OH-58 Kiowa

This is one of three helicopters at FWAM and one of two that can travel on a trailer for exhibits, display, parades, or educational events. Contact us at info@ftwaviation.com to arrange a visit.

The Bell OH-58 Kiowa is part of a family of single-engine, single-rotor, military helicopters used for observation, utility, training, and direct fire support. The aircraft is closely related to the civilian Bell Model 206A JetRanger. The OH-58 has been in continuous use by the U.S. Army since 1969 and has been operated by many foreign countries.

Development began in 1960 when the United States Navy asked 25 helicopter manufacturers on behalf of the Army for proposals for a Light Observation Helicopter (LOH). Bell Helicopter and 12 others competed for the award. Hiller, Hughes, and Bell won the competition.

Bell’s first prototype flew in December 1962. However, it was the Hughes OH-6 Cayuse that was selected in May 1965. Bell redesigned its entry into the Model 206A JetRanger. Hughes could not meet the production demands and bids were soon sought for alternative helicopters. Bell resubmitted and underbid Hughes to win the contract. The civilian Model 206A also became the OH-58A or “Kiowa” in honor of the Native American tribe. The Army has a tradition of naming helicopters after Native American tribes. Over 2,200 aircraft have been produced.

The Army received the first OH-58A Kiowa at a ceremony at Bell Helicopter’s Fort Worth plant in May 1969. Two months later, the aircraft began arriving in Vietnam. Approximately 45 OH-58A helicopters were destroyed during the Vietnam War due to combat losses and accidents.

In 1978, OH-58A aircraft began to be converted to the same engine and dynamic components as the OH-58C. In 1992, 76 OH-58As were modified with another engine upgrade, a thermal imaging system, a communications package for law enforcement, enhanced navigational equipment and high skid gear as part of the Army National Guard’s (ARNG) Counter-Drug RAID program.

OH-58C

Equipped with a more robust engine, the OH-58C was supposed to solve many issues and concerns regarding the Kiowa’s power. In addition to the upgraded engine, the OH-58C had unique IR suppression systems mounted on its turbine exhaust. Early “C” models featured flat-panel windscreens as an attempt to reduce glint from the sun, which could give away the aircraft’s location to an enemy. The windscreens had a negative effect of limiting the forward view of the crew, a previous strength of the original design.

The aircraft was also equipped with a larger instrument panel, roughly a third bigger than the OH-58A panel, which held larger flight instruments. The panel was also equipped with Night Vision Goggle (NVG) compatible cockpit lighting. The lights inside the aircraft are modified to prevent them from interfering with the aircrews’ use of NVGs. OH-58C aircraft were also the first U.S. Army scout helicopter to be equipped with the AN/APR-39 radar detector, a system which allowed the crew to know when there were anti-aircraft radar systems in proximity to the aircraft.

Some OH-58C aircraft were armed with two AIM-92 Stingers. These aircraft are sometimes referred to as OH-58C/S, the “S” referring to the Stinger installation. Called Air-To-Air Stinger (ATAS), the weapon system was intended to provide an air defense capability.