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The Cobras high above had a few seconds of warningthey could spot the missiles exhaust plumebut were all the more tempting because at their higher altitudes they were more easily seen than the smaller Loaches. President As we navigate rapidly evolving military culture and Like any deployed troops, Russian soldiers make calls Sign up for our newsletter and receive the mighty updates! In response, a task force was developed originally designated Task Force 158 for the next attempt to rescue the hostages, Operation Honey Badger. Stanley Hiller complained to the U.S. Army that Hughes had used unethical procedures; therefore, the Army opened the contract for rebidding by all parties. It had no hydraulic system and its electrical setup was used primarily to start up the enginesimple even by 1960s standards, which for practical purposes meant it was easier to maintain and harder to shoot down than other helicopters. Hughes's price was $19,860 per airframe, without the engine, while Hiller's price was $29,415 per airframe, also without the engine. I was flying wing and just dropped into the AO [Area of Operations]. Best Vietnam Helicopter Book - General Helicopter Forum - Vertical The Loach could be terrifying since it was often used with the AH-1 Cobra in hunter-killer missions, where the Loach would go out and find the enemy positions and the Cobra would go in for the kill with rocket, grenade, and minigun fire. [8][9], A total of 387 OH-6/Hughes 369s were produced under license in Japan by the Japanese aerospace company Kawasaki Heavy Industries. The Hughes OH-6 Cayuse is a single-engine light helicopter that was designed and produced by the American aerospace company Hughes Helicopters. Despite its strong offensive abilities, the SH-2 Seasprite was mostly used for rescuing downed friendly aircrews instead of direct combat. The Gyrodyne QH-50 was mostly designed to be used on ships that werent large enough to carry a full-sized helicopter. Instead of disbanding Task Force 158, the military opted to turn it into the 160th Aviation Battalion. Loach helicopter hi-res stock photography and images - Alamy Though Cobra pilots were trained Stateside, most Loach pilots didnt take control of OH-6s until arriving in Vietnam. Unlike its troop-carrying ancestors, a Cobra was like a World War II fighter, says Jim Kane, who arrived in Vietnam fresh out of Purdue University. A "Loach" (Helicopter) Scout in IV Corps, South Vietnam, 1968-1969 A little gory but thats how close we were. As the Loach flew among the trees, the rear-seat pilot in the Snake circling above kept a close eye on the little scout and the front-seat gunner jotted down whatever the Loach observers radioed. Information on U.S. Army helicopter OH-6A tail number 67-16304 The North Vietnamese deployed hundreds of the missiles, and from then on, both hunter and killer tried to stay well hidden. OH-6A/MD-530F Super Cayuse/Lifter: Upgraded engine to a 425-shp Allison 250- C30 turboshaft, and avionics in 1988 for the US Army. Kane recalls, The vibrations were so harsh I had to return to base camp at Khe Sanh, seven miles from the Laotian border. USNTPS plans to retain the aircraft indefinitely and continue to improve the safety, reliability, and usefulness of the aircraft in the test pilot training role. Table of Contents 1. It never flew again. Its four-bladed full-articulated main rotor made it particularly agile, and it was suitable for personnel transport, escort and attack missions, and observation. The OH-6/Model 369 was also license-produced overseas by the Japanese aerospace company Kawasaki Heavy Industries for both military and civilian operators. Other Army pilots, most of whom flew Cobras or Hueys, thought of Loach pilots as a little offbeat. 24 Helicopters Used in Vietnam (And Their Purpose) Kiowas, largely relegated to low-threat cargo and liaison missions in Vietnam, were after the war tasked to spot targets from afar and guide Cobras (and later, Boeing AH-64 Apaches) to good firing spots. Development included test and training flights in Culver City, California (Hughes Airport) and at Area 51 in 1971. Vietnam Veteran and his Helicopter Reunited. One of the most dangerous helicopter assignments was a tiny scout helicopter known as the Loach. Officially designated the OH-6 Cayuse, these things were made of thin plexiglass and metal but were expected to fly low over the jungles and grass, looking for enemy forces hiding in the foliage. Operation Honey Badger was canceled after the hostages were released on 20 January 1981, and for a short while, it looked as if the task force would be disbanded and the personnel returned to their former units. To this day I am closer to those guys I flew with in Vietnam than my own brothers, says Mills. Privacy Statement The Cayuse . Cookie Settings, pilot. Authored By: Staff Writer | Last Edited: 11/18/2017 | Content www.MilitaryFactory.com [24][25] As to indicate the position of concealed enemy ground forces, the observer in the OH-6 would mark the spot using a smoke grenade, assisting