XBradTC

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XBradTC

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OH-6 Cayuse

I think the first time I noticed the OH-6 was in the movie Capricorn One, where they played a significant role as antagonists. After that, and Apocalypse Now, I was hooked on the Loach. The US Army still operates descendants of the original OH-6 as the AH-6 and MH-6 Little Birds in the 160th Special…

I think the first time I noticed the OH-6 was in the movie Capricorn One, where they played a significant role as antagonists. After that, and Apocalypse Now, I was hooked on the Loach.

The US Army still operates descendants of the original OH-6 as the AH-6 and MH-6 Little Birds in the 160th Special Operation Aviation Regiment (SOAR). Not bad for a helicopter that first flew in 1963.

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  1. captainned

    Can’t mention the Loach without noting the civvy version (MD500) so ably piloted by T.C. on Magnum P.I.

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  2. Esli

    Capricorn 1- the original conspiracy theory.

    Love the Loach. The stories from Vietnam are incredible. I was surprised to see them flying in support of he Department of State in Iraq but there they were.

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  3. Dan

    I flew the OH6A for C Troop 16th Cav in VietNam in 1972.
    I later took a job flying 500D for a coal company for 13 years, putting about 5000 hour on that aircraft. It was and still is the “Porsche” of helicopters.
    the book “LOACH!” by Wayne Mutza is a good history. I was surprised to find myself in the book, as I had never given my picture to the author, but there I am on page 30, along with a picture of my first battle damage to my tailboom on page 31

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  4. xbradtc

    Dan, thanks for commenting. I’d love to hear more about your time in the Loach.

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  5. SFC Dunlap 173d RVN

    Two things (and I’ll try to not “wander”), always heard the OH-6 as a “helicopter pilots helicopter” & nothing says close support like a Loach with a minigun 50 ft over you just spewing away. Course, you have to watch the waterfall of HOT brass…thanks to all like Dan…bailed my grunt ass out one memorable day.

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  6. Quartermaster

    It’s a far better AC than the Jet Ranger, which became the OH-58. Too bad Hughes couldn’t, or wouldn’t, keep parts costs lower. They would have kept the LOH contract and the Army would have been better off.

    I visited Ft. Campbell with my Naval Reserve Unit in ’76 a few months before I reported to Rucker and saw the loach was no where on the field. The Silver Eagles were still flying when I got to Rucker and I saw one of their performances. They disbanded the following year since the Army had phased out the OH-6 form the active inventory. The TNARNG had several of them into the 80s, but they soon left there as well.

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