Editing Bell AH-1 Cobra (section)

===Into production===
The Bell 209 design was modified in several respects for production. The retractable skids were replaced by simpler fixed skids; this was not due to any recorded design flaw or serviceability, but it was feared that the landing gear bay could become inundated with mud.<ref name= "cobra birth"/> Furthermore, a new wide-chord rotor blade was adopted. It was also decided that a plexiglass canopy should replace the Model 209's armored glass canopy, which was heavy enough to negatively impact performance.<ref name=Huey_Cobra/><ref name= "McGowen 158">McGowen 2005, p. 158.</ref> The umbrella-shaped [[dive brake]] was deleted, having reportedly self-destructed during its first test flight.<ref name= "cobra birth"/>

Numerous changes of the design were incorporated after the Cobra had entered service. The principal amongst these changes was the repositioning of the tail rotor from the helicopter's left side to the right, which facilitated an increase in the effectiveness of the tail rotor.<ref>Verier 1990, p. 44.</ref> The AH-1 was the first U.S. Army helicopter not named for a Native American people since the practice began with the [[Bell H-13 Sioux|H-13 Sioux]] and continued with the UH-1 Iroquois, AH-56 Cheyenne, OH-58 Kiowa, and later helicopters.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://medium.com/war-is-boring/everyone-relax-the-armys-native-american-helicopter-names-are-not-racist-d21beb55d782 |title=Everyone Relax—The Army's Native American Helicopter Names Are Not Racist |publisher=War Is Boring |date=1 July 2014 |website=Medium.com}}</ref>

Within its first decade of service, the US Army had put the original Cobra model through various exercises and operations, which highlighted both the attack helicopter's promise and areas in which it could be improved.<ref name= "McGowen 1578">McGowen 2005, pp. 157-158.</ref> By 1972, the US Army openly sought an improved anti-armor capability. Under the Improved Cobra Armament Program (ICAP), trials of eight AH-1s fitted with [[BGM-71 TOW|TOW missiles]] were conducted in October 1973. After passing qualification tests the following year, Bell was contracted with upgrading 101 AH-1Gs to the TOW-capable AH-1Q configuration.<ref>[http://www.history.army.mil/books/DAHSUM/1974/ch11.htm RD&A, Sect 135] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170710102319/http://www.history.army.mil///books/DAHSUM/1974/ch11.htm |date=10 July 2017}} – Army Historical Summary: FY74.</ref> While early-production examples were not compatible with [[night vision goggles]], the cockpit instrumentation of later Cobras was altered to facilitate their use.<ref name= "cobra birth"/>

Further variants of the Cobra were promptly developed, with both new-build models and early production examples being modified to incorporate the improvements. During March 1978, the US Army opted to procure a batch of 100 new-build Cobras that featured a new T-shaped instrument panel, improved [[Composite material|composite]] rotor blades, revised transmission and gearboxes, the M128 helmet-mounted sight, and the M28A3 armament system.<ref name= "McGowen 1589">McGowen 2005, pp. 158-159.</ref> A major feature was the adoption of a more powerful version of the T53 engine. Designated AH-1S, the Cobra was upgraded in three stages, culminating with the AH-1F.<ref name=Donald/><ref>Verier 1990, pp. 57, 59–61.</ref><ref name= "McGowen 1596">McGowen 2005, pp. 159-160.</ref> The AH-1F integrated numerous countermeasures, including an infrared jammer, a radar jammer, and a hot plume exhaust suppressor.<ref name= "cobra birth"/>

The U.S. Marine Corps (USMC) quickly became interested in the Cobra, opting to order an improved twin-engine version in 1968 under the designation AH-1J.<ref name= "McGowen 108">McGowen 2005, p. 108.</ref>  During the early 1970s, the USMC proceeded to order an upgraded model, the AH-1T, which featured dynamic elements derived from the abortive [[Bell 309 KingCobra]]; as such, it featured a longer fuselage and tailboom. These dynamic changes were combined with the adoption of heavier armaments, which provided the USMC with an effective anti-armor capacity, unlike the preceding model.<ref name= "McGowen 160">McGowen 2005, p. 160.</ref> The USMC's interest in the Cobra would lead to the production of more [[AH-1 SuperCobra|twin-engine variants]] of the helicopter.<ref>Verier 1990, pp. 86–88.</ref>