The mechanical object I choose to design is a military helicopter, which is an imitation of the U.S.A. Navy AH-1W Super Cobra.
The AH-1W is fully capable of performing its attack mission in all weather conditions. Additional missions include direct air support, antitank, armed escort, and air-to-air combat. The TOW missile targeting system uses a telescopic sight unit (traverse 110º, elevation 60º/+30º), a laser augmented tracking capability, thermal sights and a FLIR to allow for acquisition, launch, and tracking of all types of TOW missiles in all weather conditions. The Cobra also uses a digital ballistic computer and a low speed air data sensor on the starboard side for firing, and has in-flight boresighting. External stores are mounted on underwing external stores points. Each wing has two hardpoints for a total of four stations. A representative mix when targeting armor formations would be eight TOW missiles, two 2.75-in rocket pods, and 750x 20-mm rounds. The gun must be centered before firing underwing stores. Armored cockpit can withstand small arms fire, and composite blades and tailboom are able withstand damage from 23-mm cannon hits small arms fire, and composite blades and tailboom able to withstand damage from 23-mm cannon hits.
Task/Usage:
The Marines depend on attack helicopters to provide close-in fire support coordination in serial and ground escort operations. Such support is required during amphibious ship-to-shore movements and subsequent shore operations within the objective area. AH-1W is designed for the following tasks:
- Armed escort for helicopters carrying personnel and cargo
- Landing zone fire suppression support
- Visual armed reconnaissance
- Target marking and direction for high-performance attack aircraft
- Convoy escort and fire suppression for ground units
- Operations from air capable ships
- Point target attack of threatening armor
- Self-defense and
protection of helicopters carrying personnel and cargo from threatening
air-to-air weapon-equipped helicopters
The helicopter consists
of thousands of parts, however I choose to profile only a few which are
described and listed below.
The object of my design is to have the main and tail rotor rotate, possibly together. This will be accomplished by linking the rotor to the drive shaft and the drive shaft to the gear sprocket, which is connected to the engine. However, the engine design will not be profiled for this project, but I am hoping to include a few main engine parts, which would help showcase my design. The only problem would be the lack of time! I would also like to showcase one of the helicopter's uses, which is firing missiles. Physically, the toy helicopter has 10 parts, but because I did some research, I am likely to have approximately 20 parts.
