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). The Bell H-13 Sioux were used for multiple roles, ranging from transporting troops, conducting medical evacuations, and performing reconnaissance and observational activities. The OH-6 was largely removed from active U.S. Army service in favor of the Kiowa, but modified versions of the helicopter flew with the 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment as the MH-6C Little Bird as late as 2008. Some of them were able to tell how large a force was and how recently it had passed. I could tell how old a footprint was by how it looked. [2] The pilot was provisioned with excellent external visibility via its large plexiglass windscreen, while its four-bladed fully-articulated main rotor meant it was considerably more agile than the preceding H-13 Sioux. Overtop of the fuselage was the OH-6s single engine, attached to a four-blade main rotor assembly. [16], Early on in the OH-6's career, the type demonstrated its performance in a particularly prominent manner via the setting of 23 individual world records for helicopters during 1966 in the categories of speed, endurance and time to climb. As of 2021, these records still stand. 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. For this, a small rotorcraft capable of landing in restrictive locations and easily transportable via US Air Force transport aircraft was necessary. Trademarks and copyright information is respected. It can cruise at speeds of 150 mph. All Rights Reserved. In one particular clandestine incident in 1972, known as the Vinh wiretap, a pair of OH-6As were heavily modified and used by the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) via Air America was used to infiltrate Vietnamese high level communications, providing valuable intelligence. AH/MH-6J: US Army Special Operations variant derived from the MD-530MG. Since units were all but permanently assigned to particular areas, they came to know the local geography intimately and could spot anything out of the ordinary. During 1966, the OH-6 entered service with the U.S. Army, it promptly arrived into active combat in the Vietnam War. The type was born from the US Army Light Observation Helicopter (LOH) program (which provided its "Loach" nickname) and ultimately proved an excellent helicopter system seeing only limited service in the inventories of several American allies worldwide. A rescue operation for the crew of a downed Loach helicopter doesn't quite go as planned and the rescuers become victims themselves. Helicopter Pilots Who Died in the Vietnam War . Light Attack Helicopters 3. The Army requested 714 helicopters in May 1965, a number that was later increased to 1,300. 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. More from us: The US Air Force Panicked When Its Top-Secret Stealth Fighter Crashed Into the California Wilderness. In order to reduce their acoustic signature, the helicopters (N351X and N352X) received a four-blade 'scissors' style tail rotor (later incorporated into the Hughes-designed AH-64 Apache), a fifth rotor blade and reshaped rotor tips, a modified exhaust system, and various other performance boosting modifications. We were about ready to call in tactical air support to blow up the wrecked ship when another Cobra took a lot of fire. Upon landing, an inspection revealed a damaged pitch link, a rotor head component so critical that had it failed, they too would have crashed. Advertising Notice In Vietnam, These Helicopter Scouts Saw Combat Up Close Cobras and Loaches, two vastly different aircraft, relied on each other to fight the enemy. 60th Assault Helicopter Company: Mar 72 Jun 72, Information on U.S. Army helicopter OH-6A tail number 67-16304 a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization EIN 45-4703737We Fly for Our Veterans!. 2 M260 2.75-in Hydra 70 rocket pods (7 or 12 each) Military operators included the Japanese Ground Self-Defense Force (JGSDF), Japanese Maritime Self-Defense Force (JMSDF), and the Japanese Coast Guard. One time we ran into hundreds of enemy troops. [22] All American rotorcraft in the theatre had to be operated more cautiously following this development. 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. During the Vietnam War Era, different types of helicopters were crucial for providing support for ground forces, scouting locations, and deploying or retrieving soldiers. 