The 1st Squadron, 17th Cavalry Regiment welcomed their six new AH-64D Apache helicopters this past Tuesday. These new helicopters are replacing their fleet of OH-58 Kiowa Warrior helicopters at Fort Bragg’s Simmons Army Airfield, reports Military.com. Plans are being made to use the Ah-64D in conjunction with the RQ-7 Shadow unmanned aerial system. The mid-sized… Read more »
DynCorp International LLC, Fort Worth, Texas, was awarded a $7,734,253 modification (P00205) to contract W58RZG-13-C-0042 for aircraft maintenance services to the numerous aviation major weapon systems and platforms, including AH-64, UH-60, CH-47, and OH-58. Work will be performed in Fort Hood, Texas, with an estimated completion date of June 30, 2018. Fiscal 2017 operations and… Read more »
Southeast Aerospace recently completed a major modification of 2 Bell OH-58 helicopters for St. Lucie County Sheriff’s Office. The mod included an SEA designed and manufactured wider more robust milled Instrument panel with a molded Nomex glareshield as well as a vertical pedestal panel with an 18 degree forward slant. An Aspen EFD 1000H was… Read more »
Orange County’s Sherriff Jerry Demings piloted the first flight of their new $4.3 million Bell 206L4, named Chase 3. The new chopper is replacing a 1970s OH-58 helicopter which was recently labelled as unfit to fly, reports Orlando Sentinel. The Chase 3 dominates the rest of the fleet with a top speed of over 110mph,… Read more »
The State Department has made a determination approving a possible Foreign Military Sale to Tunisia for OH-58D Kiowa Warrior Aircraft equipment, training, and support. The estimated cost is $100.8 million. The Defense Security Cooperation Agency delivered the required certification notifying Congress of this possible sale today. The Government of Tunisia has requested a possible sale of:… Read more »
A helicopter delivered to Dunbar High School on Tuesday will serve as a symbol of aviation education at the school. The OH-58 mock-up was a gift from Fort Worth-based Bell Helicopter and will be displayed at a 12,000-square-foot hangar that will open at Dunbar this fall. The school offers two aviation-related programs under the Fort… Read more »
Days after the Florence County Sheriff’s Office unveiled its new helicopter in April, as part of its new aviation division, two Lake City aviators were charged with felonies by the department for operating another helicopter the sheriff’s office was acquiring. See Full Story
Joint Base Lewis-McChord’s combat aviation brigade is about to turn its attention from the imposing peaks of Afghanistan to the “vastness of the Pacific.” See Full Story
Airwolf Aerospace the value leader in life limited aftermarket helicopter components is pleased to announce that it has received FAA STC SR03408CH for its TT straps for Bell 204, 205, 212, UH-1 and AH-1 Helicopters. Airwolf’s AA-204-310-101-101 and AA-204-310-101-103 TT Straps are in stock for immediate shipment. Senior Engineer, John Montana said, “we were able… Read more »
Harford County Sheriff Jeff Gahler has hired a retired Maryland State Police officer to oversee the agency’s review of its helicopter unit. See Full Story
A federal judge on Friday sentenced key figures in a Coos Bay defense contracting company to prison for their roles in a multimillion-dollar conspiracy to buy cheaply made truck and aircraft parts – some from Mexico and China – and pass them off at premium prices to the U.S. military. See Full Story
One of the Army’s oldest and most reliable helicopters is leaving the Florida National Guard. For more than four decades the OH-58 Kiowa reconnaissance helicopters buzzed through the skies over Florida, but due to National Guard divestiture of the airframe it will see its final flight as a military aircraft on Oct. 31. Thanks to… Read more »
Army helicopter with 4 POB. Tail boom chopped off just forward of the stabilizer, and at the root attachment. One of those on board was reported to be Major General José Matos de la Cruz, chief of the Army, who was unharmed. The other three on board – including director of Military Intelligence, Hichi Mercedes… Read more »
