loach helicopter vietnam

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). The Cayuse was Hughes' longest-running helicopter program and, during the Vietnam War, as many as 100 OH-6As were built a month. MD-500MD/Scout and TOW Defender: Improved military version of the model 500 with 5 main rotor blades, 375-shp Allison 250-C20B turboshaft engine, and T-tail. While in Vietnam, Loach helicopters operated as part of air mobile teams. By the end of the war, the Loachs replacement was imminent. The CH-53 Tarhe was another heavy-lift helicopter designed to transport and recover downed aircraft. While in Target Area this helicopter was Attacking at 0060 feet and 010 knots. 605th transportation Company (Direct Support): Nov . During the course of the competition, the Bell submission, the YOH-4, was eliminated as being underpowered (it was powered by the 250shp (186kW) T63-A-5). a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization EIN 45-4703737We Fly for Our Veterans!. 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. article/image or apply full credit information. When Chuck Gross left for Vietnam in 1970, he was a nineteen-year-old army helicopter pilot fresh out of flight school. Unlike previous aircraft, the Tarhe was extremely successful during the Vietnam War. Hughes, without informing Real, raised the bid by $3,000, and thus lost the contract to Bell. The OH-6 was also exported as the Model 500 Defender. Hughes developed the Model 369 as a prototype for the U.S. Army in the early 1960s. Her research focused on Victorian, medical, and epidemiological history with a focus on childhood diseases. The Model 369, with its Allison T63-A-5A series turboshaft engine, took its first flight on February 27, 1963, under the military designation YOH-6A. Terms and Conditions, Safety Standards Acknowledgement and Consent (SSAC) Initially fielded in Vietnam in early 1968, the Hughes OH-6A was used for command and control, observation, target acquisition, and reconnaissance. The Bell Model 206 is a line of both single and twin-engined helicopters with two primary rotor blades. If you happen upon this text anywhere else on the internet or in print, please let us know at MilitaryFactory AT gmail DOT com so that we may take appropriate action against the offender / offending site and continue to protect this original work. But even that armament combined with the Cobra escort couldnt keep them safe. Anthony comes from a military family and has served his country proudly in the military as a pilot. [12] Following a competitive fly-off, the Army requested the manufacturers to submit sealed bids. The OH-6A "Cayuse" is a small tactical helicopter flown by units of the 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment [SOAR]. It was pretty hairy, and we got the hell out of there. But Boucher got a rush from the missions, and stayed six months beyond what was required of a draftee. Read the harrowing story of what happened on that tragic mission. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. In photo #2 you can see the nice graphics. The Bell UH-1 Huey & the Hughes OH-6 Loach 2 M134 7.62-mm 6x barrel, Gatling type twin MG pods The Hughes (Model 500M) international military version was sold in ten countries and built under license in Italy and Japan. Hughes 500M: Military export version of OH-6 in mid-1970s with upgraded 278-shp Allison 250-C18 turboshaft engine, "V" tail. 2 M75 40-mm grenade launchers The guidance systems on newer attack helicoptersoften working with or even controlling the cameras of reconnaissance droneshave relegated to history the hunter role in the hunter-killer missions. The Hughes 369 was redesignated the OH-6A "Cayuse" by the U.S. Army. Robert Davis Travel Management Consultant, 2023 Executive Flyers +1 (512) 241-0795. 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. 2 Hellfire ATGM While they were circling the wreckage, enemy rounds hit their ship. This helicopter was REPAIRED IN THEATER Nate Shaffer and Bruce Campbell at their assigned positions. The Piasecki H-21 Workhorse was the fourth line of tandem rotor helicopters developed by Piasecki Helicopters. These choppers were modified for combat rescue missions and had self-sealing fuel tanks, rescue hoist, and in-flight refueling abilities. The back plate was often not used owing to the weight, and even the chest plate was deleted. One, nicknamed Queer John, hit the dirt at least seven times. Disclaimer Photographs 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. To this day I am closer to those guys I flew with in Vietnam than my own brothers, says Mills. The first Loach arrived in Vietnam in 1966, and a total of 1,434 of the primary . Click on the hotlinks for more information. Vietnam War helicopter pilots bring stories and aircraft to Kansas In Vietnam, These Helicopter Scouts Saw Combat Up Close After evaluation, three designs were selected and 5 of each: the Bell OH-4A; the Hiller OH-5 and the Hughes OH-6, were ordered for trials by the U.S.Army Aviation Board. | READ MORE. 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. Development included test and training flights in Culver City, California (Hughes Airport) and at Area 51 in 1971. 