Bell OH-58D Kiowa Warrior

The Bell OH-58 Kiowa is a family of single-engine, single-rotor, military helicopters used for observation, utility, and direct fire support. Bell Helicopter manufactured the OH-58 for the United States Army based on the 206A JetRanger helicopter. The OH-58 has been in continuous use by the U.S. Army since 1969. The latest model, the OH-58D Kiowa Warrior, is primarily operated in an armed reconnaissance role in support of ground troops. The OH-58 has been exported to Austria, Canada, Dominican Republic, Taiwan, and Saudi Arabia; as well as having been produced under license in Australia.

The OH-58D (Bell Model 406) was the result of the Army Helicopter Improvement Program (AHIP). An upgraded transmission and engine gave the aircraft the power it needed for nap-of-the-earth flight profiles, and a four-bladed main rotor made it much quieter than the two-bladed OH-58C. The OH-58D introduced the most distinctive feature of the Kiowa family — a Mast-Mounted Sight (MMS) above the rotor system with a gyro-stabilized platform containing a TeleVision System (TVS), a Thermal Imaging System (TIS), and a Laser Range Finder/Designator (LRF/D). These new features gave the aircraft the additional mission capability of target acquisition and laser designation in both day or night, and in limited-visibility and adverse weather.

Category:

Science & Technology

Tags:

• Bell
• OH-58D
• Kiowa
• Warrior

[armtdawg]

I served with the pilot in this video, Mr Watson.



[OneHoof]

It is pronounced Kiowa... just like the state of Iowa... Same spelling, just put a "K" in front of it. Both come from the Native American's pronunciation. This announcer probably mispronounces cyclic stick too. Too bad they can't find narrators who actually know something about helicopters for these shows. LOL

[Redbullhondamx]

this first came out in the mid years of nam but didnt get all the cool updated until the gulf war

[33goego33]

00:33 eyes

[Ariza284]

@raulrusboy The D model, specifically, was designed around the MMS. Early D models were older 58's that were stripped down and then rebuilt. I flew D models in the late 80's for the Third Infantry.

[raulrusboy]

@lolli805 and that makes me =( ... I would way rather fly an OH/AH/MH-6 than an AH-64... And I've heard you have to go through selection for SOAR before you find out what aircraft you'll fly, so you could end up in a blackhawk or chinook instead...

[raulrusboy]

lol @ it being designed around the MMS... The Kiowa existed for decades before that thing was added to it....

[ArrowOfFortune]

@5959512 they are on the front lines they get fired at often

[AlexB4455]

@5959512 um dude you would still be flying a expensive helicopter and getting paid for it I would not be complaining and combat would just be a really sexy bonus

[5959512]

that sounds kind of boring how often do they get to engage the enemy