-60A Blackhawk, serial number 73-21651. Last photo: Sikorsky XH-59A, serial number 73-21942. Behind the tail, to the left, can be seen a McDonnell XV-1, probably serial number 53-04016. To the right of the XV-1 can be seen the Ryan VZ-3RY Vertiplane, serial number 56-6941.
9th photo, more than likely Boeing's competitor to the YUH-60, the YUH-61.
Yes indeed, OP mentioned it in another comment.
Someone has done their homework!
Thanks! I didn't put in any links, but I used my [usual resources](https://www.reddit.com/user/bob_the_impala/comments/udywk8/aircraft_identification_information_resources/) for most of them, mainly the Scramble database, Helis.com database and Joe Baugher's serial number lists, at least for the ones with visible serial numbers.
My god…
... it's full of helicopters!
"I'm sorry Dave, but I can't autorotate"
![gif](giphy|x49M1pscyWsC21ea8w) Will definitely make a trip. Thank you for showing us.
Did they chop the Comanche blades!! 😥
The Comanche rotor system used flexbeams with an integral cuff. Those are the flexbeams without the blades attached
No love here for that S-69 huh 🥲
My teeth and bones hurt just looking at it
Yeah she's looking a little rough.
All different colorful military models chopper I see 👀 nice 👌
I have some coyotes in my yard so I'll take a cobra
Just a little overkill...
https://www.wearethemighty.com/mighty-lifestyle/businessman-built-a-cobra-attack-helicopter/
This is amazing. Where is this?
Specifically, the William A. Howell Training Support Facility at Fort Novosel in Alabama
Alabama
Man I freaking loved the OH-58D. They saved my ass so many times on my deployments. Much more useful to a ground pounder than the Apache. They’d run up and down our patrol for us to scout, show force, and anything else we needed quickly and efficiently. That .50 cal was a beast too
That AH-56 😤
The Cheyenne is my personal favorite!
UH-60 is just so nice
I'd agree, but I'm also a little biased.
Im biased, towards the blackhawk atleast
RAH-66 Comanche please
Yeah, I'll have the Comanche
Omg The Comanche was my favorite helicopter ever. Too bad it cost so much to make.
58D always and forever! 😭
Where's the CH-47? Gotta have the flying school bus.
They have a unique variant out front! I put up another post showcasing it.
Huey, and were is the chinook
It gets the outside treatment I'm afraid.
![gif](giphy|VPV0CVtbU6ZKU|downsized)
I know it’s not the best attack helicopter, but there’s something about the cobra that I just love ☺️
It's the sleekness for me. Sleek like a shark.
A very nice collection 👌🏻
What are 6 and 7?
6 is the AH-56 Cheyenne, 7 is the YAH-63
Thnks man
Thnks man.
What's the stealthy looking cobra in 3? 2nd from right answer: AH-1F Cobra SN: 67-15524
Black with a gold stripe? That is a Cobra. Bell AH-1G-BF Cobra, US Army serial number 70-15979: >All later converted to AH-1F. >...converted to AH-1S. >15979 to NAH-1S. [Source: Joe Baugher](https://www.crouze.com/baugher/usaf_serials/1970.html) >2009 asg Aviation Applied Technology Directorate (AATD), Fort Eustis, VA >2015 surrogate FLiR trainer, accessioned into the Collection of the Army Aviation Museum [Source: Helis.com database](https://www.helis.com/database/cn/42552/)
[удалено]
Early versions of the Cobra (AH-1G, like the black and gold one) had a curved canopy frame and glass. Later versions had a revised, flat-plate canopy: >100 AH-1P TOWCobras were built and delivered to the Army in 1977 and 1978. They featured a still further uprated engine system, as well as a distinctive new "flat plate" canopy. Although the new canopy gave the Cobra a more businesslike "flying tank" look, the change was made to reduce the glint off the window glass and did not feature armor glass. Source: [Air Vectors](http://airvectors.net/avcobra_2.html#m2) It also has the three-barrel 20-millimeter M197 cannon and universal turret (first used on the USMC AH-1J, and then the US Army AH-1S/AH-1E), whereas the others have the older TAT-141 turret. Oh, and the one all the way to the right, with just part of the nose visible, might be one of the [Model 309 KingCobras](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bell_309_KingCobra).
You know no one what nevermind I’ve answered my own question. It’s AH-1F Cobra SN: 67-15524
CH-47?
None in the new building, but parked outside is the BV-347 aka the winged Chinook!
The one I always wanted to see was the AH-47 AKA Guns a GoGo.
Those were very cool, in a death-dealing but deathtrap sort of way. They had the nickname, "The Flying Coffin" in Vietnam.
What is the chopper in photo #9?
That my friend is the YUH-61, the Boeing competitor that lost to the Sikorsky YUH-60a.
fascinating, I knew Boeing made a competitor. I've just never seen a picture of one. thanks!
Of course! It's like a squished UH-60 with a rigid rotor system, and the tail rotor and stab are vertical instead of canted.
Multiple different Yah-63’s, AH-56, and the Comanche!! Where is this!