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). Jim Kanes Vietnam tour abruptly ended one day in February 1971. Here are the 24 helicopters used in Vietnam. During May 1965, the U.S. Army awarded the production contract to Hughes. Unit: 173 ABN It was reasonably fast, very crashworthy, comparatively easy to maintain and fly, and extraordinarily maneuverable. The Aircraft Division of Hughes Tool Company came up with the Model 369, which became one of three finalists, alongside designs from Bell Helicopter Company and Fairchild Hiller. They underwent two weeks of qualification training and an additional two weeks of mission training. This teamwork was actively encouraged by Army officials, and led to the development of so-called "hunter-killer" tactics that sought to flush out and eliminate hostile ground targets. However, the choppers frame ensured the crewmen within remained safe. Fitted with 1x 253-shp Allison T63-A-5A turboshaft, 4 bladed main rotor, and an offset "V" tail. ). Operation Honey Badger never went ahead, as the hostages were released in January 1981. Aircraft took off, fully flight capable. In the Vietnam War, these choppers were used to recover downed aircraft. Helicopter Pilots Who Died in the Vietnam War - VHPA They could also use grenades and on occasion even homebuilt explosives; more aggressive units mounted forward-firing miniguns. Small Arms/Automatic Weapons; Gun launched non-explosive ballistic projectiles less than 20 mm in size. This helicopter was UNK This was a Combat incident. Cartas de Lee: La historia de un hombre de Vietnam por Larayne M. Topp Please direct all other inquiries to militaryfactory AT gmail.com. 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. The small-arms protection aircrewmen armor that was introduced in 1966 was a vest with pockets containing composite laminated plates commonly called chicken plates. The Mil Mi-1 was a Soviet-made light utility chopper with three or four seats. Krausz was ordered to Vietnam in April 1971, and today teaches Army students how to fly the Eurocopter UH-72 Lakota, a twin-engine trainer. Hughes developed the Model 369 as a prototype for the U.S. Army in the early 1960s. Even when this helicopter was shot down, it refused to crack. Some of them were able to tell how large a force was and how recently it had passed. Its formal name is derived from the Cayuse people while its "Loach" nickname comes from the acronym for the Light Observation Helicopter (LOH) programme that it was procured under. It was a joy to fly. Kane, who today sells securities in Richmond, Virginia, flew AH-1s in Vietnam from 1968 to 1971. Jim was unconscious when I helped pull him out of the burning aircraft.. Graphics are very well done, the whole model is very well done. | The following text is exclusive to this site. The Cayuse had a single articulated four-bladed main rotor, a metal two-bladed tail rotor, and a V-shaped tail. To hunt for encampments, bunkers, or other signs of the enemy, commanders would deploy a flight of one scouting Loach and one supporting Cobra, called Pink Teams. In 1966 it entered military service with the US Army. While its light aluminum skin could be easily penetrated by small arms fire, it also crumpled and absorbed energy in a crash while the rugged structure protected key systems and its crew; even though the OH-6 was relatively difficult to shoot down, its occupants would often survive forced landings that would have likely been fatal onboard other rotorcraft. They chose the OH-6A scout helicopter to fill that role, and it became known as the Little Bird compared to the other aircraft in the task force, the MH-60 and the MH-47. A rescue operation for the crew of a downed Loach helicopter doesn't quite go as planned and the rescuers become victims themselves. Loach come from the LOH which means Light Observation Helicopter. That was about it.. A sobering statistic: Out of 1,419 Loaches built, 842 were destroyed in Vietnam, most shot down and many others succumbing to crashes resulting from low-level flying. 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. Vietnam War Era Hughes OH-6 Loach Helicopter 60,632 views Mar 30, 2013 327 Dislike Share Save Steve1958OR 221 subscribers A friend came by with his restored US Army Loach OH-6 helicopter. The following two-week mission was to Yuma for night operation training. The campaign included the first major use in the war of Soviet-built, shoulder-launched anti-aircraft missiles. Cobra Gunship, Huey and Loach OH-6 Members of C Troop, 1st Squadron, 9th Cavalry dedicated an OH-6 Loach Scout helicopter flown by their unit during the Vietnam War 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. This was a Recon mission for Unarmed Recon Cobras and Loaches, two vastly different aircraft, relied on each other to fight the enemy. A.J. The OH-6A was powered by a single Allison T63-A-5A 285 shp turboshaft engine, and had a cruising speed of 144 mph (125 knots). It gained impetus with the advent of the Vietnam War, and was aided by advances in helicopter technology, specifically the development of the turboshaft engine. US Army Loach OH-6 Helicopter Vietnam War Era - YouTube With US Army evaluations of each prototype ongoing, the underpowered Bell offering was formally dropped from contention and the US Army decision favored the Hughes design over the Fairchild-Hiller. The Loach also had its own gunner in the rear and could carry everything from 7.62mm miniguns to 70mm rockets and anti-tank missiles. The Sikorsky S-61R is a twin-engine transport and search helicopter. Due to its unique shape, the Loach was given the nickname . On 1 October 1986, to help meet the increasing demands for support, the 1-245th Aviation Battalion from the Oklahoma National Guard, which had 25 AH-6 and 23 UH-1 helicopters, was placed under the operational control of the 160th. Moore served as an Army OH-6A "Loach" scout in IV Corps, South Vietnam, 1968-1969: Fort Apache, Vihn Long Province. Unknown as to mission impact. [22], It became common for OH-6s to operate in teams with other rotorcraft, particularly the Bell AH-1 Cobra attack helicopter. 