other units in effectively firing upon them. This eventually gave way to the loach nickname, and was intended to provide the US military with a light-class, rotary-wing craft that could fulfill a number of purposes: search and rescue, close air support, MEDEVAC, observation, transport, reconnaissance and attack roles. Hughes developed the Model 369 as a prototype for the U.S. Army in the early 1960s. Systems damaged were: FUEL SYS [6], During May 1965, the U.S. Army awarded a production contract to Hughes; this initial order for 714 rotorcraft was subsequently increased to 1,300 along with an option for another 114. I was used to getting up close and personal with the enemy.. This story is a selection from the September issue of Air & Space magazine, Donald Porter A.J. OH-6A/Cayuse: Developed initially by the Hughes Aircraft company (later McDonnell Douglas Helicopter Company) in the mid-1960s for the US Army. While Enroute this helicopter was at Level Flight at 0020 feet and 050 knots. EH-6B, a previous version of the Little Bird, was used for command, control and radio relay. The Cobra is a single-engine attack helicopter produced by Bell Helicopter as a primary attack helicopter in the Vietnam War for aerial assaults or as air cavalry. They were operated by a number of military organizations, including the Japanese Army, Navy and Coast Guard. Loach and Cobra were in constant radio communication, and because of the intensity of hunter-killer missions, it wasnt long before pairs in each type knew each other well enough to anticipate the others moves. [22], Following the April 1980 failure of Operation Eagle Claw (the attempted rescue of American hostages in Tehran), it was determined that the military lacked aircraft and crews who were trained and prepared to perform special operations missions. It is the product of many hours of research and work made possible with the help of contributors, veterans, insiders, and topic specialists. The OH-6 Cayuse, by this point known as the Loach helicopter, made its way to Vietnam in December 1967. The OH-6 Cayuse was developed from specifications issued by the U.S. Army in 1960 for a light observation helicopter (LOH), and the familiar Loach nickname was derived from the acronym. The Army purchased this helicopter 0968 I tried to move the stuck controls and prayed for a place to set down. It took all of Kanes strength to pull out of a steep dive, and they crash-landed with a horrific thud. 2 Hellfire ATGM The Loach-derived MD-500 and other civilian variants still roll off the assembly lines at MD Helicopters, Inc., while Boeing produces an upgraded variant, the AH-6 Little Bird, for military forces (including an autonomous drone version). Armament Hughes 500M: Military export version of OH-6 in mid-1970s with upgraded 278-shp Allison 250-C18 turboshaft engine, "V" tail. Upon returning to the United States, he established a career in the construction industry and settled in rural Sierra City, California. Observation Helicopters Hughes OH-6 Cayuse (Loach) The Hughes OH-6 Cayuse is a light helicopter with a single engine and a four-bladed main rotor. Fortunate son intensifies : r/memes - reddit The Incident - CherriesWriter - Vietnam War website Shop | The OH-6A would find targets by flying low, trolling for fire, and lead in a Cobra, or Snake, to attack. As well, its tough frame made it safer than other helicopters during crashes, as its aluminum skin absorbed the energy and the structure protected the crew. Some units were modified during the war with machine guns to act as gunships. Loaches, usually with a pilot and observer and sometimes a door gunner aboard, flew as little as 10 feet above the treetops at between about 45 and 60 mph, scouting for signs of the enemy. Hughes Tool Company Aircraft Division submitted their Model 369 to fill a US Army requirement for a Light Observation Helicopter capable of performing a number of secondary duties including escort, attack and casualty evacuation duties. Hughes Model OH-6A Cayuse or LOACH South Vietnam During May 1965, the U.S. Army awarded the production contract to Hughes. With all these benefits, several variations were developed. The Army dictated that after 300 hours of flight time, each Loach go through a thorough inspection, but in practice such inspections were rare: Few Loaches survived to reach that mark. He is proud of his service, which involved a great deal of combat, but has concluded that U.S. involvement in Vietnam was a mistake. He recalls: 360 degrees around you was enemy territory, and the ability to work with American and [South Vietnamese] units on the ground really required aviation to be able to look eye to eye to tell the good guys from the bad guys. Loach-Cobra pairings were sent out more and more frequently, until their main role was to gather general intelligence rather than prepare landing zones. As a separate part of the project, armed OH-6As were being developed at Fort Rucker, Alabama. Donald Porter September 2017 Pilot Clyde. US Army Loach OH-6 Helicopter Vietnam War Era - YouTube In 1966 it entered military