Hughes OH-6
| Hughes OH-6 Cayuse | |
|---|---|
 Side view of an OH-6 "Cayuse" |
|
| Type: | Light reconnaissance and attack helicopter |
| Design country: | |
| Manufacturer: | |
| First flight: |
February 27, 1963 |
| Commissioning: |
1966 |
| Production time: |
in series production since 1966 |
| Number of pieces: |
1420+ |
The Hughes OH-6 “ Cayuse ” is a small, multi-purpose military helicopter . The civil versions of the MD-500 series (formerly Hughes 369 and 500 ) are currently the MD 500E , MD 520N and MD 530F .
history
The OH-6 was originally designed by Hughes Helicopters as an extremely maneuverable, lightweight reconnaissance helicopter for the US Army's LOH program ( light observation helicopter ) . The Hughes factory name is Model 369.
The helicopters are now manufactured by Boeing's subsidiary MD Helicopters . In 1984 Hughes was taken over by McDonnell Douglas , which in turn merged with Boeing in 1997. This made the OH-6 Hughes Helicopters' longest-running helicopter program .
The maiden flight of the OH-6 took place on February 27, 1963. In September 1966 the first units went into service with the US Army. They are used in several areas such as command and control, surveillance, target searching and reconnaissance. During the Vietnam War , the OH-6 produced around 100 units per month.
Various variants were produced under license, including at Agusta and Kawasaki Heavy Industries .
variants
- YOH-6A
- Prototype of the reconnaissance helicopter for the LOH program
- OH-6A "Cayuse"
- Basic version of the US Army Aviation's reconnaissance helicopter with an Allison T63 A5A turbine.
- OH-6A "NOTAR"
- Trial version with a tail blower system instead of the tail rotor
- OH-6B "Cayuse"
- Improved variant with a more powerful Allison-T63-A-720 turbine.
- OH-6C "Cayuse"
- Planned variant with a 313 kW Allison 25 C20 turbine and five rotor blades.
- OH-6J "Cayuse"
- Japanese Air Force (JGSDF) reconnaissance helicopter based on the OH-6A. The helicopters were produced under license by Kawasaki Heavy Industries in Japan.
- OH-6D "Cayuse"
- Light reconnaissance helicopter of the Japanese Air Force (JGSDF) based on the civilian Hughes Model 500D. These were produced under license at Kawasaki Heavy Industries in Japan.
- EH-6B "Cayuse"
- Variant for special units and as a command center for the US Army.
- NH-500E2 "Cayuse"
- The helicopters manufactured under license at Breda Nardi were also fitted with floats for the coast guard.
- TH-6B "Cayuse"
As a helicopter for test pilot training, the US Navy ordered a variant of the McDonnell Douglas MD-369H tailored for their tests. At the United States Naval Test Pilot School, these six helicopters were flown for a variety of instrument tests.
MH-6 Little Bird
The MH-6 Little Bird version (M for multi-mission, i.e. multi-purpose use) has been modified for special military operations and offers a seating platform on each side of the fuselage that can accommodate three soldiers. The electronics, additional tanks and other mission accessories are located in the passenger cabin, which offers space for two to three people. This variant was developed for the helicopter regiment of the US Army Special Operations Command ( 160th SOAR ), which is the only unit to fly the MH-6 for the transport and support of special forces such as the Delta Force , Navy Seals and Rangers . The following sub-variants are distinguished:
- MH-6B "Little Bird"
- MH-6C "Little Bird"
- MH-6E "Little Bird"
- Variant based on the newer MD-530.
- MH-6M "Little Bird"
- Variant based on the newer MD-530F.
AH-6
→ Main article: Boeing AH-6
The AH-6 ( A for attack) is derived from the MH-6 and differs mainly in its ability to carry weapons. The AH-6 is equipped with Gatling MGs of the type M134 (caliber 7.62 mm) or missile containers. It can also be equipped with a 40 mm Mk 19 grenade launcher , ATAS and Hellfire anti-tank missiles; National Guard units and the 160th SOAR began in 2005 to retrofit countermeasures to protect against anti-aircraft missiles.
