Lockheed AH-56 Cheyenne, possibly the best attack helicopter never made 

My Dad was heavily involved with the Cheyenne project in the 60s. Not to many people are aware that the work on this project was being done at the Lockheed Van-Nuys facility. I have some pictures put away of him and his crew working on the first prototype. I remember asking him latter on how he felt about the Cheyenne project being canceled. I recall that he smiled at me and said that Helicopters were a bother and that he had plenty of work to keep him busy. In the late 70s my Dad took me around the Burbank facility and into Skunk Works, which was his place of business. I was very fortunate to visit the Model Shop. This is where models of every kind of aircraft that Lockheed was working on or had been working on was made. One very interesting model caught my eye. It was known as the Stop and Stow Rotor Helicopter. The idea was that once the craft got airborne and up to speed, the stubby wings would provide lift, then the rotors would stop. They would fold to the back, two large doors would open on the back and the blades would lower into the fuselage. Then the doors would close and like magic you have a jet aircraft. I had asked if they were going to build it and was told that they had never found a way to lower the blades with out them starting to whip and beat the craft into pieces. I offered some ideas and they looked at me and grinned from ear to ear. That’s when I realized that I was talking to the some major pros in this field. I might as well been telling Einstein that I had an idea to improve his theory of relativity. Here is to my Dad, a Great Man.

"Advanced military tech in the 50s/60s/70s! What stopped it?" Me: it's going to be politics, isn't it? "Interservice rivalry and the vested interests of well-embedded military suppliers..."

In 1978 I was in a U.S.Army training facility in Virginia. I was there to learn the weapons system of the AH-1 Cobra Attack Helicopter. Very near the beginning of the training, the trainer showed us several films on the capabilities of the Ah-56 Cheyenne. We all knew that what we were being trained for was just temporary as the U.S Army was within a few years going to transition to a more advanced weapons platform. The entire class was pretty excited about the Cheyenne. At the end of the presentation the trainer explained that the Cheyenne project was put on indefinite hold and possible scraping. We were shocked. He explained the politics behind it all. And I just remember the frustration in his voice over this system not being adopted. You put on a great presentation which really brought back some memories. Thank you.

“Intense lobbying” from bell . Well that’s all you need to know really.

The USAF got the A10 - and has spent every waking minute since its introduction trying to kill it.

-We need some weight to test the stability of the prototype. -Ok, I'll fill this bag with some rocks -Nah. Hey Jones, how much do you weigh?

One of the truly amazing things that the AH56A did was carry a enormous amount of 30mm ammunition. It could carry 2010 rounds of 30mm and fired at the rate of 400 rounds per minute that is over 5 minutes of non stop 30mm cannon fire.

If this design had gone mainstream in the '70s, can you imagine the aircraft we'd have now?

Guy 1: How shall we test the stability of this new technology for this craft? Guy 2: Let's hang a man on a beam by its side. Guy 1: Brilliant!

"Today we're testing stability of our prototype, we need to shift its centre of gravity to one side. Should we use a bag of sand or Jenkins over there?"

Very impressive gunship, definitely ahead of its time

"How do we demonstrate that the craft performs well under aysemmetric loads?" "IDK dude just have Jimmy dangle off the side of it or something"

When I was an intern in Congress I had a number of involved discussions with well qualified staffers. They said the problem was doctrinal: The Cheyenne was approaching the cost of an fixed wing aircraft but was stuck in the low altitude attack profile that the USAF had recently abandoned as it was considered just too dangerous in the face of massive overlapping Soviet air defense systems. The AH-1 on the other hand was so cheap it could be expended like tanks. Many of the advanced features of the Cheyenne were immature and were not as good as the new digital stuff that was a few years away so the idea was shelved.

Army: This helicopter is incredible! It's so good we won't need fixed wing airplanes for this job anymore! Air Force: ...What did you just say? Army: Oh. Oh no...

My father was a test flight engineer on the Cheyenne. He's the co-pilot on a lot of the test flight films and fired the tow missile in the video 15:17. I remember he told me that the Army accused Lockheed of having special sharpshooters because their pilots had had a hard time with the tow missiles and laser guidance. But it was just the Lockheed engineers hitting the targets in Yuma.

Oh 'Murica... best of everything spoiled by petty rivalries.

It's amazing how advanced this craft was. Seems like something of today with the fold down eye targeting.

"This helicopter is too good! Cancel it quick!" -Bureaucrats

Inter-service rivalry, more like 5 year olds arguing. The Army says "MINE!!!" then the Air Force, "NO, IT'S MINE!!!!!"

My grandma worked for Lockheed in Burbank from Jan ‘43 until the ‘70s. She told me that the Army kept insisting on adding so many features that it just got unaffordable for the times.

That swiveling Gunner's seat is 100% Last StarFighter.

16:30 Damn, Boeing coming up with an A+ homework assignment after copying Lockheed's notes.

As a former USAF weapons Tech (462) and 30+ years supporting Army Aviation including 20 years in testing weapons systems, I can say this is a good video. I’ve heard much of this story many times but it was well presented here with proper terminology and some really good video I hadn’t seen before. Thanks for doing the research and presenting this quality content. 👍

If the Army adapt this, we would have an Orca from Tiberium Wars today.

