Aircraft - Revision history

Gadget: /* Aircraft History */

2024-06-11T12:18:02Z

Aircraft History

← Older revision		Revision as of 12:18, 11 June 2024
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	== Aircraft History ==		== Aircraft History ==

	The ~~Bell OH-58 Kiowa~~ is a ~~remarkable piece of aviation history~~. ~~This single~~-~~engine,~~		The Aérospatiale Gazelle is a French five-seat helicopter, commonly used for light
	~~single~~-~~rotor military~~ helicopter ~~has served numerous roles~~, ~~from observation~~ and ~~utility~~		transport, scouting and light attack duties. The SA-342M variant initially offered to us
	~~to direct fire support~~.		by Polychop Simulations is an anti-armor version of this nimble helicopter. First
			designed in 1967 by Sud Aviation (which later became Aérospatiale, then Eurocopter,
			and now Airbus Helicopters as of 2014), the Gazelle was manufactured in France and
			in the United Kingdom through a joint production agreement with Westland Aircraft.

	The ~~Bell OH~~-~~58 Kiowa was initially developed during the early 1960s as the D-250~~ for		The SA-342 Gazelle originated in a French Army requirement for a lightweight
	the ~~Light Observation Helicopter (LOH) program. Despite facing stiff competition from~~		observation helicopter intended to replace the Aérospatiale Alouette III; early on in
	~~rival Hughes OH-6 Cayuse, Bell refined its design and successfully submitted a variant~~		the aircraft's development, the decision was taken to enlarge the helicopter to enable
	to the ~~reopened LOH competition. The initial model~~, ~~designated as~~ the ~~OH-58A,~~ was		greater versatility and make it more attractive for the export market. In 1966, Sud
	~~introduced in May 1969~~. ~~Successive models followed, featuring uprated engines~~,		Aviation began working on a light observation helicopter to replace its Alouette II with
	~~enhanced protection systems, and other improvements, culminating in the OH-58F~~.		seating for five people.

	~~In the 1970s~~, the ~~US Army expressed~~ interest in ~~an advanced scout helicopter~~. The ~~OH-~~		Early on, the Gazelle attracted British interest, which resulted in a major joint
	~~58 Kiowa was further developed~~, ~~evaluated~~, and ~~ultimately procured as the OH~~-~~58D~~		development and production work share agreement between Sud Aviation and
	~~Kiowa Warrior. This variant was equipped to perform~~ armed ~~reconnaissance missions~~		Westland. The deal, signed in February 1967, allowed the production in Britain of 292
	~~and provide fire support to friendly ground~~ forces~~. It featured~~ a ~~distinctive Mast~~		Gazelles and 48 Sud Aviation SA-330 Puma medium transport helicopters ordered by
	~~Mounted Sight (MMS) containing various sensors~~ for ~~target acquisition and laser~~		the British armed forces; in return Sud Aviation was given a work share in the
	~~designation~~.		manufacturing programme for the 40 Westland Lynx naval helicopters for the French
			Navy.

	~~The OH-58D Kiowa Warrior introduced perhaps the most distinctive feature of~~ the		Additionally, Westland would have a 65% work share in the manufacturing, and be a
	~~Kiowa family,~~ the ~~Mast Mounted Sight (MMS)~~. ~~This gyro-stabilized platform contained~~		joint partner to Sud Aviation on further refinements and upgrades to the Gazelle.
	a ~~television system, a thermal imaging system~~, ~~and a laser range finder/designator.~~		Westland would produce a total of 262 Gazelles of various models, mainly for various
	~~These features gave~~ the ~~OH-58D~~ the ~~additional mission capability of target acquisition~~		branches of the British armed forces, Gazelles for the civil market were also produced.
	~~and laser designation in day or night, limited-visibility, and adverse weather~~.

	The ~~Bell OH~~-~~58 Kiowa has a rich operational history, having been deployed in~~		The first prototype SA-340 flew for the first time on 7 April 1967, it initially flew with a
	~~numerous war zones over~~ the ~~decades. Only two months after its entry into service~~, it		conventional tail rotor taken from the Alouette II. The tail was replaced in early 1968
	~~was first deployed into~~ the ~~Vietnam War~~. The ~~US Army made extensive use of various~~		with the distinctive fenestron tail on the second prototype. Four SA 341 prototypes
	~~OH-58 models, seeing active combat during the Gulf War, the Invasion of Panama, and~~		were flown, including one for British firm Westland Helicopters. On 6 August 1971,
	~~the War~~ in ~~Afghanistan among others.~~		the first production Gazelle conducted its first flight. On 13 May 1967, a Gazelle
			demonstrated its speed capabilities when two separate world speed records were
	~~Despite its proven capabilities,~~ the ~~OH-58 Kiowa was retired from active service in~~ the		broken on a closed course, achieving speeds of 307 km/h over 3 km and 292 km/h
	~~US Army in 2017~~. ~~However, it continues to serve in several other countries’ armed~~		over 100 km.
	~~forces~~, including ~~Greece, Taiwan~~, ~~and Saudi Arabia. The Kiowa’s retirement was part of~~
	~~a broader restructuring of~~ the ~~US Army’s aviation assets~~, ~~which saw a shift towards the~~
	~~use of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) for reconnaissance roles.~~

