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Airwolf (helicopter)

Airwolf is the title aircraft from a 1980s American television series. The aircraft itself was a modified Bell 222 twin-engined light helicopter owned by JetCopters Inc. and built by Bell Helicopter Textron.

Bell 222

The flying Airwolf helicopter was actually a Bell 222. The Bell 222 has two Lycoming turboshaft engines, a streamlined shape, and is available with either retractable undercarriage or fixed skids. It is usually flown single-pilot (optional dual controls are available), and can be configured for corporate/executive, EMS or utility transport missions. The aircraft can be configured for accommodations of up to 10, including pilot.

The airframe used for Airwolf was serial number 47085 (registration number N3176S). The Bell 222, sometimes unofficially called a Bell 222A, was the fifth-to-last built before the 222B was released. During filming of the series the helicopter was owned by JetCopters Inc. in Van Nuys, CA.

After the show was cancelled the modifications were removed (now owned by a private collector) from the actual helicopter. It was repainted and eventually sold to the German helicopter charter company, Hubschrauber-Sonder-Dienst (aka HSD Luftrettung and Blue Helicopter Alliance), and given the registration number D-HHSD. While operating as an air ambulance the helicopter crashed in a thunderstorm on June 6, 1992, killing its three passengers.

A new, full-size replica of the Airwolf helicopter was created for display in the Helicopter Headquarters museum in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee that opened in August 2006, using a non-flying Bell 222, and molds made from the originals used in the show. The museum was unsuccessful, and has offered the replica for sale through eBay.

The Airwolf helicopter

Airwolf was painted Phantom Gray Metallic (DuPont Imron 5031X) on top, and a custom pearl-gray (almost white) on the bottom, in a countershaded pattern. The craft was also fitted with various prop modifications, such as "turbo jet" engines and intakes, an in-air refueling nozzle and blister cowling on the nose, retractable chain guns at the wingtips, and a retractable rocket launcher, known as the "ADF Pod" (ADF standing for All Directional Firing, as the pod could rotate 360 degrees to fire at targets at the sides and rear of the copter) on its belly.

The look of the modifications was designed by Andrew Probert, and they were first applied to the non-flying mock-up (built from the body of the very first Bell 222, serial number 47001). From this mock-up molds were made so that parts could be made to FAA specifications before they were added to the flying helicopter.

After the first season, the producers were advised that "chain guns" is a registered trademark of McDonnell Douglas, and they were not referred to as such again. Other modifications were implied with Foley and sets; the interior sets were of a fantastical high-tech nature, and there were implied "stealth" noise-reducing capabilities with creative use of sound effects.

The concept behind Airwolf was a super fast and armed helicopter that could "blend in" by appearing to be civilian and non-military in origin- A "wolf in sheep's clothing." Airwolf's insignia patch (also designed by Probert) as worn by the flight-crew was a snarling wolf's head with gossamer wings that appears to be wearing a sheepskin complete with the head of lamb over the wolf's forehead. Airwolf is sometimes referred to in-show as "The Lady" by Santini and Hawke.

In the show, Airwolf was an armored, stealthy aircraft. It could perform impossible maneuvers and stunts, including traveling at mach speeds (the theoretical maximum speed of a helicopter is significantly below Mach 0.5, or half the speed of sound), flying upside down, and flying into the stratosphere. Some of these impossible capabilities are explained in the show by such features as auxiliary jet engines (visible at the roots of the landing gear sponsons), rotor blades that can be disengaged for supersonic flight and a lifting body fuselage.

Sound effects were also associated with many of the aircraft's abilities. When Airwolf bolted across the sky in "turbo boost" mode, one would hear it "howl like a wolf" as it made a glass-shattering sound effect. When sitting idle, the aircraft made a mechanical trilling sound, and while hovering the rotor blades made a ghostly wind drone.

The weapons were state-of-the-art, with machine guns that could rip apart tanks and bunkers. The belly missile pod could fire a variety of rockets, including Air-to-Surface Mavericks, Hellfires, and heat-seeking Sidewinders. When fired, these rockets usually glowed like a laser bolt or "photon torpedo" from Star Trek. Airwolf was also equipped with an advanced computer system which could identify and track aircraft and ground vehicles. It could display 3D wireframe models and schematics of its targets. The communications system could eavesdrop on radio and telephone conversations, tap into and foul up computer systems, jam enemy transmission frequencies and disrupt ground-based electrical systems. The stealth systems were capable of rendering Airwolf invisible to radar, as well as producing multiple radar returns. The weapons system could be tied in with the communications system to lock the missiles onto any monitored electronic system. In the first episode, a Bullpup missile was launched from Airwolf against an American destroyer while the helicopter was being used by its in-story inventor, Doctor Charles Henry Moffet.

In one episode ("Airwolf II"), Airwolf had an evil twin, the Airwolf II, also known as Redwolf. The Redwolf was built by The Firm to replace Airwolf, but was stolen and flown by an egotistical test-pilot rival of Stringfellow Hawke's called Harlan Jenkins. Redwolf differed from Airwolf in that its underbelly was painted red (where Airwolf' was painted pearl-grey). It was also equipped with a powerful laser weapon. Season 4 also featured a similar copter to the Redwolf, known as the Scorpion, though the footage of the dogfighting was recycled from the "Airwolf II" episode.

Specifications

Airwolf vs. Bell 222

	Bell 222	"Airwolf"
Crew	2 (pilot & copilot)	2-3 (pilot(s) & weapons technician)
Passengers	5–6	1-2 (non-crew may use the copilot seat and/or a seat behind the technician's seat)
Length	49.54 ft (15.1 m)
Height	11.68 ft (3.56 m)
Weight	4,555 lb (2,066 kg)	unspecified
Speed	149 mph (240 km/h)	345 mph (555 km/h) conventional Mach 1.5 with turbo thrusters Mach 2 max speed
Range	373 mi (600 km)	950-1450 mi (1529-2334 km)
Ceiling	12,800 ft (3,901 m)	11,000 ft (3,353 m) unpressurized 89,000 ft (30,482 m) pressurized
Power (x2)	618 hp (461 kW)	unspecified

Airwolf's “Design Specs” (See Airwolf for sources)
Speed	300 knots/555 km/h (conventional) Mach 1.5 (turbo thrusters) Mach 2 (max speed)
Range	950 miles (armed crew of 3) 1,450 miles long range (crew of 2) Midair refuel capable
Flight Ceiling	11,000 feet unpressurized 89,000 feet pressurized
Wing Guns	30 mm Cannon (×2) .50 BMG Chain gun (×4) Firing up to 40 rounds per sec.
ADF Pod	FIRST SEASON AGM-12 Bullpup missiles (×2) AIM-9 Sidewinder missiles (×12) AIM-95 Agile missiles (×4) AGM-45 Shrike missiles (×?) SECOND – FOURTH SEASONS M712 Copperhead shells (×?) FIM-43 Redeye missiles (×?) AGM-65 Maverick missiles (×?) AGM-114 Hellfire missiles (×?) FOURTH SEASON Red Laser
Defense	Sunburst anti-missile Flares (×10) Bullet-proof armoured fuselage Learning flight/combat computer Radar/Radio Jammer

References

External links

Airwolf.org — a long-running, large, and detailed site with crew interviews.
Airwolf Themes — creator of soundtrack, builder of the full-size Airwolf museum replica, and replica helmets.
Airwolf: The Website — site run by the official historian of the Airwolf series.
Information on the new Airwolf mock-up built for Helicopter Headquarters Museum, Pigeon Forge, TN