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. . Boucher quickly discovered that life as a qualified crewman was extremely dangerous. These rotorcraft were operated by several different organisations, the majority of which were based in Japan. Kane was dispatched to the crash site in another Cobra with copilot Jim Casher. This was a Recon mission for Unarmed Recon [13][3] Beginning in 2001, the JGSDF OH-6s were supplemented by the indigenously-developed Kawasaki OH-1, a more advanced 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. I spent more time with them., Kids Start Forgetting Early Childhood Around Age 7, Archaeologists Discover Wooden Spikes Described by Julius Caesar, Artificial Sweetener Tied to Risk of Heart Attack and Stroke, Study Finds, 5,000-Year-Old Tavern With Food Still Inside Discovered in Iraq, The Surprisingly Scientific Roots of Monkey Bars. During 1967, following price escalations for the OH-6, the U.S. Army reopened the programme to bids for as many as 2,700 additional airframes beyond the 1,300 OH-6s already contracted. Even trampled grass was a clue; it meant that enemy troops had passed through the area within eight hours, the time it took for grass to dry upright. The Cayuse had a single articulated four-bladed main rotor, a metal two-bladed tail rotor, and a V-shaped tail. A saying among Army aviators was, If you have to crash, do it in a Loach.. Modifications were also made to the rotor assembly by way of a five blade main rotor which increased stability. The helicopter was inducted as the OH-6 "Cayuse" and would eventually take on the in-the-field nickname of "Loach" in reference to its "LOH" origins. Samantha Franco is a Freelance Content Writer who received her Bachelor of Arts degree in history from the University of Guelph, and her Master of Arts degree in history from the University of Western Ontario. Under enemy fire this nimble machine had to fly low to the ground, just above the jungle canopy. The OH-6 was also exported as the Model 500 Defender. This was a Combat incident. Although most combat aircraft in Vietnam aimed for altitudes and speeds that helped them avoid anti-aircraft weapons, U.S. Army crews flying Hughes OH-6A Cayuse helicopters flew low and drew fireto set up the shots for the Bell AH-1G Cobras circling above. On the night of 5-6 December 1972, the remaining helicopter deployed a wiretap near Vinh, Vietnam; useful information provided from this wiretap was acted on by the United States on several occasions, such as during the Linebacker II campaign and Paris Peace Talks. Served in Vietnam War during 1968 and 1970-1972 Due to its designation LOH (Light Observation Helicopter), pilots and crew nicknamed this helicopter LOACH. An author of aviation books, his latest is Howards Whirlybirds. In 1960, the US Army issued Technical Specification 153 and established the Light Observation Helicopter (LOH) program. The OH-6A Cayuse was quite effective when teamed with the AH-1G Cobra attack helicopter as part of what were known as Pink Teams. This was a Combat incident. 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. Has a mouth full of pointy teeth and a pair of eyes. 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. The Sea Stallion is a variant of the Jolly Green Giant, but its used only for sea transport. Though Cobra pilots were trained Stateside, most Loach pilots didnt take control of OH-6s until arriving in Vietnam. The Hughes OH-6 Cayuse (nicknamed "Loach", after the requirement acronym LOHLight Observation Helicopter) is a single-engine light helicopter with a four-bladed main rotor used for personnel transport, escort and attack missions, and observation. Ace Cozzalio was among the most colorful characters of the Vietnam War. The pilots dubbed the new helicopter Loach, a word created by pronunciation of the acronym of the program that spawned the aircraft, LOH (light observation helicopter). Army headquarters developed doctrine by building on what worked in the field, rather than the other way around, and each unit in-country did things slightly differently. 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). The Piasecki H-21 Workhorse was the fourth line of tandem rotor helicopters developed by Piasecki Helicopters. The OH-6A Loach (for "LOH") would find targets by flying low, "trolling for fire", then marking the target with colored smoke to lead in a Cobra, or Snake, to attack. [8][9] It was reported that Howard Hughes had directed his company to submit a bid at a price beneath the actual production cost of the helicopter in order to secure this order. 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. (He later transferred to the Air Force and flew F-4 Phantoms, and eventually became an airline captain.) Lt. Col. The AH/MH Little Birds were lifted by a single C-5 Galaxy, and two C-130 Hercules, along with all support kits for the battalion. But even that armament combined with the Cobra escort couldnt keep them safe. Terms and Conditions, Safety Standards Acknowledgement and Consent (SSAC) Its first overseas deployment, as well as into frontline combat, was the Vietnam War. The CH-34 Choctaw was developed by Sikorsky Aircraft for transport purposes to carry personnel and deliver supplies. Jim Kanes Vietnam tour abruptly ended one day in February 1971. The Chickasaw was a multi-purpose helicopter designed for both the US Army and Air Force. The helicopter was designed around their earlier model 269/300 making use of monocoque steel tube construction techniques, allowing a strong and compact fuselage. The flames covered my boots and lower legs. | READ MORE. These choppers were modified for combat rescue missions and had self-sealing fuel tanks, rescue hoist, and in-flight refueling abilities. The Cobra was fast and deadly. While Enroute this helicopter was at Level Flight at 0020 feet and 050 knots. 