OH-58 Kiowa

This breed of helicopter (scout) is often overlooked as an important part of a modern Army or Air Force. The OH-58D is essential to the U.S. Army’s operations and will remain to until the RAH-66 Commanche enters service. There is a National Guard squadron (or Battalion maybe, not sure what they call it in the Army) that is based at the airport where I live. I love to watch them flyby and take a good look at them when I drive by. I think there are 14 helicopters based here. They usually fly armed with dummy versions of the weapons they carry in actual combat (i.e. M3 gun pods, Hellfire missiles, Stinger missiles, LAU-68 rocket pods). A few years ago I was working on an aviation badge for Boy Scouts and our teacher for that badge took us into the hanger and showed us one of the Kiowa’s upclose. It is a very interesting machine. I got to look inside and sit in the cockpit. I was very impressed. It has modern MFD’s and a very business-like cockpit. Of course as many of you know, the original OH-58 is based on the Bell JetRanger helicopter. One intersting thing I know is that they were used in the Gulf War to patrol the Persian Gulf and attack any Iraqi ships with Hellfire missiles. I think that fast attack craft and patrol boats were the primary targets. Anyway, just thought I would try and get some interesting facts and opinions on this neat little helicopter. Thanks.