The Bell AH-1, Model 209, is a two-bladed, single-engine attack helicopter manufactured by Bell Helicopter. It shares a common engine, transmission, and rotor system with the older UH-1 Iroquois, known as the Huey, and is also referred to as the Huey Cobra or Snake. The Cobra was developed specifically as a light, fast helicopter designed to carry weapons and target them very accurately. The first Cobras entered active service in 1967. This aircraft, 15771, was initially assigned to the 235th Aerial Weapons Company, known as the Delta Devils. The 235th Aerial Weapons Company arrived in Vietnam in October 1967 and operated out of Can Tho field in the Mekong Delta region, assigned to the 307th Combat Aviation Battalion and the 164th Combat Aviation Group. On March 28, 1970, this aircraft suffered heavy damage during a combat mission. In May 1970, it was sent back to Bell Helicopter in Amarillo, Texas, for repairs and did not return to Vietnam. It remained in continuous U.S. Army service until February 2001, when it was prepared for display and arrived in Troy on May 31, 2001.