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Scale 1:24  Length (without rotors) 13.5"  Rotor 15.8"

Photography by Action Asia Photo
© 2002-8 Action Asia Photo - All Rights Reserved
www.actionasiaphoto.com

In the early 1960's the Hughes Aircraft  Company built the Model 369 as a prototype for the US Army's need to have an extremely maneuverable observation helicopter. Designed to be used as a military scout during the Vietnam war, the helicopter was re-designated OH-6A Cayuse. It was powered by a 253 hp Allison T63-A-5A turbo-shaft driving a 4-bladed main rotor, and had an offset V-tail.

The new scout helicopter  was quite effective when teamed with the AH-1G Cobra attack helicopter. The OH-6A "Loach" would find targets by flying low to attract fire, and lead in a Cobra to attack. The OH-6A could be armed with the M27, 7.62mm mini-gun or 40mm grenade launcher.

In the mid 1970's the military export version of OH-6, called the Hughes 500,  came out with an upgraded 278 hp Allison 250-C18 turbo-shaft engine. While still having the V-tail, the nose was re-contoured to give greater leg and head room and the rotor assembly was changed to a five blade system to increase stability.

Further development has produced several other versions:

1) The MD-500MD/Scout Defender and MD-500MD TOW Defender versions are improved military versions of the Hughes 500 with 5 main rotor blades, 375-shp Allison 250-C20B turbo-shaft engine, and distinctive T-tail. The Scout Defender is armed with guns, rockets, grenade launchers, or a combination on two hardpoints while the TOW Defender is armed with a TOW missile pod on each hardpoints.

2) The MD-500E/MD-500MG Defender II series which had more elongated noses for streamlining, and an optional 4-bladed tail rotor to reduce acoustic signatures.  Possibly some had a mast-mounted sight.

3) OH-6A/MD-530F Super Cayuse/Lifter for the US Army in 1988 that had the engines upgraded to a 425 hp Allison 250-C30 turbo-shaft, and improved avionics in 1988 for the US Army.

4) MD-530MG/Defender which has a mast-mounted sight and incorporated upgrades of all previous variants.

5) The AH-6J (armed) and MH-6J (transport) variants for the US Army Special Operations which are both called Little Bird and derived from the MD-530MG.

OH-6 variants are used by at least 22 countries including Argentina, Bahrain, Bolivia, Colombia, Costa Rica, Denmark, Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Honduras, Indonesia, Iraq, Israel, Jordan, Kenya, North Korea, South Korea, Spain, Taiwan, USA

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