Cliffdale Mfg. Inc.,* Chatsworth, California, was awarded a $8,520,000 firm-fixed-price contract for maintenance and overhaul of the actuator, elect (OH-58D), with a minimum of 100 to be completed, up to a maximum of 1,080; this is to include 180 for foreign military sales. This is a critical safety item. Funding and work location will be… Read more »
The State Department has made a determination approving a possible Foreign Military Sale to Iraq for aviation sustainment support, on-the-job maintenance training and maintenance advice and associated equipment, parts, training and logistical support for an estimated cost of $500 million. The Defense Security Cooperation Agency delivered the required certification notifying Congress of this possible sale… Read more »
Advanced Helicopter Services (AHS) has announced a service agreement to provide helicopter maintenance services for the City of Sacramento, California. AHS will support the Sacramento fleet of three Bell OH-58A helicopters by providing dynamic component inspection, maintenance and overhaul services. AHS will provide the services from their comprehensive helicopter service center located at the Watts-Woodlands… Read more »
The following OH-58s are currently on the GSA Auction site for sale as “scrap metal”. The photos show two of them as mostly complete fuselages with skids, wire strike system and all windows etc. The third is the shell of the cabin. All three are for disposal ex Raleigh, North Carolina and have been with… Read more »
Crashed in mountainous area at 2000m agl, landing very heavily and killing one of the 3 on board. Taking part in the exercise “Schutz 2014” NOTE – this is wrongly quoted elsewhere as 3C-OD but has been confirmed to HeliHub.com by Austrian military authorities that the subject helicopter was 3C-OG
During the initial climb, passing about 100 ft above ground level, the engine lost power. The pilot conducted a forced landing and the helicopter landed heavily, resulting in substantial damage to the landing skid and tail boom.
L-3 Communications Aerospace LLC, Madison, Miss., was awarded a $24,728,566 modification (P00020) to contract W912NW-11-F-0101 for labor skilled in the inspection, maintenance, and repair of the CH-47, UH-60, UH-1, AH-1, AH-64 and OH-58 aircraft and aircraft components. Performance on other aircraft types will be mainly limited to crash damaged repair and some modernization. Fiscal 2014… Read more »
CV International, Inc.*, Bend, Ore., was awarded a $15,916,531 firm-fixed-price contract for a modernized maintenance platform for CH-47, UH-60, AH-64, and OH-58 helicopters and for Unmanned Aerial System aircraft. Funding and work location will be determined with each order. Estimated completion date is Jan. 27, 2019. Bids were solicited via the Internet with four received…. Read more »
Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel has approved a US Army plan to restructure its aviation forces that includes divesting all OH-58s and taking all AH-64s out of the National Guard – See full story
Bell Helicopter Textron, Inc, Hurst, Texas, was awarded an $18,556,810 modification (P00010) to contract W58RGZ-12-C-0030 to procure six additional months of contractor logistics support for Bell 407, Huey, Jet Ranger, and OH-58A&C helicopters. Fiscal 2014 funds in the amount of $18,556,810 were obligated at the time of the award. Estimated completion date is Aug. 8,… Read more »
Bell Helicopter Textron Inc., Hurst, Texas, was awarded an $18,556,810 modification (P00009) to contract W58RGZ-12-C-0030 for an undefined contract action for six additional months of contractor logistics support for the Bell 407, Huey, Jet Ranger, and OH-58A&C helicopters in Al Taji, Iraq, in accordance with foreign military sales case IQ-B-UDZ. Fiscal 2014 other procurement funds… Read more »
Lawyers have reached a settlement in a lawsuit filed by the family of a Tennessee National Guard soldier who died in a helicopter crash in Iraq. See full story
The Sheriff’s Office has scheduled a press conference for Tuesday 3rd December at the Forest Hill Business Airpark to make the announcement and debut their Bell OH-58 See full story [File photo]
Wire strike. Wire cut by fitted “wire strike protection system” and helicopter landed safely. Slight damage on nose where wire first struck, and port windshield broken.
