The Bell OH-58D Kiowa Warrior is a twin engine, single seat, lightweight, armed reconnaissance helicopter. The word “Kiowa” means “spiteful” or “malicious animal.” It was originally designed to be an observation and scout aircraft for the US Army but it saw extensive use in Iraq as a gunship. It’s armed with two side mounted machine guns and can carry rockets or missiles on its underbelly.

Manufacturer:
Bell Helicopter
Country:
United States
Manufactured:
1989 to: Onward
ICAO:
B06
Price:
US$4.9 million (1990)
Avionics:
Mast-mounted sight
Engine:
1x 1× Rolls-Royce T703-AD-700A
Turboshaft
Power:
650 horsepower
Max Cruise Speed:
120 knots
222 Km/h
Approach Speed (Vref):
Travel range:
300 Nautical Miles
556 Kilometers
Fuel Economy:
2.87 nautical mile / gallon
1.404 kilometres / litre
Service Ceiling:
15,000 feet
Rate of Climb:
1450 feet / minute
7.37metre / second
Take Off Distance:
Landing Distance:
Max Take Off Weight:
1,520 Kg
3,351 lbs
Max Landing Weight:
Max Payload:
907 Kg
2,000 lbs
Fuel Tank Capacity:
120 gallon
454 litre
Baggage Volume:
Seats - Economy / General:
2 seats
Seats - Business Class:
0
Seats - First Class:
0
Cabin Height:
Cabin Width:
Cabin Length:
Exterior Length:
12.85 metre - 42.16 feet
Tail height:
3.39 metre - 11.12 feet
Fuselage Diameter:
Wing Span / Rotor Diameter:
10.67 metre - 35.01 feet
Wing Tips:
No Winglets

Blog Mentions

Blog posts that mention the Bell OH-58D Kiowa Warrior:

The Bell OH-58D Kiowa Warrior was a single engine, single rotor helicopter used for reconnaissance and observation. It was designed to be fast enough to keep up with the armored tanks of an invasion force or the general advance of a battle line.

The OH-58D is so lightweight that it could carry two soldiers while providing them with armor protection from small arms fire, artillery fragments, and nuclear electromagnetic pulse (EMP) attack.

The aircraft’s light weight also allowed it to fly at higher altitudes than most helicopters, which made its speed even more valuable in scouting missions when high winds might have grounded other aircraft.

The US Army retired all OH-58Ds in 2016 because they were too expensive to maintain compared to modern helicopters.

The OH-58D holds the distinction of being one of few helicopters ever used against tanks head on during Operation Desert Storm in Iraq.

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