Editing Bell AH-1 Cobra (section)

===Civilian operators===
In 2003, the US Forest Service acquired 25 retired AH-1Fs from the US Army.<ref name=Donald/> These have been designated Bell 209 and are being converted into Firewatch Cobras with infrared and low light sensors and systems for real time fire monitoring.<ref name=firewatch_page>[http://www.fs.fed.us/r5/newslog/september2004/roundup/firewatch.html Firewatch Helicopter page]. US Forest Service, 2004. {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081227024113/http://www.fs.fed.us/r5/newslog/september2004/roundup/firewatch.html |date=27 December 2008}}</ref><ref name=Firewatch_sheet>{{cite web |url=http://www.fs.fed.us/r5/shastatrinity/documents/st-main/news/fact-sheets/cobra.pdf |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20221009/http://www.fs.fed.us/r5/shastatrinity/documents/st-main/news/fact-sheets/cobra.pdf |archive-date=2022-10-09 |url-status=live |title=Shasta-Trinity National Forest – Home |work=fs.fed.us |access-date=1 April 2015}}</ref> The last two Firewatch Cobras were retired in October 2021.<ref>{{cite magazine |last=Broadbent |first=Mark |title=Rotary Focus |magazine=[[Air International]] |date=December 2021 |volume=101 |issue=6 |page=16 |issn=0306-5634}}</ref>

The Florida Division of Forestry also acquired three AH-1Ps from the US Army. These are called Bell 209 "Firesnakes" and are equipped to carry a water/fire retardant system.<ref name=Donald/><ref>Stephens, Ernie. [https://archive.today/20120707020041/http://avtoday.com/rw/military/attack/Recycling-Helicopters-From-Military-Service-to-Public-Service_27338.html "Recycling helicopters from military service to public service."] ''Rotor & Wing'', November 2008. Retrieved on 12 October 2009.</ref>