In 1972, the U.S. Army requested proposals for a new Advanced Attack Helicopter (AAH) intended for the all-weather anti-armor role. Preliminary designs were submitted by Boeing, Bell, Hughes, Lockheed and Sikorsky, and in 1973 both Bell and Hughes were awarded contacts for two prototypes. Bell's Model 409 was designated YAH-63, and Hughes' Model 77 became the YAH-64. The YAH-63 was based largely on the earlier King Cobra. In accordance with the Army's specifications, the YAH-63 was powered by the same engines and carried the same armaments as those used in the competing Hughes YAH-64. The first prototype made its first flight in 1975, but crashed during test the following year. The aircraft was repaired and along with the second prototype, entered the fly-off against the YAH-64. As the Army did not want to divert Bell AH-1 production, the YAH-64 was selected as the winning AAH design. In 1976, both the YAH-63 prototypes were returned to Bell.

Type:

Purpose:

Rotor dia.:

Span:

Length:

Height:

Engine:

Max.speed:

Crew:

Armament:

Attack helicopter

To entry in the Army's Advanced Attack Helicopter (AAH) competition

51ft.

17ft.2in.

52ft.5in.

12ft.2in.

2x General Electric T700-GE-700 turboshafts

202 mph

2

1x XM-188 30mm rotary cannon / up to 16x TOW missiles or 76x 2.75 inch unguided rockets

The Bell YAH-63 is suitable to group with the following collection series.

U.S. helicopter 1946 ~ present

Firestone XH-9 (XR-9)

Kellett XH-10 (XR-10)

Rotorcraft XH-11 (XR-11) Dragonfly

Bell YH-12

Bell H-13 Sioux

Bell XH-15

Piaseki YH-16 Transporter

Hughes XH-17 Flying Crane

Sikorsky YH-18

Sikorsky H-19A Chickasaw

McDonnell XH-20 Little Henry

Piasecki H-21 Work Horse

Kaman OH-22 (K-225)

Hiller OH-23 Raven

Seibel YH-24 Skyhawk

Piasecki H-25 Army Mule

American XH-26 Jet Jeep

Piasecki XH-27 (YH-16A)

Hughes XH-28

McDonnell XH-29 (XH-20A)

McCulloch YH-30

Doman YH-31

Hiller YH-32 Hornet

Bell XH-33 (XV-3) Convertiplane

Sikorsky CH-34A Choctaw

McDonnell XH-35 (XV-1) Convertiplane

Sikorsky XH-36 (XV-2)

Sikorsky CH-37 Mojave

U.S.A.F./Sikorsky H-38 Short Tail

Sikorsky YH-39

Bell YH-40 (UH-1) Iroquois

Cessna YH-41 Seneca

Hughes XH-42 (TH-55A) Osage

Kaman HH-43A Huskie

U.S.A.F. H-44 Big Tom project

U.S.A.F. XH-45 Step Child project

Boeing CH-46 Sea Knight

Boeing CH-47 Chinook

H-48 (Missile site)

Boeing-Vertol CH-49 (CH-46B) Sea Knight

Gyrodyne QH-50

Lockheed XH-51A Compound

Sikorsky HH-52 Sea Guard

Sikorsky CH-53C Jolly Green Giant

Sikorsky CH-54 Skycrane

Hughes TH-55 Osage

Lockheed AH-56A Cheyenne

Bell TH-57 Sea Ranger

Bell OH-58 Kiowa

Sikorsky XH-59A

Sikorsky H-60 Night Hawk

Boeing-Vertol YUH-61

Boeing-Vertol XCH-62 HLH

Bell YAH-63

McDonnell Douglas AH-64 Apache

Aerospatiale HH-65A Dolphin

Boeing-Sikorsky RAH-66 Comanche

Bell TH-67 Creek

Agusta MH-68A Stingray

McDonnell-Douglas MH-90 Enforcer

U.S.  Army A.A.H. competition in 1973

Bell YAH-63

Boeing AAH

McDonnell Douglas AH-64 Apache

Lockheed CL-1700

Sikorsky S-67 Blackhawk

U.S.  Army attack helicopter

Bell AH-1G Cobra

Lockheed AH-56A Cheyenne

Sikorsky S-67 Blackhawk

Bell YAH-63

McDonnell Douglas AH-64 Apache