Light Observation and Liason Helicopters

[retro_seventies]

Won by the Hughes 500/YOH-6a Cayuse, as we all know...




but what about the other entries?  i was rooting around in an old helicopter book this morning and found 2 other entrants for the competition...

the Fairchild-Hiller Model 1100/YOH-5a







and the Bell Model 206/YOH-4a






History shows that after a bit of work, including a pretty substantial redesign of the fuselage and some engine/rotor tinkering, the Bell Model 206a, or Jetranger was born...in turn going on to defeat the YOH-5a in the re-opened LOH competition in 1968, and enter service as the OH-58a Kiowa.

What if the YOH-4a or the YOH-5a had won instead?  It looks possible to graft another bubble onto most of a jetranger body - maybe a BO-105?  Still plenty to do though (and quite possibly way out of my meagre talents) - i may draw a couple though...

[retro_seventies]

How about a Westand built Gazelle as an entrant to the competition also?  Could have some interesting possibilities.

First flight was early 1967, so it might just squeak in.

[retro_seventies]

Fairchild-Hiller in US Army Aircavalry colours....

(sorry in advance for very rough profile)

[retro_seventies]

More modern OH-4 with features incorporated into later Kiowa models (weapons, antennae and sights, rotor guard, wire cutter, etc).

again, apologies for the dodgy profile!

[retro_seventies]

More about the Gazelle idea - not necessarily the most realistic option, but she looks pretty decent in these colours....

[RotorheadTX]

Hmmm!! Tasty!!!!!!!!!

That's one for me to steal!!

[retro_seventies]

please do!