High Gallery
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Military Aircraft OH-6 CAYUSE Photo By B. Thouanel |
| First flown in February 1963, the Hughes Model 369 prototype won the US Army Light Observation Helicopter contest against Bell and Hiller helicopters, and was order into large scale production. The OH-6 enter service in September 1966. Production was curtailed at 1,434 units out of a planed 4,000, when coast rose and production rate fell. The Cayuse proved well suited to the Vietnam War, when it flew armed missions with multi barrel machine gun or 40-mm grenade launcher. Some surviving helicopters have been up graded to OH-6D standard with more advanced electronic and heavier armament. The OH-6 was exported as the Model 500, which can be configured in any of several armed forms. There is also the improved Model 530 now marked by McDonnell Douglas Helicopters as Hughes Helicopter became in January 1984. Clad in three tone camouflage, this is an OH-6 in Japanese air force service. |
TECHNICAL DATA
| Description | Specifications |
|
Manufacturer: McDonnell Douglas |
Height: 8 ft. 1.5 in. |
| First Flight | Empty Weight: 1,156 lb. |
| Model: A | Max. Weight: 2,700 lb. |
| Crew: Two. | Payload: Four passengers or freight. |
| Nickname: Cayuse |
Dimensions |
| Basic Role: Light observation. | Main Rotor Diameter:26 ft. 4 in. |
| Other
Versions: OH-6A initial production model.
OH-6D improved version. Model 500 defender export version of the OH-6A with better sensor and armament options. Model 530 defender variant with refined aerodynamics and more power. AH-6 Model 530 version for US Special Forces. |
Length Overall Rotor Turning: 30 ft. 9.5 in. |
| Principal User: Argentina, Bahrain, Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Costa Rica, Denmark, Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Finland, Greece, Haiti, Indonesia, Israel, Italy, Japan, Kenya, Mauritania, Nicaragua, North Korea, Philippines, South Korea, Spain, Taiwan, and USA. | Main Rotor Disk Area: 544.63 sq. ft. |
|
Performance |
Propulsion |
| Range: 413 miles. | Power Plant: Allison T63-A-5A turbo shaft down rated to 215 shp. |
| Max. Speed: 150 mph. at sea level. | Horsepower: 317-shp. |
| Ceiling: 15,800 ft. | No. Of Engines: One |
| Climb Rate: 1,840 ft. per minute. |