Engine failure on training flight, helicopter damaged in emergency landing in field. Highway Patrol report shows no injuries to Michael Hagus and minor injuries not requiring medical help to Jeff Noack
The 4th Squadron, 6th Cavalry Regiment, started their nine-month operation with 380 soldiers and 30 OH-58D Kiowa Warrior helicopters in South Korea as the first Rotational Forces Attack Reconnaissance Squadron sent to Korea Oct. 1. The first rotational ARS, 4th Squadron, 6th Cavalry Regiment, from Joint Base Lewis McChord, Wash., completed deployment with their equipment… Read more »
Today Bell Helicopter, a Textron Inc. company (NYSE: TXT), announced its participation in the Association of the US Army (AUSA) Annual Meeting and Exposition, held Oct. 21-23. Bell Helicopter will showcase a full-scale representation of its Bell V-280 Valor third generation tiltrotor and provide program updates on the OH-58 Kiowa Warrior. “We are excited to… Read more »
Bell Helicopter, a Textron Inc. company (NYSE: TXT), is pleased to announce it has been awarded a contract with the U.S. Army valued at more than $61 million to supply 12 new metal OH-58D Kiowa Warrior cabins and 12 supplemental parts kits. The new metal cabins will be manufactured at Bell Helicopter’s facility in Amarillo,… Read more »
Bell Helicopter Textron Inc., Hurst, Texas, was awarded a firm-fixed-price contract with a maximum value of $7,738,885 for the advanced procurement of long lead materials in support of the low rate initial production of A-Kits for the Kiowa OH-58F model. Fiscal 2013 Procurement funds are being obligated on this award. One bid was solicited, with… Read more »
Lockheed Martin [NYSE: LMT] received an aircraft maintenance and logistics contract with an initial funding value of $5 million from the U.S. Army Contracting Command, Redstone Arsenal, Ala., to provide field and sustainment-level maintenance for U.S. Army helicopters. Under the contract, Lockheed Martin will lead the Army’s Regional Aviation Sustainment Maintenance Central Operations at Fort… Read more »
Mercom Inc., Pawleys Island, S.C., was awarded a firm-fixed-price contract with a maximum value of $7,278,762 for the procurement of DuraCOR 810 tactical computers that will be integrated into the OH-58D Kiowa. A combination of fiscal 2012 and fiscal 2013 Procurement funds are being obligated on this award. The bid was solicited through the Internet,… Read more »
Support for U.S. and New Mexico homeland security missions conducted by the New Mexico National Guard, and search and rescue operations throughout southern New Mexico, are about to get a significant boost. (See Full Story)
The newly updated Kiowa Warrior aircraft, the OH-58F, made a ceremonial “first flight,” April 30, at Redstone Arsenal, Ala. With new cockpit and sensor modifications installed, the OH-58F represents the first major upgrade or modernization to the Kiowa Warrior in 20 years. The “cockpit and sensor upgrade program,” called CASUP, converts OH-58D Kiowa Warriors into… Read more »
Combat Aviation Brigade was awarded the Army Aviation Association of American Outstanding Aviation Unit of the Year Award at the 2013 AAAA Annual Professional Forum in Fort Worth, Texas on April 11. The Brigade’s primary mission was to conduct full spectrum aviation operations, to defeat the insurgency, support and improve governance and development. Their efforts… Read more »
Officials from the International Security Assistance Force said they have no indication that the helicopter was brought down by enemy activity in the area.