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. ", FAI Record ID #11656 Absolute Rotorcraft World Record, Distance over a closed circuit without landing, FAI Record ID #11655 Absolute Rotorcraft World Record, Distance without landing, Obituary: Robert G. Ferry; Air Force veteran was record-setting test pilot, "In Vietnam, These Helicopter Scouts Saw Combat Up Close", "Jane's Aircraft Upgrades, MD Helicopters (Hughes) Model 500 (Military Versions)", "Dominican Republic Air Force Unit History", "Japanese Maritime Self-Defence Force OH-6J", "Breda Nardi Hughes NH.500M in Armed Forces of Malta service", https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Hughes_OH-6_Cayuse&oldid=1133333304, This page was last edited on 13 January 2023, at 07:46. Hughes's price was $19,860 per airframe, without the engine, while Hiller's price was $29,415 per airframe, also without the engine. So I engaged the enemy, but didnt make it out of that one. The SeaCobra was a twin-engine attack helicopter that was developed from the single-engine AH-1 Cobra helicopter. Hughes, without informing Real, raised the bid by $3,000, and thus lost the contract to Bell. Almost as soon as production began, however, it was replaced by a competitors model. The type was born from the US Army Light Observation Helicopter (LOH) program (which provided its "Loach" nickname) and ultimately proved an excellent helicopter system seeing only limited service in the inventories of several American allies worldwide. Two of these designs, those submitted by Fairchild-Hiller and Bell, were selected as finalists by the Army-Navy design competition board. On top of this, Fairchild Hiller lodged a formal complaint over Hughes Tool Companys deceitful tactics to earn the original contract. The helicopter was hit in the Cockpit 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. 2 .50 cal MG pods We were combat trackers, says Mills. FAQ | In response, a task force was developed originally designated Task Force 158 for the next attempt to rescue the hostages, Operation Honey Badger. Since 1968 this helicopter saw combat in Vietnam. Kawasaki Heavy Industries produced 387 OH-6D Cayuses under license in Japan. The Hughes OH-6 Cayuse was a revolutionary rotorcraft operated during the Vietnam War. 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. When the training was completed, C-141 Starlifter airlifters transported both rotorcraft and crews to Fort Huachuca, Arizona, for two weeks of mission training. The Bell OH-58 Kiowa was an entire line of military helicopters with a single engine and a single rotor. Vietnam Veteran and his Helicopter Reunited. South Vietnam Systems damaged were: FUEL SYS The Army purchased this helicopter 0968 Total flight hours at this point: 00000496 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. On 27 February 1963, the first prototype conducted its maiden flight. Other Army pilots, most of whom flew Cobras or Hueys, thought of Loach pilots as a little offbeat. During the Vietnam war, the HH-43 Huskie was used for more rescue missions than all other aircraft combined. Both Loach and Cobra have been in production, on and off, in one form or another ever since. Cobras and Loaches, two vastly different aircraft, relied on each other to fight the enemy. It is 1/6th scale and very large, has to be at least 3 feet from rotor tip to rotor tip. The Hughes OH-6 Cayuse is a light helicopter with a single engine and a four-bladed main rotor. History | 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. 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. Shop | When the opposing forces exposed themselves, the crew would call upon an accompanying Bell AH-1 Cobra to attack. 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. The Cayuse was organic to division, brigade, and battalion size units. Upon returning to the United States, he established a career in the construction industry and settled in rural Sierra City, California. During May 1965, the U.S. Army awarded the production contract to Hughes. While Hiller did not participate in the rebidding, Bell opted to, submitting their redesigned Model 206. The observers and gunners had even less experience. As a separate part of the project, armed OH-6As were being developed at Fort Rucker, Alabama. The helicopter was hit in the Left Side OH-58 "Kiowa" light observation / scout platform. The Marine Corp used it for the sea-based interdiction of the Ho Chi Minh Trail in 1972. Primarily, it was used by the Marine Corp to transport personnel and cargo. When Chuck Gross left for Vietnam in 1970, he was a nineteen-year-old army helicopter pilot fresh out of flight school. They would then call in scouts on the ground or infantrymen to hunt for the enemy in the brush while attack helicopters protected everyone. 