If they had this in 1972, imagine the classified craft they have now. Unreal

05:15 - 06:30 Wait a moment... Helicopter - stubby wings - jet engines - high speeds and maneuverability unmatched - difficult to track - rotors almost unneeded for lift once at speed... That's goddamn AIRWOLF!!! (cue rocking 80s synth opening) :D

When I was in the army stationed at Aberdeen Proving Ground, I saw one of these museum pieces as part of the large outdoor vehicles display they had. It was the first time I ever heard of the Cheyenne. When I read the sign and leaned just a tiny bit about its capabilities, I was stunned. It far outclassed the Cobra, which is still one of my favorite helicopters of any type, attack or otherwise. We got screwed bad by not getting the Cheyenne. When the Apache finally came out it, looked bloated and overweight even worse than my ex the last time I saw her.

5:17 So basically in 1963 Lockheed built Airwolf! Awesome! :D

US airforce: we made a 6th generation plane that can go into orbit. It outclasses everything and can deliver orbit strikes! US space force: HOL UP 🤚

During my time @ Ft Knox in '71 I saw a black painted attack style helicopter doing a low altitude roll over the base. I was in D Troop of 8/1 Air Cav Squadron and I know it wasn't one of our Cobras, now I know what it was.

Sounds like someone from the Apache camp greased some palms, while they were busy making a super attack chopper.

this thing is 55 years old and has most of the features you think of in modern helicopters. When the service shows us what they have, its at least 30 years behind what they really have. Pretty cool to think about.

Interservice rivalry: with friends like these, who needs enemies?

So, if t weren't for in-fighting, they could have had real life Air-Wolf... In the early 1970's... Great job there, lobbyists...

That’s okay, the Army has been trying to replace the M-16 since they were forced to adopt it. It currently the longest serving small arm in us inventory. The previous record was the 1873 trapdoor Springfield.

Liked the " Hanna Barbera " style animation.

So essentially this was Airwolf before the series was on television...

The USAF seemed to have acted like a spoiled brat in this debacle: complaining of overlap with the A10 yet they seemed to be overeager to retire the latter, needing Congress to intervene.

This is First Class Aircraft presentation indeed! Great Work Curious Droid 🚀 & Thank You So Much for the Efforts! ♥️🌷🕯

Excellent video! Not only did i learn about the helicopter itself you also explained the earlier technology prototypes that contributed to it and did a short explanation of the basic technics of helicopter aviation, and what was special about the Cheyenne project. Also it was very interesting to see the "future" of the AH-56 in the form of the updated Apache helicopter.

Air Force: It's OUR job to fly fixed wings! Army: You see the rotors right?" Air Force: I see the wings... Oh Congress, the Army is cheating again. Army: FFS. You used to be the Army, you douches!

I look forward to the tale of the RAH-66 Comanche one day :D

They tested them in the late 1960's near Ventura, California when I was a kid. I watched 3 crash in less than a year.

Amazing content. You explain complex concepts and historical contests in a very interesting way. Instant subscribe!

What a beautiful aircraft! It's always sad when things like this are scrapped.

"Consistently hitting a 25 centimeter target at 3 km" Holy SHIT

A friend of mine was a Cobra gunner in Vietnam, and later was a gunner in the Cheyenne prigram: while the crash of one test ship worried him, he absolutely loved flying in them, and said it was quite the hot rod. We found out last year that 2 of the 3 ships he flew on, still exist. (one crashed, another was destroyed in a wind tunnel, due to the same problem, and a few are unaccounted for: the rest are in museums) Be nice to see one fly again...

My father was the flight test division engineer on the Cheyenne. He had some interesting flights with the pilots where they would fly under bridges. We would receive updates at dinner time. Very sad when the project was cancelled.

I'm surprised the concept hasn't been used in any civilian helicopter. Vertical takeoff like any helicopter combined with the speed of a turboprop plane. Air taxis would love that!

I knew almost nothing about helicopters and how they work until this video, you laid it out very well and easy to understand!

It was pretty cool to see footage from one of my DCS tutorials end up in this video! Cheers, and great job

Never argue with Congress on what a system can do.... Always tell them how much it will save.

I can hear the senator’s and representative’s behind closed door’s now...”I don’t care if it’s better, faster and more lethal...do you have any idea how much power I yield young man?!?”

Looks like an OV-10 Bronco mated with an early gen Cobra.

Great video again Paul, still one of my favourite channels

Very interesting, informative, and well produced! Thank you for the content!

I have a model of the AH-56 sitting right here on my desk. It is a marvelous helicopter!

I was extremely disappointed finding out that this thing never got adopted after having learned about it.

13:16 Bureaucracy and special interest are the exact reasons why Uncle Sam can't have nice things.

Same reason we got stuck with the OH58 instead of the superior OH6. Thanks a lot, Ladybird Johnson. Edit: I saw one of these at the Ft Eustis museum.