The Oklahoma Army National Guard announced today they will receive four UH-72A “Lakota” helicopters this year. The helicopters will replace four OH-58C “Kiowa” helicopters that have been in service for more than 30 years. The first two Lakotas are scheduled to arrive in Oklahoma in April with the final two following in May. The UH-72A… Read more »
A pair of law enforcement Bell OH-58s came into contact with each other on Saturday, just as one was in the process of landing and the other taking off. Pasadena Police are now two helicopters down, but still have four others immediately available according to a local television interview. Both helicopters ended up on their… Read more »
Low level collision between one helicopter landing and the other taking off from the adjacent pad. N911FA ended up on its skids, main blades missing and damage to rear cabin area after apparently being hit by main blades of N98BM. Boom of N911FA still attached (just) but fallen to ground at tail. Six to hospital,… Read more »
Low level collision between one helicopter landing and the other taking off from the adjacent pad. N98BM ended up on its skids, main blades missing and damage to front cabin area after apparently being hit by main blades of N911FA. Six to hospital, two in each helicopter plus two on the ground. On Monday 19th,… Read more »
The San Juan County Sheriff’s Office has had a helicopter since 2001. It’s the only police helicopter in hundreds of miles, the next closest is in Albuquerque. The unit comprises just Gross, two deputies trained as tactical flight officers and a civilian contract pilot (see full story)
With all of the innovations that have taken place on the battlefield and in the air over the last 37 years, it might be difficult for some to believe that the Army is still using helicopters that were in use during the Vietnam War. Yet, the OH-58D Kiowa Warrior scout helicopter is still widely used… Read more »
Heavy landing in cemetery. Tail boom sliced off by main blades. Starboard skid collapsed. Sgt. Gerald Wiltshire was pilot and Officer Tony Valdes serving as an observer
It is often thought that a warrant officer in an Army Aviation unit is only a pilot. That is certainly not the case. The aviation field also demands that experts are on hand as maintenance technicians to ensure that those pilots have a working aircraft to fly. In the Kentucky National Guard, some aviation warrant… Read more »
Students in the aircraft technician training program learn their trade on a variety of aircraft, including a Boeing 727, Cessna 150, 175 and 310, and 150, and a Piper Aztec and Cherokee 140. And now a OH-58 helicopter has been added (see full story)
“An ISAF helicopter has crashed in eastern Afghanistan, resulting in two ISAF fatalities. We are investigating,” a spokesman for NATO’s U.S.-led International Security Assistance Force said. The two casualties were later named as Chief Warrant Officer 2 Jose L. Montenegro Jr., 31, of Houston, Texas, and Chief Warrant Officer 2 Thalia S. Ramirez, 28, of… Read more »
Pilot Bill Cavanaugh, was taken to San Joaquin General Hospital following crash on agricultural operations. His son told a TV station that his father had over 20,000 hours of flying experience
Boeing [NYSE: BA] subsidiary Boeing Defence Australia (BDA) has installed a Helicrew simulator at the Oakey Army Aviation Training Centre in order to enhance the capabilities of BDA flight instructors. The Helicrew allows BDA Qualified Flying Instructors to further hone and test their training procedures through a variety of simulated situations. Helicrew is designed to… Read more »
Two International Security Assistance Force service members died following a helicopter crash in eastern Afghanistan, military officials reported. The pair were later named as Capt. Scott P. Pace, 33, of Brawley, California and Lt. Mathew G. Fazzari, 25, of Walla Walla, Washington. This report states they took fire from insurgents
Aviation Specialties Unlimited (ASU) announced that they completed a full-service order for the Pasadena Police Department. The Pasadena Police Department purchased four new night vision goggles, modified the interiors of their two Bell OH-58s and received initial training for seven pilots. “The Pasadena Police Department plays a vital role in the protection of one of… Read more »
The Bell OH-58 is being donated by the Yamhill County Sheriff’s Department in Oregon, just north of Salem. It can no longer afford to have an air operations program. (see full story)Â File photo
Baxter County Sheriff has acquired two ex-military surplus OH-58s from Arkansas State Police, where they had become surplus to requirements after acquisition of a Bell 407. The two aircraft are N528SP and N529SP. The photo shows Baxter County have tried to disguise their registrations for the road trip! Baxter will merge the two into one usable… Read more »
Pilot smelt burning and made emergency field landing close to road intersection. Helicopter burned out on the ground. Although fitted with spray bars, operator Custom Air said no chemical was on board. Custom Air have three OH-58s registered to them – N128NS (70-15128), N354NS (71-20354), N452MC (69-16110)
County sold the three nonflying OH-58A+ units on eBay in December and has now disposed of the fourth and last aircraft to Sacramento Police Dept (see full story)Â File photo
Bell Helicopter Textron, Inc., Hurst, Texas, was awarded a firm-fixed-price, requirements type, sole-source contract with a maximum $87,025,160 for support of 1,162 commercial consumable items required for the Navy/Marine Corps H-1 and Army OH-58 helicopters. Â There are no other locations of performance. Â Using services are Army, Navy, and Marine Corps. Â There was one proposal with… Read more »
The Kiowa, serialled 44072 and officially known as a Bell CH-136 light observation helicopter, belongs to the Canadian Warplane Heritage Museum and is being restored for static display, in a unique partnership with Mohawk college. (see full story) File photo
