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Posted 11/19/2000

Photo © Copyright: Richard Marshall [mgkcid@worldnet.att.net]

AH/MH-6 Little Bird

The AH/MH-6 Little Bird has been based on both the Army OH-6A Cayuse and Hughes/McDonnell-Douglas MD-500/530 series civil helicopter. Originally designed as a military scout during the vietnam war, the OH-6 was widely used as an observation and cavalry platform. It was quite effective as part of what were known as "pink teams." The OH-6 would find targets by flying low--right over the tree tops--and lead in AH-1 Cobras to attack them. Later civillian models became very popular in the civilian market.

The latest versions are powered by the Allison 250-C20/30 engine, which combined with the five-bladed rotor system and small, light airframe make it a manuverable and powerful machine. Despite published reports, the 160^th has never used the NOTAR (NO TAil Rotor) version of this aircraft operationally.

There are two main versions, the AH-6 and the MH-6. The AH-6 is an attack varient that can carry a wide array of weapons. The AH-6 can carry two 7.62 miniguns and two seven-shot 2.75 rocket pods mounted on a custom-built unitary mounting system. Other armaments include .50 cal machine guns, the Mk19 40mm grenade launcher, Hellfire missiles, and ATAS (Air-to-Air Stinger) missiles. Some of these aircraft had been fitted with special nose or rotor mast mounted sights for special direct action missions. The latest mod includes an external fuel tank (replacing an earlier unit which took up much of the rear compartment) and a minigun.

Early versions of the MH-6 could carry up to six people on platforms mounted outside the door for quick insertion and extraction of people. Later models have a new six-person fold-away system. The MH-6 can be fitted with caving ladders to drop off and pick up SOF personnel. There is also a hoist that allows them to rappel to their objectives.

Both variants can be fitted with a nose mounted FLIR (Forward Looking Infra-Red), and both have advanced navigation and communications equipment (including SATCOM), NVG-compatible cockpits, and RWR (Radar Warning Receivers). IR supressing equipment can also be fitted as needed.

A previous version, the EH-6, was used for command and control and radio relay but is no longer in use. In addition, one aircraft was modified for the NOTAR (No Tail Rotor) system but poor performance of this design (NOTAR requires more power from the engine and thus decreases payload) caused it to be returned to its original condition.

The 160th has plans to upgrade the little bird fleet. According to LTC Wesley Walter, the AH/MH-6 fleet is slated to recieve a new, more powerful engine and transmission, a six-bladed rotor, and a new, four-bladed canted tail rotor (for increased control and decreased noise). The full text of his speech can be found at the Nightstalkers site.