Bell AH-1Z "Viper" - Czech Republic AF combat attack helicopter

In 1996, the USMC began a program to modernize the AH-1 attack helicopter, signing a contract with "Bell Helicopter" to convert 180 AH-1Ws to AH-1Zs and 100 UH-1Ns to UH-1Ys. The goal of the program was to create a completely new attack and combat helicopter, using a large number of common parts and assemblies, which significantly reduces operating costs. The AH-1Z and UH-1Y have the same tail, engines, main rotor, landing gear, avionics, software, and over 84% of the same service and control devices. The prototype first flew in December 2000. Two years later, three prototypes underwent intensive development and qualification testing at Naval Air Station Patuxent River. In October 2003, the machine began small-scale production. Sea trials, which included takeoffs and landings on the deck of the USS "Bataan", were completed in May 2005. A year later, two helicopters passed operational tests. On November 28, 2010, an agreement was signed to begin serial production. In 2011, the initial combat readiness of the first combat unit of the US Marines, in which these helicopters are deployed, was announced. The USMC command ordered a total of 189 AH-1Z, of which 37 were converted from AH-1Ws, and 152 were fully manufactured at "Bell Helicopter" factories in Amarillo and Fort Worth, Texas. The AH-1Z is primarily intended for strike and escort missions. In 2016, "Bell" was also interested in selling the AH-1Z to the Czech Republic, which sought to terminate the operation of its Soviet-made Mi-24 combat helicopters. In 2019, In December, the Czech Republic completed the purchase of four AH-1Zs from the United States for the Czech Air Force. In March 2022, Czech Defense Minister Jana Černochová announced plans to purchase more helicopters, citing the recent Russian invasion of Ukraine (the annexation of Crimea in 2014).

A complex, well-designed and richly detailed model of one of the first 4 combat helicopters, used by the Czech Air Force, the AH-1Z "Viper", for intermediate and experienced modelers. The model details everything, that is visible from the outside: weapons, propellers, undercarriage, external details, as well as excellently detailed cockpit equipment, and partially engines (as far, as they are visible from the outside). Very excellent and detailed graphic instructions: not only are most of the components shown in several stages of assembly, but the boundaries of the details are also highlighted by the color scheme. The textual instructions in Polish are of medium size and are more of a supplement to the graphic ones. There are no color reserves.