Japanese OH-6 Cayuse

In 1968 the US Army began fielding the first Bell AH-1 Cobra gunships in Vietnam. The gunships were usually paired up with a Hughes OH-6 Cayuse scout called the “Loach” on account of its army development designation, LOH (Light Observation Helicopter). A light gunship team was one Cobra and a Loach. A heavy gunship team was two Cobras and a Loach. I have the pleasure of knowing a Loach pilot pretty well, and those boys have the biggest brass balls in any aircraft in the skies over Vietnam with the FACs and Wild Weasels a close second. Using the speed and maneuverability of the OH-6, the Loach crew would dart around at low level drawing fire. Once they had spotted a target, one of the Loach pilots would toss a smoke grenade out to mark the target for the orbiting Cobra crews overhead who would swoop in, make their initial run on the target, climb out and then repeat until the ground fire had been silenced. It wasn’t unusual for the Loach crew to come back and help out, even to the point of firing their 45-caliber pistols. In the words of an Army Huey pilot “Loach pilots routinely hung it out and tempted fate in ways that made my skin crawl!“ | October Aviation Photo Challenge | @kjdphoto1971 | #1017planes | “Good Morning Vietnam” | Day 21 | #Avgeek #aviation #aircraft #planeporn #KNFW #NFW #NASFortWorthJRB #CarswellField #AirPowerExpo2016 #airport #planespotting #Hughes #OH6 #Cayuse #Bell #AH1 #Cobra #Loach #instagramaviation #igaviationcontest #Avgeekery #AvgeekSchoolofKnowledge #mil_aviation_originals #instaaviation #aviationlovers #aviationphotography (at NAS Fort Worth JRB/Carswell Field)

OH6 Cayuse l4 - used by CIA Night Stalker division

U.S. Army's Silver Eagles air precision team at the Canadian National Exhibition's annual air show, The team consists of 4 OH-6 Cayuse helicopters, 25 enlisted men and 12 officers is based in Fort Rucker, Ala. 1976. [TPL Archives]

[text] bc 30 is too fucking many.  [text] i would miss you.  [text] and your feelings.

OH-6 gets her blades! #Vietnam #ctairandspace #hughes #oh6 #restoration

Warrant officer and crew chief with Hughes OH-6 Cayuse, aka Loach, at LZ English, 1970.

Hughes OH-6 Cayuse lands at LZ Professional