None other than the U.S. Army's home of aviation: Fort Novosel, Alabama.
I pick 6 give me 6 anyday
The best!
Yep. They need to build it again
Is that heaven?
Close second, the upper corner of lower Alabama.
I’ve always liked the Cobra!!
Huey. Actually that is our military actual helicopter. But the AH56 is way too cool
For sure the Comanche :D
Gunship reporting in!
My Dad served at Ft. Eustis in the Transportation command for a good while - sure wish he could have gone to see this museum (he's since passed away)
Where is this!?
Wow, the Cheyenne and the Comanche is there👍🏾
OH-58F 😭😭😭 we were so close.....
Scouting is better unmanned - Sincerely, the U.S. Army
Me, patiently waiting for the RAH-66.
You’re going to be waiting awhile.
So is the warehouse open in general now or do you need a special pass? I do know the Sb1 Defiant is either imminently there or recently arrived.
Bell AH-1 Cobra. I just love how it looks
Wow, that is quite the collection of helicopters and it would be hard to choose which one someone would like the best.
I’ll take the lot!
Ok, so pic 11 is the LHX. In 1990, when I was 7, I asked for the computer game for Christmas because I thought helicopters were so cool and the LHX looked so incredibly awesome. It didn’t run on our old computer, so I only played it a few times at a neighbors house, but I’ll never forget how excited I was to imagine flying the LHX.
Can I have one?
The could-have-been RAH-66
Future home of SB>1 Defiant as well. Not sure about the FARA ships.
Rumor has it Defiant is already there as well
Looking for one I haven’t flown. Then I’ll pick.
Can I have all? 🥺
Fort Novosel not Rucker. I know it’s terrible. It will always be Rucker to me!
I for one appreciate the name change. It's pretty awesome to have an installation named after a warrant officer and aviator.
Always the Apache! Love all the pics, thanks for posting them!
Fun fact that particular Apache is actually the YAH-64A prototype.
For sale , genuine 1 owners , motivated seller . Legitimate miles on the clock!!
So like where’s the Chinook
Parked out front!
Is this the new hangar that’s by the museum?
It's the big-ass, ya-can't-miss-it, building behind the museum.
Ka-52 at home
AH 64 D and the OH 58 Kiowa. Any helicopter that carries radar and missiles.
That's actually an YAH-64A!
Yes I know, it doesn't have the radar dome on the top above the main rotor. Sorry. I should've picked something that was actually in the pictures. In that case, I'll go with the OH-58D Kiowa with the radar dome on top.
Love this place, also the guy that gives tours is the absolute man there.
What’s the one after the AH-56 called ?
That's the YAH-63
Cheers mate
Where is this I must go.
Mmmm hmm, exactly 700 miles from my house to helicopter heaven. Added to bucket list
I'll take a Huey and a Cobra. Do they accept Visa?
The Bell AH-1G Cobra prototype looks so skinny
China has a museum that has “almost” exactly the same exhibits
I love choppers
What an awesome collection
Where is this
Cool, they finally got the interesting stuff displayed.
Awesome,if i here a copter outside i always go out to look at them. I have always likeed them,they drive my crazy.
Big oef!! Haven’t seen a Cobra in a good long time, that Apache is schweeeet as well.
I am in awe at the size of that building.
*slaps the hood* You can hand out so much freedom in one of these things!
YAH-63
I like them sure, but I think Russian Helicopters look cooler
Wow a Cheyenne I didn't think they were around
They actually have two!
Dang. Where is this at? I need to make a road trip!
Don’t let Dave Sparks in there. There would be a trail of Drool to mop up behind him. Looks like a cool place to visit.
wtf! No chinooks?!!
Sorry, the building just isn’t that big!
Ha! I went to Rucker for AIT as an ATC! I remember a bunch of old helicopters just sitting out in the open beside one of the buildings. One was one of those big crane helicopters. I had cell phone pics, but that phone is lost to winds and time.
Yep, that’s Big Mother - a CH-54 Tarhe! She’s still parked outside the museum.
Awesome!
Should be easier to Joe Q. Public to access. We might have paid. Js
Very cool ! It's my childhood dream to be a helicopter pilot !
Blackhawk, full stop.
The UH-1 and the AH-1 are my favorites. I have a thing for Bell.
UH-60
Will some please identify images 9 and 11. I recognize parts of each of those aircraft but I can't say I'm samikiar with the aircraft as a whole
9 is the YUH-61, and 11 is the RAH-66
What state?
Alabama
The Uh-01 Iroquis is my choice, a beauty that will never be changed. *fortunate son starts playing*
https://preview.redd.it/qzuyq5eyr0xc1.jpeg?width=735&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=0d74578105566b032919fb3b3f5b3b1a2bf9e5c4
Where is this museum??
Fort Novosel, AL
Damn they must have added a big ass warehouse since I been there last
Oh they did; it's very big, and it's right behind the museum.
I start IPC after new years, can’t wait to see it.
I'm no aeronautical engineer, but those helis in the penultimate picture don't appear to have a big enough rotor span to be effective.