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. While the already-produced OH-6 Cayuses were being deployed to Vietnam in 1967, production costs were beginning to rise. At peak production, during the Vietnam War, as many as 100 OH-6As were built a month. A.J. The back plate was often not used owing to the weight, and even the chest plate was deleted. It was mostly used to transport troops and cargo during the Vietnam war. 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. [27] During June 1972, they were deployed to a secret base in southern Laos (PS-44), where one of the helicopters was heavily damaged during a training mission late in the summer. [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 Mil Mi-4 was a Soviet transport chopper used both for civilian and military purposes. Crews trained side by side with the 160th for all operational concepts. Stepping away from her academic career, Samantha previously worked as a Heritage Researcher and now writes content for multiple sites covering an array of historical topics. A.J. The Gyrodyne company built the Gyrodyne QH-50 DASH (Drone Anti-Submarine Helicopter) to combat submarines from a distance. 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. Optional and variable (attack and special forces versions only). Cobras generally attacked with rockets, preferred for long-range accuracy, switching to the less-accurate chin-mounted machine gun and grenade launcher only if they were far enough away from friendly troops or if the rocketsAH-1s could carry as many as 76 rocketsran out. Another flight competition was held, this time without a submission from Fairchild Hiller. Unknown as to mission impact. 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. I spent more time with them.. Even when this helicopter was shot down, it refused to crack. The OH-6D was an improved version with more advanced electronics and heavier armament. 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. It was barely used in the Vietnam War because it was replaced by the more advanced Sikorsky H-34 Choctaw. The Bell AH-1J was also used for various subsequent assaults and military operations conducted by the US Marine Corps. 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). Despite a strong outcry from crews in Vietnam, the Bell OH-58A Kiowa, powered by the same Allison T-63 engine as the OH-6, was being distributed to Army units. The task force, which had been designated as Task Force 158, was soon formed into the 160th Aviation Battalion. SA-7 Grail heat-seeking missiles could down a Loach before its crew even realized they were under fire. Warrant officer John Shafer was 21 when he arrived on October 16, 1970, to fly Loaches. From the rear cockpit, the pilot fired rockets from launchers fixed to the stub wings on either side; the copilot in the front operated a chin turret that held a minigun and grenade launcher. 13456, "History of Rotorcraft World Records, List of records established by the 'YOH-6A'. purchase. The OH-6A helicopters used for transporting personnel became the MH-6 aircraft of the Light Assault Company and the armed OH-6As became the AH-6 aircraft of the Light Attack Company. To this day I am closer to those guys I flew with in Vietnam than my own brothers, says Mills. Served in Vietnam War during 1968 through 1970. Pilots called this helicopter as the Loach. The enemy was moving toward us when a [command and control] ship picked us up. I was used to getting up close and personal with the enemy.. Vietnams mountainous terrain stressed the underpowered, obsolete helicopters to their limits: They could neither fly fast enough to escape enemy fire nor carry enough armament to pose a meaningful threat. 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. Adopted after the company behind its design deceived the US Army, the Loach helicopter, as it was better known, fast became the primary chopper flown in Vietnam. The North Vietnamese deployed hundreds of the missiles, and from then on, both hunter and killer tried to stay well hidden. Donald Porter served in Vietnam with the helicopters he writes about. The United States deployed all types of helicopter, ranging from massive troop transport choppers, to smaller multipurpose and attack helicopters, and even helicopter drones. They were employed in hunter-killer tactics, wherein they flew low over the jungle as bait to draw enemy fire. 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. The Loach helicopter was pitted against what was then known as the Bell Model 206. By the end of the war, the Loachs replacement was imminent. 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. When the opposing forces exposed themselves, the crew would call upon an accompanying Bell AH-1 Cobra to attack. and Images on this page are gathered from various sources. Despite having been designed for anti-submarine combat, the Gyrodyne QH-50 was mostly used for conducting reconnaissance of enemy vessels in the Vietnam war, instead of actual combat. Armament The "OH-6C" was the creation of the Maintenance Section of The Real Cav, B Troop 7/17th Air Cavalry Squadron, which was stationed near Pleiku in early 1972. Find Us on Facebook, Safety Standards Acknowledgement and Consent (SSAC). 