Jump to content

AH-6C, MH-6 photos from AH6C-SIP-PICS ARE BACK!


Recommended Posts

Great pictures. Is that a fuel cell under the starboard plank?

I'm not 100% sure but I'd say it is. They seem to have one or two different sized external fuel tanks in use although this seems to be the one that appeares most often lately.

LD.

Edited by Loach Driver
Link to post
Share on other sites

Thanks a lot 11bee, these were taken in Ft. Smith AR. They have been coming through for the last 5-6 years every few months. They are the trainers one young student, and all of the older guys are retired 160th pilots (most from the 80s-90s currently) pretty interesting to talk to. They go to New Mexico for high altitude training, I've never noticed the fuel cells until you pointed it out, makes sense, that's a pretty good cross country, I know they stop at a couple places in each state.

Would you happen to know a website that has a list if the current serial numbers? I'm not real big on that, but going through pictures from over the years I know I've got a pictures of 20-25 different airframes, curious how close I am.

Link to post
Share on other sites

I'm not 100% sure but I'd say it is. They seem to have one or two different sized external fuel tanks in use although this seems to be the one that appeares most often lately.

LD.

The larger type is the Robertson Goliath (http://www.robbietanks.com/images/advgallery/document/brochure_46_h-6_goliath.pdf) but the ones pictured appear to be somewhat smaller.

John Hairell (tpn18@yahoo.com)

Link to post
Share on other sites

Thanks a lot 11bee, these were taken in Ft. Smith AR. They have been coming through for the last 5-6 years every few months. They are the trainers one young student, and all of the older guys are retired 160th pilots (most from the 80s-90s currently) pretty interesting to talk to. They go to New Mexico for high altitude training, I've never noticed the fuel cells until you pointed it out, makes sense, that's a pretty good cross country, I know they stop at a couple places in each state.

Would you happen to know a website that has a list if the current serial numbers? I'm not real big on that, but going through pictures from over the years I know I've got a pictures of 20-25 different airframes, curious how close I am.

There are about 50 Little Bird airframes. I don't know of any website with a valid and current serial number list.

John Hairell (tpn18@yahoo.com)

Link to post
Share on other sites

In addition to John's fleet list from the previous page, here is another list of Little Birds I found on the Key Publishing Forum. This is an old list so disregard some of the comments in relation to the older airframes.

68-17140 MH-6B

68-17155 MH-6B to MH-6C*

68-17167 MH-6B to US Border Patrol as N51844

68-17168 MH-6B to AH-6C*

68-17175 MH-6B

68-17191 AH-6C

68-17193 MH-6B to N5185H later 45th Infantry Museum Oklahoma City

68-17225 MH-6B

68-17228 AH-6C

68-17242 AH-6C

68-17249 AH-6C (MH-6C) still in use for Special Services training?

68-17256 MH-6B

68-17258 AH-6C

68-17276 AH-6C

68-17290 MH-6B to MH-6C

68-17298 AH-6C

68-17301 EH-6B

68-17307 AH-6C

68-17316 MH-6B

68-17320 MH-6B to US Customs and Border Protection Air and Marine as N5185C

68-17332 MH-6B to MH-6C

68-17334 MH-6B (c/n 1294) N5185L cancelled Apr 2002 at owner's request

68-17341 MH-6B to US Border Patrol as N5185N

68-17346 MH-6B to US Border Patrol as N5185S

68-17348 MH-6B

68-17358 EH-6B later converted to MH-6B.

69-15973 AH-6C

69-15977 EH-6B later converted to MH-6B.

69-16015 MH-6B to US Border Patrol as N51841

69-16018 EH-6B to AH-6C

69-16031 AH-6C

69-16052 MH-6B to AH-6C

69-16053 MH-6B to AH-6C

69-16054 MH-6B to AH-6C

69-16057 MH-6B

69-16058 AH-6C

69-16062 MH-6B at a veterans park in Tampa, FL

69-16072 MH-6B to AH-6C*

81-23629 MH-6E to MH-6H?? w/o Sep 9, 1999

81-23630 MH-6E to MH-6H

81-23631 MH-6E to MH-6H, to MH-6J

81-23632 MH-6E to MH-6H

81-23633 MH-6E to MH-6H

81-23634 MH-6E to MH-6H

81-23635 MH-6E to MH-6H?, to MH-6J

81-23636 MH-6E to MH-6H?, to MH-6J

81-23637 MH-6E w/o 12/30/1989 not converted to H?

