Assembly of first AH-1Z begun at Hurst, Texas, in April 1999, by which time 85% of drawings had been released, with design work due for completion by end of 1999. Initial AH-1Z (162549, c/n 59001) completed final assembly in second quarter of 2000 and moved to Bell Flight Research Center at Arlington, Texas, for installation of instrumentation and functional testing that included restrained ground running which was completed in October 2000.
http://www.aviastar.org/helicopters_eng/bell_supercobra.php
Thanks.
I’ve been to that plant. If I’m not, mistaken but don’t quote me on this, they
“sell” a lot of their surplus inventory / parts to a holding party so they don’t have to pay taxes on it then rebuy it back layer during the year at a significsntly reduced rate. It saves them millions in taxes.