BELL OH-58 KIOWA
OH-58 SERVICE
| Manufacturer: | Bell Helicopter Co., Textron
Corp., Fort Worth, Texas, USA (In 1976, became Bell Helicopter Textron, Textron Inc.) |
| Models: | Model 206, 406 |
| Designations: | H-58 (OH-58); H-57 (TH-57),
H-67 (TH-67), HO-4, H-4 (OH-4), CH-136 / CH-139 (CAF) |
| Names: | Kiowa; Creek (TH-67A), Kiowa
Warrior (OH-58D), Sea Ranger (TH-57) |
| First official flight: | (YOH-4A) 08/12/1962 |
| Factory production period: | 1961 - present |
| Primary service period: | 1969 - present |
| Last official flight: | Still in service |
OH-58 VARIANTS
8217+ Bell Model 206 Jet Ranger helicopters
built from 1961 - present.
2731+ built as the OH-58 / military version from 1961 - present.
5486+ built as Jet Ranger civil versions from 1965 - present, ff: 10/01/1966.
| 1962 | Model 206 | YOH-4A | 5 | Total: 0005 |
| 1968 | Model 206A-1/B-1 | OH-58A | 2256 | |
| 1971 | Model 206A-1 | COH-58A | 74 | |
| 1976 | Model 206A-1 | OH-58B | 12 | Total: 2342 |
| 1968 | Model 206A-1 | TH-57A | 40 | |
| ? | Model 206B | TH-57B | 51 | |
| 1982 | Model 206B-3 | TH-57C | 89 | Total: 0180 |
| 1981 | Model 206B-3 | CH-139 | 14 | Total: 0014 |
|
Grand Total: 2541 |
| 1993 | Foreign built - Canada: Model 206B-3 |
TH-67A | 190 | Grand Total: 0190 |
OH-58 PRODUCTION
YOH-4A
Prototype, single-engined, 2-bladed
rotor, light observation helicopter
for US Army.
Original designation was YHO-4.
Produced 1961 - 1962
Bell Fort Worth, Texas (BF)
| 62-4202 / 62-4206 | 001 / 005 | 5 | Total: 0005 |
OH-58A
As YOH-4A, redesigned fuselage,
engine / rotor upgrade. US supplied kits
for Australian assembled version with
local model number CA-32 (Model 206B-1).
Produced 1968 - 1977
Bell Fort Worth, Texas (BF)
| 68-16687 / 68-16986 | 40001 / 40300 | ||
| 69-16080 / 69-16397 | 40301 / 40600 | ||
| 70-15050 / 70-15649 | 40601 / 41200 | ||
| 71-20340 / 71-20865 | 41201 / 41726 | ||
| 72-21061 / 72-21460 | 41727 / 42126 | ||
| 73-21861 / 73-21934 | 42127 / 42200 | 2200 | |
| (RAAF) A17-001 / A17-012 | 44501 / 44512 | 12 |
Foreign assembled - Australia:
Commonwealth Aircraft Corp. (CAC), Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| (RAAF) A17-013 / A17-056 | 44513 / 44556 (CA32-13 / CA32-56) | 44 | Total: 2256 |
COH-58A
As OH-58A, export version for Canada.
CAF designation: CH-136.
Produced 1971 - 1972
Bell Fort Worth, Texas (BF)
| 71-20866 / 71-20939 Delivered as: (CAF) 136201 / 136274 |
44001 / 44074 | 74 | Total: 0074 |
OH-58B
As OH-58A, export version for Austria.
Produced
Bell Fort Worth, Texas (BF)
| (Austria) 3C-OA / 3C-OL | 42239 / 42250 | 12 | Total: 0012 |
TH-57A Sea Ranger
As OH-58A, trainer version for US Navy.
Produced 1968
Bell Fort Worth, Texas (BF)
| BuNo.157355 / 157394 | ? | 40 | Total: 0040 |
TH-57B Sea Ranger
As TH-57A, engine / avionics upgrade.