81-23648 MH-6E to MH-6H

81-23649 MH-6E to MH-6H

81-23650 MH-6E to MH-6H, to MH-6J, w/o 13 July 99

81-23651 MH-6E to MH-6H

81-23652 MH-6E to MH-6H

81-23653 MH-6E to MH-6H

81-23654 EH-6E to MH-6H

81-23655 EH-6E to MH-6E

81-23656 EH-6E to MH-6H

84-24319 AH-6F to AH-6G

84-24677 AH-6F to AH-6G

84-24678 AH-6G

84-24679 AH-6G

84-24680 AH-6G

84-24681 AH-6F to AH-6G

84-24682 AH-6G

84-24683 AH-6F to AH-6G

84-24684 AH-6F to AH-6G

85-25346 AH-6G

85-25346 AH-6F to AH-6G

85-25347 AH-6F to AH-6G

85-25348 AH-6F to AH-6G

86-0141 AH-6F USAF evaluation

88-25349 MH-6H

88-25350 MH-6H

88-25351 AH-6J

88-25352 AH-6J

88-25353 AH-6J

88-25354 AH-6J

88-25355 AH-6J

88-25356 AH-6J

88-25357 AH-6J

89-25351 AH-6J

89-25352 AH-6J

89-25353 AH-6J

89-25354 AH-6J

89-25355 AH-6J

89-25356 AH-6J

90-25357 AH-6J

90-25358 AH-6J

90-25359 AH-6J

90-25360 AH-6J

90-25361 MH-6H

90-25362 AH-6J

90-25363 AH-6J

90-25364 AH-6J

91-25364 AH-6J

91-25365 AH-6J w/o 14/8/93

91-25366 MH-6J

95-25367 AH-6J

95-25368 AH-6J

95-25369 AH-6J

95-25370 AH-6J

95-25371 AH-6J

95-25372 AH-6J

The 160th acquired 51 H-6Ms and it can be assumed that they are all converted from previous A/MH-6J Little Birds and so they are probably all featured in this list (if this list is 100% accurate). The H-6M is based on the Hughes 500D airframe and, from what I've heard from people in the know, the H-6M cannot be built using a 500E or 530FF airframe. Apparently the D is quite different to the E and F airframes in numerous details. The AH-6i will also have to be built using D-based airframes and that means that MDHI will have to set up a specific production line that will produce D airframes. I guess the 160th could get a few new H-6Ms from this production line if they want.

Here are the only photos I have of the older, bigger external fuel tank/people plank combination. This first photo looks like it is airbrushed to add the fuel tank onto this MH-6J.

1_zps9d4f9091.jpg

2moweo8_zpsa99573ae.jpg

LD.

Edited by Loach Driver
Link to post
Share on other sites

Here are the only photos I have of the older, bigger external fuel tank/people plank combination. This first photo looks like it is airbrushed to add the fuel tank onto this MH-6J.

1_zps9d4f9091.jpg

2moweo8_zpsa99573ae.jpg

LD.

My previous posting with the link to the Goliath tank was in error. The Goliath tank is an internal tank. The external tank I was thinking about is this: http://www.robbietanks.com/images/advgallery/document/brochure_48_mh-6_ice.pdf

These tanks have all sorts of weird angles to them and are hard to grasp visually - from a distance it's a big black box with an integral seat but it actually has angled surfaces. I have seen several non-Photoshopped close-up photos of them and you have to look at several photos from different angles to see how they are made.

John Hairell (tpn18@yahoo.com)

Link to post
Share on other sites

In addition to John's fleet list from the previous page, here is another list of Little Birds I found on the Key Publishing Forum. This is an old list so disregard some of the comments in relation to the older airframes.