service with the US Army. The UH, nicknamed Huey is a utility military chopper that was used for troop and cargo transport, medical evacuation, and sometimes for military purposes. Front left side view of the Hughes OH-6 Cayuse helicopter; color, Right side view of the Hughes OH-6 Loach in flight; color. Light Observation Helicopter (LOH) program, The US Air Force Panicked When Its Top-Secret Stealth Fighter Crashed Into the California Wilderness. Terms and Conditions, Safety Standards Acknowledgement and Consent (SSAC) While Loachs were vulnerable to enemy fire, they were famous for surviving crashes like John did. The U.S. Marine Corps still flies AH-1 SuperCobras as its main attack helicopter, with the latest versionthe AH-1Z Viper so upgraded and modernized that a Vietnam-era pilot might be hard-pressed to recognize it. The OH-6 Cayuse was built with a rugged structure covered in light aluminum. [23][22] Such a team would have normally comprised a single OH-6 that would fly relatively slow and at a low altitude while attempting to spot the presence of enemies. This. It was nicknamed the Jolly Green Giant during the war. Army troops called the OH-6As Loaches, a contraction of light observation helicopters. The ship was unusually light and had plenty of power, perfect for flying nap-of-the-earth missions, and its 26-foot-diameter main rotor made getting into tight landing zones a snap. Reportedly, 964 out of the 1,422 OH-6As produced for the U.S. Army were destroyed in Vietnam alone. While in Vietnam, Loach helicopters operated as part of air mobile teams. While successful in this respect, the Loach helicopter also had a reputation for being easily gunned down. The Hughes (Model 500M) international military version was sold in ten countries and built under license in Italy and Japan. Moore served as an Army OH-6A Loach scout in IV Corps, South Vietnam, 1968-1969: Fort Apache, Vihn Long Province. Another flight competition was held, this time without a submission from Fairchild Hiller. Joint Services Incident Damage Report. Following a competitive fly-off and a sealed bidding process, Hughes lost the contract to Bell, resulting in the competing Bell OH-58 Kiowa being produced. Reportedly, Hughes had consulted at the last moment with Real, who recommended a bid of $53,550. Late in the war, the HH-43 was also deployed for short overland search and rescue missions. which many are taken will be available from our shop to [4] The prototypes were delivered to the U.S. Army at Fort Rucker, Alabama, where they competed against the other ten prototype aircraft produced by Bell and Fairchild-Hiller. [10][self-published source][11], Due to price escalations for both the OH-6 and spare components, the U.S. Army opted to reopen bids for the programme in 1967. Modifications were also made to the rotor assembly by way of a five blade main rotor which increased stability. We were combat trackers, says Mills. That was about it.. Can a Helicopter Fly to the Top of Mount Everest. OH-6A Cayuse / AH-6J Little Bird - Military Aircraft As the H-13s were phased out, Loaches were paired with Cobra gunships. Donald Porter served in Vietnam with the helicopters he writes about. The mission training consisted of loading onto C-130 Hercules transport aircraft which would then transport them to forward staging areas over routes as long as 1,000 nautical miles (1,900km). Vietnam War Era Hughes OH-6 Loach Helicopter - YouTube Tough Mission LOACH Chopper Vietnam - YouTube City of Walnut Creek Special Recreation Museum Tour October 26, 2019, United Airlines Family Day Fly-in October 13, 2019, Napa County Airport Day September 7, 2019, Virginia Rose II Cobra transferred to Vietnam Helicopters Museum August 14, 2019, Memorial Day 2019 Ceremonies at Oak Hill Memorial Park & Cemetery. The Model 369 was submitted by Hughes, and competed against the two finalists, Fairchild-Hiller and Bell, for a production contract. Loach History - Fly in a Vietnam War Helicopter The helicopter was designed around their earlier model 269/300 making use of monocoque steel tube construction techniques, allowing a strong and compact fuselage. Its first overseas deployment, as well as into frontline combat, was the Vietnam War. Select the first letter of the last name of the person you want to find: The U.S. Army began to use Bell OH-13 Sioux and Hiller OH-23 Raven helicopters, once artillery spotters, to scout ahead of UH-1D Huey formations in the moments before air assaults to gather information about landing zones and enemy locations. The Army initially ordered 1,438 Hughes Model 369s, designated by the Army as the OH-6A Cayuse helicopters. The Chickasaw was a multi-purpose helicopter designed for both the US Army and Air Force. Initially fielded in Vietnam in early 1968, the Hughes OH-6A was used for command and control, observation, target acquisition, and reconnaissance. [12] Accordingly, during 1968, Hughes submitted a bid to build a further 2,700 airframes. 