	~~The Bell OH-58 Kiowa is~~ a ~~testament to the ingenuity and adaptability of military~~
	~~aviation design. From~~ its ~~early days as a light observation helicopter to its evolution~~
	~~into~~ a ~~versatile combat platform~~, ~~the Kiowa has proven its worth time~~ and ~~again~~. ~~Its~~
	~~legacy continues to influence the design of future military helicopters, ensuring that~~
	~~the spirit of the Kiowa lives on~~

Gadget at 12:14, 11 June 2024

2024-06-11T12:14:13Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 12:14, 11 June 2024
Line 36:		Line 36:
	a broader restructuring of the US Army’s aviation assets, which saw a shift towards the		a broader restructuring of the US Army’s aviation assets, which saw a shift towards the
	use of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) for reconnaissance roles.		use of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) for reconnaissance roles.

			The Bell OH-58 Kiowa is a testament to the ingenuity and adaptability of military
			aviation design. From its early days as a light observation helicopter to its evolution
			into a versatile combat platform, the Kiowa has proven its worth time and again. Its
			legacy continues to influence the design of future military helicopters, ensuring that
			the spirit of the Kiowa lives on

Gadget: Created page with "== Aircraft History == The Bell OH-58 Kiowa is a remarkable piece of aviation history. This single-engine, single-rotor military helicopter has served numerous roles, from observation and utility to direct fire support. The Bell OH-58 Kiowa was initially developed during the early 1960s as the D-250 for the Light Observation Helicopter (LOH) program. Despite facing stiff competition from rival Hughes OH-6 Cayuse, Bell refined its design and successfully submitted a var..."

2024-06-11T12:12:18Z

Created page with "== Aircraft History == The Bell OH-58 Kiowa is a remarkable piece of aviation history. This single-engine, single-rotor military helicopter has served numerous roles, from observation and utility to direct fire support. The Bell OH-58 Kiowa was initially developed during the early 1960s as the D-250 for the Light Observation Helicopter (LOH) program. Despite facing stiff competition from rival Hughes OH-6 Cayuse, Bell refined its design and successfully submitted a var..."

New page

== Aircraft History ==

The Bell OH-58 Kiowa is a remarkable piece of aviation history. This single-engine,
single-rotor military helicopter has served numerous roles, from observation and utility
to direct fire support.

The Bell OH-58 Kiowa was initially developed during the early 1960s as the D-250 for
the Light Observation Helicopter (LOH) program. Despite facing stiff competition from
rival Hughes OH-6 Cayuse, Bell refined its design and successfully submitted a variant
to the reopened LOH competition. The initial model, designated as the OH-58A, was
introduced in May 1969. Successive models followed, featuring uprated engines,
enhanced protection systems, and other improvements, culminating in the OH-58F.

In the 1970s, the US Army expressed interest in an advanced scout helicopter. The OH-
58 Kiowa was further developed, evaluated, and ultimately procured as the OH-58D
Kiowa Warrior. This variant was equipped to perform armed reconnaissance missions
and provide fire support to friendly ground forces. It featured a distinctive Mast
Mounted Sight (MMS) containing various sensors for target acquisition and laser
designation.

The OH-58D Kiowa Warrior introduced perhaps the most distinctive feature of the
Kiowa family, the Mast Mounted Sight (MMS). This gyro-stabilized platform contained
a television system, a thermal imaging system, and a laser range finder/designator.
These features gave the OH-58D the additional mission capability of target acquisition
and laser designation in day or night, limited-visibility, and adverse weather.

The Bell OH-58 Kiowa has a rich operational history, having been deployed in
numerous war zones over the decades. Only two months after its entry into service, it
was first deployed into the Vietnam War. The US Army made extensive use of various
OH-58 models, seeing active combat during the Gulf War, the Invasion of Panama, and
the War in Afghanistan among others.

Despite its proven capabilities, the OH-58 Kiowa was retired from active service in the
US Army in 2017. However, it continues to serve in several other countries’ armed
forces, including Greece, Taiwan, and Saudi Arabia. The Kiowa’s retirement was part of
a broader restructuring of the US Army’s aviation assets, which saw a shift towards the
use of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) for reconnaissance roles.