| AAI Penetrator | |
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HW100 - 45000
UAW55 - 105000 RRW100 - 175000 PKRR - 7500 |
AAI Penetrator Penetrator National origin - United States Manufacturer - American Aircraft International (AAI) Number built - 1 Developed from - Bell UH-1 Iroquois The American Aircraft International Penetrator was a military helicopter prototype conceived in 1990 as a gunship conversion of the Bell UH-1 Iroquois, aimed at ground insertion, close support and counter-insurgency roles. Design and development A single prototype was built in 1991 but the manufacturer never won any contracts for production. It was first designed by the American Aircraft Corporation (AAC) and was marketed by a separate company, American Aircraft International (AAI). The stated goal of the project was to convert existing Vietnam-era UH-1 airframes to upgrade them with modern armor and weapons systems, particularly targeting third-world militaries with aging fleets. This conversion could be performed at a fraction of the cost, much faster than ordering new aircraft. The Penetrator required a crew of four (pilot, forward weapons officer, and two rear-facing weapons operators) and could carry six to eight additional passengers. Operational history The prototype aircraft was overhauled by Robert Laura and flying as of 2004. wikipedia.org (en) |