[stuff snipped]

68-17193 MH-6B to N5185H later 45th Infantry Museum Oklahoma City

[stuff snipped]

Years ago I contacted somebody at the 45th Division Museum to see if I could get them to read the Hughes tag for their airframe. They reported back that the tag was missing, and that the airframe is actually a parts airframe built up from several aircraft. The ID for this airframe is thus suspect.

John Hairell (tpn18@yahoo.com)

Link to post
Share on other sites

More tank photos:

Robertson ICE tank, from Hugh Mills:

HM-D1-0008-CUT1_zps1667e913.jpg

Robertson ICE tank, from Hugh Mills:

HM-D1-0009-CUT1_zps1ed5d70f.jpg

Somebody sent me this a couple of years ago but I don't remember who it was. I'm told that these tanks were also built by Robertson and were the precursor to the ICE tank.

MH-6M-R-SIDE-TANK-CUT1_zps02f44508.jpg

John Hairell (tpn18@yahoo.com

Edited by FM-Whip
Link to post
Share on other sites

Hey gents, some time ago when I was researching Loaches, I did this table in xls and coverted it to html format. No idea if this is 100% correct, but is it much better readable in formatting.

Will cross reference it with the info post here in the last days and update it.

http://212.158.133.54/prenos/mh-6%20table.html

Jakub

EDIT: Table updated a bit, if you have more info/corrections, send it, and I will update it again.

Edited by JakubJakepilot
Link to post
Share on other sites

Hey gents, some time ago when I was researching Loaches, I did this table in xls and coverted it to html format. No idea if this is 100% correct, but is it much better readable in formatting.

Will cross reference it with the info post here in the last days and update it.

http://212.158.133.54/prenos/mh-6%20table.html

Jakub

EDIT: Table updated a bit, if you have more info/corrections, send it, and I will update it again.

I've got a bunch of old serial number spreadsheets which run back 20 or more years, I'll have to dig them out. Meanwhile, more photos:

Sugar-scoop exhaust:

LB-EX1_zpsad9bc9bc.jpg

Hellfire, note FLIR with laser designator:

LB-HELLFIRE_zpsa69a3093.jpg

GAU-19 X2:

LB-GAU-19_zps452f1fdf.jpg

John Hairell (tpn18@yahoo.com)

Link to post
Share on other sites

One more: NOH-6P 66-17825, modified by the CIA for special ops, still flying as N13SD. Of interest, besides the sights, are the extra-wide panel to accommodate two screens, 5-bladed main rotor, 4-bladed T/R, strengthening ribs along the tailboom-fuselage join, the various antennas under the boom, the civilian doors, the RWR, and the winter doghouse cowling.

NOH-6P-66-17825-1_zps22eba79a.jpg

John Hairell (tpn18@yahoo.com)

Link to post
Share on other sites

Jakub, thanks for sharing your table of Little Bird serials.

John, thanks also for some more cracking photos. The Hellfire Little Bird looks mean. Can we assume that the sugar-scoop Little Bird is photographed in Somalia?

LD.

I was told the sugar-scoop LB was in Iraq. The only thing I can say is it's somewhere with a lot of sand...:-)

John Hairell (tpn18@yahoo.com)

Link to post
Share on other sites

Hi John. Yes, when you look at the photo, the picture does have an "Iraqi feel" to it. I'd guess the Gothic Serpent Little Birds operated only from the airport at Mogadishu and that background certainly doesn't look like the airport in Mog. Thanks.

LD.

Link to post
Share on other sites

This ammo can is listed by Dillon Aero as the "3,000 Round Magazine Little Bird". 3,000 rounds per minigun sounds about right. It looks like they might possibly use two smaller ammo cans on the minigun side when they are flying with one minigun and one .50 cal fitted.

http://www.dillonaero.com/content/p/8/catid/7/pid/17/?viewImg=1&pimg=ammunition_systems/little_bird.jpg

Click on the PDF tag at the bottom of the photo in the link for a little more info.

5437643491_4ab9cd5e25_b_zps7571d540.jpg

Photo from Flickr.