What an impressive aircraft, imagine this today

16:12 "Inter service rivalries and the vested interests of well embedded military suppliers" tells the entire story in eight seconds. And this is a story that has been repeated untold numbers of times over the years

The Camera on the blades is the coolest view I have ever seen! The new concept chopper at the end of the video had me drooling.

5:19 Now I see where Airwolf got its start.

US Military Logic: Why do two things great with one tool when you could do two things okay with two tools?

I can remember as a kid reading one of my Dad's Popular Science magazine from 1968 which featured the development of the AH-56 Cheyenne as its cover story. What an amazing aircraft, and too bad the United States Army never adopted the AH-56 . I served in the USAF for over 30 years, but after seeing the capabilities what the Cheyenne had to offer, regardless what branch of the military one served in, that was one badass machine! It would have served America well. Does anyone remember the AH-66 Comanche attack helicopter that was killed by Congress? I wouldn't mind hearing that story as well. Curious Droid - you are one of my favorite sites on You Tube to visit. Keep up the excellent work!

thanks for this show we have one on static display at Ft. Campbell and I never found out why it was dropped.

"It's all about saving lifes... that's why we are getting the most expensive, cheapest equipment our soldier can afford " ~~actual polish military doctrine today, i see it's not so far off from US doctrine

I have...let’s say, “complicated” feelings about the Cheyenne. On the one hand, I love the concept and look of it. Even more than that, its performance is still very impressive even 50 years later. I would be lying if I said I didn’t get an evil grin when I realized the Cheyenne could lift about the same weight of ordnance as a B-17, but in a much smaller, faster and *hovering* package. And I’m always saddened to learn about yet another exceptional design that was killed off due to politics and lobbying. But on the other hand...if the Cheyenne had made it, that likely would’ve been the end for the A-10. And I’ve *loved* the A-10 from the first time I saw one as a kid, way back in the late 90’s. Not to mention that as superb as the Cheyenne was, I doubt that it could weather the kind of beating the “Warthog” can handle. TL;DR: As disappointed as I am that the Cheyenne never made it into service, its failure was what gave us the A-10. And you’ve got to be a serious nit-picker to claim that the A-10 hasn’t been a success.

This was vey interesting. Never heard of AH-56 before. Very good video.

Great video. Thank you for sharing. Greetings from Bedford, UK.

Your videos are very enjoyable, thanks for all the information and research!

Wonderful video, Paul! Maybe you could do one about the Boeing/Sikorsky RAH-66 Comanche stealth helicopter next?

Who thought of Airwolf while this was flying fast across the ground?

Both the Apache & Comanche (never went into production) remain my absolute favorite attack helicopters ❤

Cracking video! Had my full attention throughout.

7:25 Did they really test the new models against real soldiers?? Props to the volunteers!

Damned Air Force, screws the Army every time. Poor zoomies have never forgiven the Army for giving birth to them!

Great video Curious Droid and you indeed covered all of the essential parts about this cancelled gunship. The thought crossed my mind at 10:51 that the AH-56 was initially planned to be used for the Vietnam War until all these unfortunate problems occurred (imagine how much it could have done during the war had it arrived and in large numbers). If it goes as planned at 16:30 it might be a long lost dream finally achieved but how it'll get through the Air Force lobbyists is another story.

Christ sake that thing was ridiculous! Damn that rotating gunner seat is next level

10:50. Love the Johnny Quest animation.

When I was stationed at Ft Campbell they had one of these bad boys in the museum. I worked on Kiowas and Cobras.

"We want to see how stable it is if we move the center of gravity." ... "Guys, just hear me out." (4:55)

Great upload many thanks 👍 awesome bit kit for its year.

One of the Best Host/Narrator in the Business >>> He made Every Subject Interesting! ♥️🌷🕯

That reconnaissance version film had shades of Johnny Quest.

Wow... First time learning of this amazing aircraft, impressive!!

There was one of these sitting out in front of one of the halls at Ft . Rucker years ago. It looked really cool.

Amazing! Funny that the prototypes for the next generation of military helicopters actually look like this one!

Thank you sir, I never fail to find your productions fascinating!

Keep up the quality, these videos are wonderful

I once interviewed for a Bell Helicopters job and had a little chat with the senior engineers who interviewed me. We had a little chat about how Lockheed was indefinitely dragging out the development of S97 raider program which is still competing with Bell V220 program just so that they could sell more and more blackhawks before it is retired. It was easy to tell they did NOT like Lockheed Martin.

Oh gonna have a good bedtime story this evening!

"Designers added stub wings and jet engines to make it extremely fast" Stringfellow Hawke entered the chat.

Seeing this up close is really something. This is a must see helicopter

Another well researched and presented documentary by Curious Droid. Nobody does documentaries better than the British.

There was one on display at Fort Eustis Va. when I was in AIT to learn how to fix the OV-D Mohawk I would go there and look at all the aircraft.

I’ll be honest, the Airwolf theme played in my head for this entire video.

What an awesome documentry about an awesome helicopter. You have a new subscriber sir.

Fascinating, thanks for presenting this