https://www.army.mil/article/46906/ah_1_cobra_retirement_program_at_fort_drum_ends_final_four_helicopters_head_to_thailand

“About 10 years ago, every Cobra in the U.S. fleet began arriving at
Fort Drum to be retired through the post’s Foreign Military Sales shop
near Wheeler-Sack Army Airfield. Some were gutted for parts and used as
military training apparatus; most were refurbished here and sold to
military customers overseas.

Each restoration took roughly 5,500 man-hours to complete and nearly $1 million in parts and materials.

The rebuilt product is remarkable to see.

“This is how it would have looked when it came out of Bell
back in the 1970s,” Florence said of the four Cobras soon to depart for
Thailand.

The Army began phasing out the Cobra in 2000 to bring the Comanche
and Apache attack helicopters online. The Cobra was discontinued in part
because it did not fight well in the dark, it could not house the
Hellfire missile and the Army did not want a third scout-attack
helicopter, Florence said.

“They figured they would save on maintenance costs,” he said. “The Cobra really was a very expensive aircraft to maintain.”

Eventually, hundreds of aircraft were refurbished. They were
purchased by nations such as Jordan, Bahrain and Turkey. More than $75
million worth in parts were sold to the Marine Corps. Israel bought more
than 100 airframes.

Some Cobras were outfitted to fight forest fires and were
sold to the U.S. Forest Service as well as state forestry agencies in
Florida, Montana and Washington.

Still others were custom-designed and sold as static
displays to veterans’ organizations nationwide, including helicopters at
the Marine Corps League in Lowville and the VFW in Sackets Harbor.

“It’s hard to believe it is 11 years that this program has been going,” Florence said.

66-15283
1966 Assigned to 7th Squadron, 17th Cavalry Regiment, 6th Cavalry Division.
1969- 1973 Assigned to Department of Defense Technical Institute, Ft Belvoir, VA.
1973-1976 Assigned to Ft Hood, TX.
1977-1979 Assigned to B Troop, 2d Squadron, 17th Cavalry, Ft Campbell, KY.
1979 Assigned to D Company, 1st Battalion, 2nd Aviation Regiment, Korea.
1979-1981 Assigned to Bell Helicopter Textron, Amarillo, TX.
1981-1986 Assigned to 214th Attack Helicopter Battalion (AHB), Ft Lewis, WA.
1986-1988 Assigned to HSC, 5th AHB, Ft Polk, LA.
1989-1996 Assigned to D Company, 1st Battalion, 2nd Aviation Regiment, Korea.
1996-2005 Assigned to the Michigan Army National Guard, Grand Ledge, MI.
2005-Present Assigned to the Army Aviation Heritage Foundation.

Anyway, enough of copying and pasting text found from the internet and hopefully someday I’ll get a chance to interview people from the organization so theres some original content on here other than just my thoughts.

I believe what I wrote down below is a combination of some of my observations combined with Chat GPT fleshing it out.  I should take the time to re-write it in my own style but I’ll probably try to do that going forward with new entries after I get through publishing all pages from the 2024 Lake Cumberland Show.

Act 6 of the Lake Cumberland Air Show Involved two aircraft.  The Sky Soldiers team captivated the audience with an 11-minute display that highlighted both the agility and historical significance of these military legends. The performance began with the Cobra making several impressive passes, simulating the clearing of an area with precision and flair. Demonstrating their exceptional maneuverability, the Cobras executed tight turns and dynamic movements, showcasing their role in close air support and battlefield operations.

Following the Cobra’s display, the Huey took center stage, performing a simulated downed pilot rescue mission. In a heart-pounding sequence, the Huey gracefully descended to “rescue” a downed pilot, demonstrating its critical role in medical evacuation and support missions. The collaboration between the Cobra and Huey was seamless, highlighting the complementary strengths of these two remarkable helicopters.

To add to the realism of the demonstration, the Cobra utilized smoke generators on its wing pylons to simulate rocket fire, providing a vivid portrayal of aerial combat scenarios. This engaging display not only entertained but also educated the audience about the vital roles these aircraft play in military operations.