2 .50 cal MG pods Hughes OH-6 Cayuse (Loach) - Military Factory Hughes developed the Model 369 as a prototype for the U.S. Army in the early 1960s. Several Kawasaki-built Loach helicopters were also flown by civilian customers for a variety of reasons, including emergency medical services, law enforcement tasks and for work in the agricultural sector. The helicopter was hit in the Cockpit Advertising Notice Material presented throughout this website is for historical and entertainment value only and should not to be construed as usable for hardware restoration, maintenance, or general operation. The Army requested 714 helicopters in May 1965, a number that was later increased to 1,300. During the Vietnam War, it was mostly deployed for aerial combat and for conducting rescue operations in areas close to US Air bases. For most of the war, there was no formal Army training to prepare scout pilots and observers. These would be used to replace its fleet of Bell H-13 Sioux, a compact first generation rotorcraft. The Army officially adopted the Bell OH-58 Kiowa in 1969. The Boeing (McDonnell Douglas) (formerly Hughes model 369A) OH-6A was designed for use as a military scout during the Vietnam war to meet the US Army's need for an extremely maneuverable light observation helicopter. For this, a small rotorcraft capable of landing in restrictive locations and easily transportable via US Air Force transport aircraft was necessary. Accordingly, this tactic had resulted in substantial losses being incurred on the contract with the U.S. Army; the company had allegedly anticipated that an extended production cycle would eventually make the rotorcraft financially viable. Optional and variable (attack and special forces versions only). Once enemy positions opened fire at the Cayuse, they were destroyed by the mighty firepower of escorting Cobras. We do not sell any of the items showcased on this site. OH-6A Cayuse ('Loach') The OH-6A "Cayuse" is a small tactical helicopter flown by units of the 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment [SOAR]. To remedy this shortcoming, the Army began developing a special aviation task force to prepare for the next attempt to rescue the hostages: Operation Honey Badger. 2 M134 7.62-mm 6x barrel, Gatling type twin MG pods In the event of a crash the tailboom and engine separate from the egg-like cabin, improving the survival chances of the crew and passengers. [17] On 26 March 1966, Jack Schwiebold set the closed circuit distance record in a YOH-6A at Edwards Air Force Base, California, flying without landing for 1,739.96mi (2,800.20km). The Cayuse had a single articulated four-bladed main rotor, a metal two-bladed tail rotor, and a V-shaped tail. Graphics are very well done, the whole model is very well done. Small Arms/Automatic Weapons; Gun launched non-explosive ballistic projectiles less than 20 mm in size. It was used for transporting personnel, escorting other aircraft and naval vessels, attacking enemy units, and acting as an observation post. Hunter-killer team - Wikipedia Hughes Model OH-6A "Cayuse" or "LOACH". The Little Birds weaponry is a far cry from the M60 machine gun carried aboard a Loach in Vietnam: AH-6s can carry miniguns, rocket pods, grenade launchers, Hellfire missiles, and air-to-air Stinger missiles. Adopted after. Trademarks and copyright information is respected. The Hughes OH-6 Cayuse is a light helicopter with a single engine and a four-bladed main rotor. OH-6 Loach - Light Observation Helicopter - Brickmania Toys [13][3] Beginning in 2001, the JGSDF OH-6s were supplemented by the indigenously-developed Kawasaki OH-1, a more advanced observation helicopter. The Mojave is a large heavy-lift helicopter that was deployed in the Vietnam War in 1965 to assist in recovery of downed US aircraft, but it proved ineffective. When the Loach debuted in 1966, it broke records for speed, endurance, and rate of climb, all important attributes for a scout helicopter. But even that armament combined with the Cobra escort couldnt keep them safe. It served in Granada and Panama during the 1980s, as well as in the . The 'Loach' was one of the riskiest helicopter assignments in Vietnam Logan Nye Updated December 07, 2022 09:30:25 While barely any American helicopters served in World War II and few flew in Korea, Vietnam was a proving ground for many airframes everything from the venerable Huey to Chinooks sporting huge guns. However, the U.S. Army subsequently chose to include Hughes's Model 369 for further consideration as well. There was one day of initial training, says Bob Moses, who was first trained as a tank crewman and then as infantry before a sudden transition to helicopter door gunner. Towards the end of the conflict, the replacement of the OH-6 by the Bell OH-58 Kiowa was imminent across nearly all US Army units. The Sikorsky S-61R is a twin-engine transport and search helicopter. The US Army charged Hughes for 714 units with the serial production contract formally announced in May of 1965. Tough Mission LOACH Chopper Vietnam - YouTube 0:00 / 5:15 Intro Tough Mission LOACH Chopper Vietnam Chopperguy 15.4K subscribers Subscribe 1.1K 53K views 1 year ago We fly with Low Level. Hughes is