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). Loach crews were equipped with small arms and returned fire as they fled. Adopted after. The Hughes 369 was redesignated the OH-6A "Cayuse" by the U.S. Army. Jim was unconscious when I helped pull him out of the burning aircraft.. The UH, nicknamed Huey is a utility military chopper that was used for troop and cargo transport, medical evacuation, and sometimes for military purposes. Please direct all other inquiries to militaryfactory AT gmail.com. During the Vietnam War the OH-6 helicopters served in huge numbers and were used for light observation and utility roles. Fewer than 2,000 of the type were produced though the original went on to spawn a plethora of viable performers including the Hughes 500 "Defender" and the special forces-minded MH-6 "Little Bird". Accordingly, the U.S. Army's fixed-wing airplane, the Cessna O-1 Bird Dog, which was utilized for artillery observation and reconnaissance flights, would be replaced by the incoming OH-6A. The Vietnam War saw the extensive use of helicopters, though were mostly by the United States military. About Us | I had a wingman shot down, pilot John Shafer says. Despite its strong offensive abilities, the SH-2 Seasprite was mostly used for rescuing downed friendly aircrews instead of direct combat. 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. It was used for transporting personnel, escorting other aircraft and naval vessels, attacking enemy units, and acting as an observation post. It was used for transporting personnel, escorting other aircraft and naval vessels, attacking enemy units, and acting as an observation post. Typically missions were flown during the daylight, starting at dawn; common roles included the clearance of landing zones and general intelligence/observation flights. The Mil Mi-1 was a Soviet-made light utility chopper with three or four seats. Original source(s) and document(s) from which the incident was created or updated: Survivability/Vulnerability Information Analysis Center Helicopter database. Nate Shaffer and Bruce Campbell at their assigned positions. For most of the war, there was no formal Army training to prepare scout pilots and observers. It never flew again. Another such gunner was 19-year-old Joel Boucher, drafted and sent to Vietnam from 1967 to 1969. During the Vietnam War, it was mostly deployed for aerial combat and for conducting rescue operations in areas close to US Air bases. Due to its unique shape, the Loach was given the nickname . The CH-53 Tarhe was another heavy-lift helicopter designed to transport and recover downed aircraft. OH-6A/Cayuse: Developed initially by the Hughes Aircraft company (later McDonnell Douglas Helicopter Company) in the mid-1960s for the US Army. It was also the right size to fit the necessary avionics and fuel stores, all while keeping the structure nimble and agile. The Hughes OH-6 Cayuse is a single-engine light helicopter that was designed and produced by the American aerospace company Hughes Helicopters. One, nicknamed Queer John, hit the dirt at least seven times. The "Military Factory" name and MilitaryFactory.com logo are registered U.S. trademarks protected by all applicable domestic and international intellectual property laws. 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. On a few occasions, the OH-23 was also used for medical evacuation purposes, but this was rarely the case. AH-1G Huey Cobra 'Snake' . 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. Loach crews regularly walked away from crashes that would doom others. I liked it because in the Bronx, I was a ghetto kid. The AH-6 and its troop-carrying sibling, the MH-6, are still heavily used by U.S. special-operations forces, as everything from airborne sniper platforms to transports inserting small teams to expeditionary light attack helicopters. [28][29], The pilots selected to fly the OH-6A helicopters came from the 229th Attack Helicopter Battalion and were sent to the Mississippi Army National Guard's Army Aviation Support Facility (AASF) at Gulfport, Mississippi, for two weeks of qualification training in the rotorcraft. 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. Table of Contents 1. Cobras, nicknamed Snakes, flew circles 1,500 feet above the scouts, waiting to pounce on whatever the Loach found. In the Vietnam War, these choppers were used to recover downed aircraft. 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. In 1966 it entered military service with the US Army. 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". However, the U.S. Army subsequently chose to include Hughes's Model 369 for further consideration as well. 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. You were right in the enemys face with a helicopter and had to know what you were doing, recalls warrant officer Clyde Romero of his 1,100 hours flying scout missions over South Vietnam in 1971.
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