As John says, there isn't much out there on the net that shows the ammo can installation on the AH-6M in any great detail. This is one of the better photos and the can appears to be very similar to the Dillon Aero ammo can. It seems to sit a little further forward in the AH-6M when compared with the AH-6J and this is probably because of the larger internal fuel tank fitted to the AH-6M. I hope this is of use.

LD.

Link to post
Share on other sites
  • 1 month later...

Karl Maier, one of the pilots in the Little Bird that landed to render assistance at the Wolcott crash site in Somalia in 1993, has retired from the 160th SOAR recently.

http://www.dothaneagle.com/army_flier/news/article_c83409b8-b5bf-11e3-8f9d-001a4bcf6878.html

LD.

Edited by Loach Driver
Link to post
Share on other sites

Karl Maier, one of the pilots in the Little Bird that landed to render assistance at the Durant crash site in Somalia in 1993, has retired from the 160th SOAR recently.

http://www.dothaneagle.com/army_flier/news/article_c83409b8-b5bf-11e3-8f9d-001a4bcf6878.html

LD.

I did not know either Billy or Karl while I was in B Company, as they arrived after I left in 1985... if you can believe going back that far. I did meet Karl at Doug Brown's Change of Command at USSOCOM several years ago, and shared dinner and a few beers with him and another of my friends from back then, Bob Fladry. Bob was flying with Mike Grimm the night, in Oct 1981, they hit wires and Grimm was killed. Mike and Bob were leading some 20 LB's. I was chalk 4. Bob was ejected from the aircraft and fell some 70 feet, landing in water on his side. Split his thigh wide open, but we got him out and to the hospital. It was a long recovery, but he went on to serve many more years with the 160th.

That's all the old memories for today. GT

Link to post
Share on other sites
  • 3 weeks later...

This post was posted by GT in the 1/48 Blue Thunder thread but it has two new Little Bird photos and the interesting story behind some gun testing so I thought it might be an idea to copy it into this thread for posterity. The last photo of the AH-6C doing a little road-running is very cool! :thumbsup:

LD.

While a little off topic, I thought I would share with you some pics of, perhaps, the same Hughes 7.62 Chain Gun used in the movie. Go back to December 1982. The 160th was still flying the AH-6C's and wanted see about using the newer T-Tail 500D's, so we took one of the A/160 aircraft to Yuma Proving Grounds (YPG) where it was outfitted with a seven shot pod and Mini-Gun (GAU-2BA). This is the first ever 160th aircraft to be fitted with rockets and minigun. We also tested out the Hughes 7.62 Chain-Gun, forerunner of the one devised for the Apache in 30mm.

The weapon only had a cyclic rate of fire similar to an M60 (650 RPM)so, turns out was totally unacceptable as a replacement for the minigun. Also, this was the first time rockets were fired, by the 160th, off a T-Tail 500D.

I conducted this test, as I was a Standards Instructor in both AH-6C's and the MH-6's. You can see the Hughes technician working on preparing the gun, and the firing of the rockets. Funny though, the aircraft didn't have an intervalometer, so when I pressed the button all seven rockets fired. Whoo Hoo, that was fun. In the background is another beautiful shot of the Chocolate Mountains. Is that not a cool shot of rockets in flight? I still get goose bumps!

Also, for those not familiar with the territory around Yuma, there is another shot of a Little Bird Gun with the Chocolate Mountains in the background. It truly is awesome to fly low level there.

YumaDec820002_zps8f062d3c.jpg

YumaDec820011_zps28728924.jpg

YumaDec820008_zpsde86feea.jpg

YumaDec820007_zps9d083492.jpg

YumaDec820010_zpsa5770fd7.jpg

Regards to all, keep up the great work! GT

Link to post
Share on other sites

Join the conversation

You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.

Guest
Reply to this topic...

×   Pasted as rich text.   Paste as plain text instead

  Only 75 emoji are allowed.

×   Your link has been automatically embedded.   Display as a link instead

×   Your previous content has been restored.   Clear editor

×   You cannot paste images directly. Upload or insert images from URL.

×
×
  • Create New...