reported to have told his confidant, Jack Real, that he lost over $100 million to construct 1,370 airframes. On a few occasions, the OH-23 was also used for medical evacuation purposes, but this was rarely the case. The OH-6A could be armed with the M27 armament subsystem, the M134 six-barrel 7.62mm minigun or the M129 40mm grenade launcher on the XM8 armament subsystem. The Hughes OH-6A Cayuse was quite effective when teamed with the AH-1G Cobra attack helicopter as part of what were known as Pink Teams, combining the OH-6A Loach (white team) with a AH-1G Cobra atacke helicopter (red team). Multi-Mission Helicopters 6. The Army purchased this helicopter 0968 Unfortunately, the weight of the armament kept the little bird from taking off. Ribbon graphics not necessarily indicative of actual historical campaign ribbons. Due to its designation LOH (Light Observation Helicopter), pilots and crew nicknamed this helicopter LOACH. The CH-53 Tarhe was another heavy-lift helicopter designed to transport and recover downed aircraft. Books/Magazines 29 of the best politically incorrect Vietnam War slang terms During the Vietnam War, it was exclusively used by North Vietnam for reconnaissance and VIP transport. Your Privacy Rights The-21C was extensively used by the US Army to transport troops and supplies. A recontoured nose allowed for greater leg and head room. (He later transferred to the Air Force and flew F-4 Phantoms, and eventually became an airline captain.) Four troop-carrying Hueys (called a Blue Team) often sat idle somewhere nearby, ready to insert troops if the Pink Team discovered an interesting targetor were shot down and needed rescuing. Moses, a 19-year-old draftee, arrived in Vietnam in July 1970 for the first of two year-long tours, and later worked for the Department of Veterans Affairs as a therapist and administrator. NVA troops shot down a Cobra, killing the crew. It is 1/6th scale and very large, has to be at least 3 feet from rotor tip to rotor tip. (7.62MM) The Light Observation Helicopter ( LOH) program was a United States Army program to evaluate, develop and field a light scout helicopter to replace the Army's aging Bell OH-13 Sioux. However, the choppers frame ensured the crewmen within remained safe. Observation Helicopters 4. Following a contentious selection process that included allegations of industrial espionage and political favoritism, the first Hughes OH-6A observation helicopters arrived in Vietnam in December 1967. On top of this, Fairchild Hiller lodged a formal complaint over Hughes Tool Companys deceitful tactics to earn the original contract. So I engaged the enemy, but didnt make it out of that one. The Cayuse was publicly introduced in 1966 and set several records, including record for endurance, speed and rate of climb. (Scouts were known as White Teams and Cobras as Red; the two colors combine to become pink. Vietnam War helicopter pilots bring stories and aircraft to Topeka Pilot sold separately. They were famous for being shot down or crashing in combat. See Also: How Much Does a Huey Helicopter Cost? While Hiller did not participate in the rebidding, Bell opted to, submitting their redesigned Model 206. The OH-6 was also exported as the Model 500 Defender. Armed with a 40mm grenade launcher in a nose turret, and two 19-tube 2.75 inch rocket launchers, the "OH-6C" was ready to take on anything. Worthy, the OH-6 Loach and two other air scout helicopter pilots, all decorated, were in Topeka on Saturday night for an event at Forbes Field Airport designed to increase interest and. Infantrymen would also launch an assault from the ground. [2] This shaping, combined with the provision of internal bulkheads, has been attributed as giving the rotorcraft its uncommonly strong crashworthiness properties. During 1960, the United States Army issued Technical Specification 153 for a Light Observation Helicopter (LOH) capable of fulfilling various roles on the battlefield, including personnel transport, escort, casualty evacuation, observation, and attack missions. Following the lead, we got peppered with rounds. The Loach had a bad vibration, but he made it about half a mile before he had to land. Furthermore, the helicopter was also developed into a civilian helicopter, the Model 500, which was still in production into the twenty-first century under MD Helicopters as the MD 500. It had to do with the timbre of your voicehow you talked to other guys on the radio, says Romero, who arrived in Vietnam in 1970, initially as a Huey co-pilot. Ultimately, Hughes was selected as the winner of the competition. [18] Subsequently, on 6 April 1966, Robert Ferry set the long distance world record for helicopters by flying from Culver City, California, with over a ton of fuel to Ormond Beach, Florida, covering a total of 1,923.08 nm (2,213.04mi, 3,561.55km) in 15 hours, and near the finish at up to 24,000 feet (7,300m) altitude. Some crews argued that the Kiowa was nowhere near as nimble as the OH-6, however, the transition proceeded while scouting doctrine was changed to emphasis operations from greater distances.