Produced
Bell Fort Worth, Texas (BF)
| BuNo.161695 / 161701 | mixed 3437 to 3545 | ||
| BuNo.162803 / 162810 | 3828 / 3835 | ||
| BuNo.163312 / 163347 | 3882 / 3917 | 51 | Total: 0051 |
TH-57C Sea Ranger
As TH-58B, engine / avionics (IFR) upgrade.
Produced
Bell Fort Worth, Texas (BF)
| BuNo.162013 / 162067 | mixed 3572 to 3742 | ||
| BuNo.162666 / 162686 | mixed 3747 to 3781 | ||
| BuNo.162811 / 162823 | 3836 / 3848 | 89 | Total: 0089 |
CH-139
As civil Model 206B-3, export version
for Canada. All given Canadian civil
reg.'s in 1992.
Produced 1980 - 1981
Bell Fort Worth, Texas
| (CAF) 139301 / 139314 | mixed 3324 to 3391 | 14 | Total: 0014 |
|
Grand Total: 2541 |
Foreign built - Canada:
TH-67A Creek
As civil Model 206B-3, trainer version for US
Army, prototype was designated as YTH-67A.
US Army deliveries only with a US civil reg.
Produced 1993 - present
Bell Canada, Mirabel, Quebec, Canada
| civil reg. | 5101 / 5237 | ||
| civil reg. | 5268 / 5284 | 154 | |
| (Bulgaria) ? | ? | 6 | |
| (Taiwan) 201 / 230 | ? | 30 | Grand Total: 0190 |
OH-58 CONVERSIONS
US Army
| GOH-58A | 24 | OH-58A, conversions to ground instruction duties. |
| JOH-58A | 3 | OH-58A, temporary conversions for test duties. |
| OH-58C | 438 | OH-58A, 1976, engine upgrade,
flat windscreen and various internal improvements. First 3 were prototypes. Sub variants: OH-58C(FG), OH-58C(RG). |
| (GOH-58C) | 5 | OH-58A, conversions to ground instruction duties. |
| (JOH-58C) | 2 | OH-58A, temporary conversions for test duties. |
| OH-58D | 607 | Model 406, Kiowa
Warrior OH-58A/C, 1983-present, remanufactured close-combat air support / scout version. Engine upgrade, 4-bladed rotor, mast mounted "ball" sight with various sensors, avionics upgrade. From 1988 had armament fitted with unofficial designation: AH-58D. 568 to US Army, 39 to Taiwan. New s/n: New c/n: 83-24129 / 83-24144 ? 85-24690 / 85-24733 43022 / 43065 86-8901 / 86-8939 ? 87-0725 / 87-0760 43105 / 43140 88-0285 / 88-0320 43141 / 43176 89-0082 / 89-0117 43177 / 43212 90-0346 / 90-0381 ? 91-0536 / 91-0571 43249 / 43284 92-0518 / 92-0545 ? 92-0571 / 92-0606 ? 93-0935 / 93-1035 ? - Last 26 to Taiwan as 601 / 626. 94-0050 / 94-0064 ? 94-0149 / 94-0186 ? 95-0003 / 95-0006 ? 95-0008 / 95-0036 ? 95-0072 / 95-0087 ? 96-0011 / 96-0041 ? 96-0114 / 96-0123 ? 97-0124, 97-0127 ? 97-0128, 97-0130 ? 97-0135, 97-1321 ? 97-1322 ? 98-0058 / 98-0070 ? - 13 to Taiwan as 627 / 639. |
| (GOH-58D) | 1 | OH-58D, conversion to ground instruction duties. |
| (OH-58D(I)) | 1+ | OH-58D, 1997, Improved
Production Aircraft upgrades with engine upgrade, new avionics and armament options. |
| (OH-58D(R)) | 1+ | OH-58D(I), 1998, various safety feature improvements. |
| (MH-58D) | 15 | Combat Scout OH-58D, 1990, export conversions for Saudi Arabia. |
FOREIGN MILITARY SERVICE
- OH-58's delivered new for military service to Australia, Austria,
Canada
and Taiwan.
- OH-58 and military Model 206's delivered secondhand to many air forces
worldwide in the training and aerial observation roles.