Path: utzoo!utgpu!jarvis.csri.toronto.edu!rutgers!apple!usc!cs.utexas.edu!tut.cis.ohio-state.edu!att!cbnews!military From: consp04@bingvaxu.cc.binghamton.edu (Daniel F. Boyd) Newsgroups: sci.military Subject: Cobra AH-1W wing box Message-ID: <8350@cbnews.ATT.COM> Date: 17 Jul 89 02:02:26 GMT Sender: military@cbnews.ATT.COM Lines: 37 Approved: military@att.att.com From: Daniel F. Boyd In the July 1989 issue of a magazine called "International Combat Arms" which I found on a newsstand, the cover story is about the AH-1W Supercobra. (There are also major stories on a Mossberg shotgun, night-vision equipment, the Internet Worm (this I found to be a real loser of a story, but then I have read Seeley, Spafford, and Rochlis/Eichin's papers about the Worm) and light operations on the USS America.) In the photographs surrounding the story, there are several pictures of the AH-1W, with various underwing stores. On the top of both wings, there is a boxlike, slightly streamlined object just inboard of the wingtip pylon. There are no pictures taken from a close enough distance to give good detail of the box itself. My question is this: What is this Mysterious Boxlike Object? I would also like to know what one has to go through to get into the cockpit of one of these machines -- does the Army fly them or do you have to join the Marines? What rank do you have to have? I have read James Mason's Chickenhawk, which made me realize that I much prefer jockeying a VAX to an AH-1, but my question remains, and I would like to know what (if anything) has changed since 1964 which is when Mason got into flying helicopters for the Army. Daniel F. Boyd | "If it wasn't for disappointments, Student Consultant, SUNY Binghamton | I wouldn't have any appointments." consp04@bingvaxu.cc.binghamton.edu | -- They Might Be Giants