Boeing has made a tradition of mark the joining of a helicopter battalion to their Apache helicopter with an art poster in some ways resembling one for a movie — the main focus being, of course, their chopper. The AH-64 model was commissioned by the army, which wanted to next-generation anti-armor craft capable of flying low and fast over ground, and at the same time be exceptionally durable, and Boeing’s design provided all that, as well as exceptional control and maneuverability, giving the soldiers of the battalions much to praise.

On this day, September 30, in 1975 Boeing’s Apache Helicopter prototype made its first flight, a YAH-64. The Army liked what they saw, and the Hughes company (which became part of McDonnell Douglas around the same time) began delivery the following year.

The twin-engine, four bladed Cobra was designed to operate in any condition. Advanced night vision capabilities allowed to fly comfortably in the darkest of nights and in any weather. A heavy armament made it it perfect for ground-support roles, as the Cobra formed the backbone of many military operations from Kosovo to Iraq in 2003, where many of the helicopters hits from Saddam Hussein’s formidable air-defense weapons and kept right on going.