MD 500
The Model 500 is a commercial variant of the OH-6 . It has been produced by Hughes, now Boeing , since 1976 . The Model 500 was initially developed for civil aviation, but was then mostly used for military purposes. Many countries have now acquired 500 series helicopters , including Colombia , Kenya , Spain and, illegally, even North Korea . About 86 helicopters were sold to North Korea via the German company Delta Avia Fluggeräte GmbH (at that time majority owned by two US citizens). South Korea, on the other hand, has a large fleet of model 500MD / TOW Defenders from its own license production. Machines of the same type are also used by Israel. From the private security company Academi , formerly Blackwater , which is Model 530F Lifter used; this variant is designed for hotter and drier regions.
Military users
(former and current)
-
Afghanistan MD-500F -
Argentina
- including 14 model 500M
- including four OH-6s for pilot training
- several versions including 12 model 500M
- including 30 model 500D
- 30 × MD500 called "Lahatut" MD-500. The IAF used this as a tank destroyer until 2001.
- 46 × NH-500E2 "Defender"
-
Japan
-
Kenya
-
North Korea see text
-
South Korea see text
-
Spain
-
Taiwan ( Navy )
- 9
- previously up to 1417 OH-6 Cayuse , today 18 MH-6 and 18 AH-6
-
Algeria
-
Bahrain
-
Bolivia
-
Denmark
-
Dominican Republic
-
Finland
-
Greece
-
Haiti
-
Jordan
-
Nicaragua
-
Nigeria
-
El Salvador
-
Sweden
Technical specifications
| Parameter | Data Hughes OH-6 |
|---|---|
| length | 7.01 m |
| height | 2.49 m |
| Rotor diameter | 8.05 m |
| Max. Takeoff mass | 1225 kg |
| Max. External load | 550 kg |
| Engine | 1 × Allison T63-A-5A shaft turbine with 285 shaft horsepower |
| Top speed | approx. 232 km / h (approx. 130 kn ) |
| Climb performance | 8 m / s |
| Range | 665 km (approx. 410 mi ) |
Armament
- Payload of up to 550 kg on two external load carriers
OH-6
- MG canister
- 2 × 7.62 mm US Ordnance M60D machine guns with 200 rounds of ammunition
- 2 × XM8 weapon system (automatic 40 mm grenade launcher M129 with 150 rounds of ammunition)
- 2 × XM27 weapon system with a horizontally pivoting 7.62 mm machine gun M134 "Minigun" with 2000 rounds of ammunition.
- Unguided air-to-surface missiles
- 2 × LAU-68 / A rocket tube launch containers for 7 × unguided FFAR air-to-ground hydra rockets each ; Caliber 70 mm
MD-500 Defender
- Air-to-air guided missile
- 2 × ATAS (Air To Air Stinger) double guided missile launchers for 2 × Raytheon AIM-92 "Stinger" RMP Block I each - infrared-controlled for short distances
- Air-to-surface guided missile
- 2 × ESCO HeliTOW starters for 2 × each (Raytheon BGM-71A "TOW") - optically controlled via wire
- 1 × Mark 44 torpedo
- 2 × Mark 46 lightweight torpedo (as a submarine fighter variant)
- Unguided air-to-surface missiles
- 2 × LAU-59 / A rocket tube launchers for 7 × unguided FFAR air-to-surface rockets each ; Caliber 70 mm (2.75 inch)
- 2 × TBA-68-7 rocket tube launch containers for 7 × unguided SNEB air-to -surface missiles each ; Caliber 68 mm
AH-6M
- Air-to-surface guided missiles ( anti-tank guided missiles )
- 2 × M299 guided missile suspensions for 2 × Boeing Corp / Martin Marietta AGM-114F / N "Hellfire" - laser-controlled
Trivia
The civilian model Hughes 500 played a regular role in the television series Magnum PI and Airwolf from the 1980s.
See also
literature
- Combat helicopter. Technology, armament, types. Dörfler Verlag, 2002, ISBN 3-89555-061-2 , pp. 111-112.
Web links
Individual evidence
- ↑ Types of aircraft in the world. Bechtermünz Verlag, 1997, ISBN 3-86047-593-2 , pp. 525-526.
- ↑ Andrew J. Pierre (Ed.): Cascade of Arms. ISBN 978-0-8157-9165-2 , p. 52