MESA, Arizona Production configuration Boeing AH-6i light attack/reconnaissance helicopter completed its maiden flight on Thursday, movin...
MESA, Arizona
Production configuration Boeing AH-6i light attack/reconnaissance helicopter completed its maiden flight on Thursday, moving a step closer to full-scale production.
The helo flew for less than 20-minutes at low speeds in forward, rearward and sideward flight at low elevations during the flight.
Flight tests over the next several months, will expand the flight envelope.
The AH-6i is a single engined helicopter based on the combat-proven OH-6A Cayuse. It is an advanced variant of the AH-6M helicopter operated by the U.S. Army Special Operations Forces.
It incorporates advanced technologies from the Boeing AH-64E Apache multirole attack helicopter.
The helicopter is intended to provide close-air support for land-based forces and serve as an attack platform for destroying tanks, armored vehicles and fortifications.
First Ah-6i prototype completed first flight on Sept. 16, 2009.