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. Note: The above text is EXCLUSIVE to the site www.MilitaryFactory.com. I had another lead that went through 150 feet of trees, and they survived., Shafer himself had brushes with disaster, and his luck nearly ran out on a mission west of Dak To, near the border with Laos. contact us here and we will remove the Required fields are marked *. [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. OH-6A Cayuse ('Loach') The OH-6A "Cayuse" is a small tactical helicopter flown by units of the 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment [SOAR]. Despite Being Prone to Crashing, the Loach Helicopter Was Favored By Pilots In Vietnam The Hughes OH-6 Cayuse was a revolutionary rotorcraft operated during the Vietnam War. The Hughes OH-6 Cayuse is a single-engine light helicopter that was designed and produced by the American aerospace company Hughes Helicopters. It was the same for Jim. 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. Loach helicopter hi-res stock photography and images - Alamy It was also the right size to fit the necessary avionics and fuel stores, all while keeping the structure nimble and agile. The architects of the task force identified the need for a small helicopter to land in the most restrictive locations and that was also easily transported on Air Force transport aircraft. A rescue operation for the crew of a downed Loach helicopter doesn't quite go as planned and the rescuers become victims themselves. Has a mouth full of pointy teeth and a pair of eyes. Units in Vietnam began sending UH-1Bs outfitted with rocket pods and machine guns to circle over the scouts at around 600 feet and attack anything that might interfere with the imminent troop landing. If the OH-6 came under fire, the nearby Cobra would then strike at the revealed enemy. The AH-1 is sometimes affectionately referred to as the Huey Cobra or The Snake. Original source(s) and document(s) from which the incident was created or updated: Survivability/Vulnerability Information Analysis Center Helicopter database. As of 2021, these records still stand. The US military primarily used the OH-6 for observational and reconnaissance purposes. "Pink teams" of scout and attack helicopters, such as OH-6 "Loach" or OH-58 Kiowa scout helicopters and the AH-1 Cobra attack helicopter during the Vietnam War; In anti-submarine warfare an Maritime patrol aircraft may be employed as "hunter", with surface ships such as destroyers as killers. It can cruise at speeds of 150 mph. These helicopters were mostly used for observation, reconnaissance, utility, and for providing combat support. The NVA [North Vietnamese army] was everywhere. 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. The unrefueled range of the AH-6 is 250 nautical miles. You had a couple of flights in the Huey, then you rode front seat in a Cobra, scout pilot Allan Krausz recounts. 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. Today, the Little Birds in use by special operations are MH-6Ms derived from a similar but more powerful helicopter. During 1964, the U.S. Department of Defense issued a memorandum directing that all U.S. Army fixed-wing aircraft be transferred to the U.S. Air Force, while the U.S. Army transitioned to solely operating rotor-wing aircraft. At peak production, during the Vietnam War, as many as 100 OH-6As were built a month. The Cayuse could absorb an extensive amount of small arms fire and still bring the crew home safely. 2 MK19 40-mm grenade launcher How a Vietnam War Helicopter Pilot Captured a POW With His Civil War In terms of its basic configuration, the Model 369 had an atypical teardrop-shaped fuselage, a feature that led to personnel sometimes referring to it as the "flying egg". During the Vietnam War Era, different types of helicopters were crucial for providing support for ground forces, scouting locations, and deploying or retrieving soldiers. I was used to getting up close and personal with the enemy.. A shaft ran to the tail and powered the two-blade rotor at the back. For most of the war, there was no formal Army training to prepare scout pilots and observers. This. 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. The shelf life of a scout pilot was probably six months. The Chickasaw was a multi-purpose helicopter designed for both the US Army and Air Force. [22] All American rotorcraft in the theatre had to be operated more cautiously following this development. Ive seen them, whites of the eyes, and theyve seen me, whites of the eyes. In her spare time, Samantha enjoys reading, knitting, and hanging out with her dog, Chowder! We do not sell any of the items showcased on this site. Systems damaged were: FUEL SYS Hughes Tool Company, Aircraft Division - USA, (View other Aviaton-Related Manufacturers), Dominican Republic; Denmark; Japan; Spain; Taiwan; United States, (OPERATORS list includes past, present, and future operators when applicable), Intelligence-Surveillance-Reconnaissance (ISR), Scout, X-Plane (Developmental, Prototype, Technology Demonstrator), (Showcased structural values pertain to the base Hughes OH-6 Cayuse (Loach) production variant), RANGES (MPH) Subsonic: <614mph | Transonic: 614-921 | Supersonic: 921-3836 | Hypersonic: 3836-7673 | Hi-Hypersonic: 7673-19180 | Reentry: >19030, (Showcased performance specifications pertain to the. When the 1980 hostage situation of Operation Eagle Claw was deemed a disaster, the US military realized there was a lack of aircraft and personnel trained for such special operations.

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