loach helicopter vietnam

It was used for transporting personnel, escorting other aircraft and naval vessels, attacking enemy units, and acting as an observation post. Almost as soon as production began, however, it was replaced by a competitors model. Tough Mission LOACH Chopper Vietnam - YouTube 0:00 / 5:15 Intro Tough Mission LOACH Chopper Vietnam Chopperguy 15.4K subscribers Subscribe 1.1K 53K views 1 year ago We fly with Low Level. The Model 369 was submitted by Hughes, and competed against the two finalists, Fairchild-Hiller and Bell, for a production contract. This helicopter was chosen by the US Army over the proposals of a number of other helicopter manufactures, designated the OH-6A Cayuse, and entered service in 1965. Over time, the effectiveness of this pairing was such that enemies would often decide against firing on the relatively vulnerable OH-1 in fear of the response that would be unleased by the AH-1. It served in Granada and Panama during the 1980s, as well as in the . When Chuck Gross left for Vietnam in 1970, he was a nineteen-year-old army helicopter pilot fresh out of flight school. This was a Recon mission for Unarmed Recon Mills, who served two tours in Loaches and one in Cobras, was shot down 16 timesall but once in OH-6s. So I engaged the enemy, but didnt make it out of that one. The Sea Stallion is a variant of the Jolly Green Giant, but its used only for sea transport. Its effectiveness in battle allowed it to quickly replace the Bell H-13 Siouxs being operated in the country. Loaches, usually with a pilot and observer and sometimes a door gunner aboard, flew as little as 10 feet above the treetops at between about 45 and 60 mph, scouting for signs of the enemy. contact us here and we will remove the One, nicknamed Queer John, hit the dirt at least seven times. Armed with a 40mm grenade launcher in a nose turret, and two 19-tube 2.75 inch rocket launchers, the "OH-6C" was ready to take on anything. Possible mast-mounted sight. Several Kawasaki-built Loach helicopters were also flown by civilian customers for a variety of reasons, including emergency medical services, law enforcement tasks and for work in the agricultural sector. It was deemed, based on Hughes' estimates, his units would be most cost effective in the long run. It was nicknamed the Jolly Green Giant during the war. For most of the war, there was no formal Army training to prepare scout pilots and observers. [7] The Hiller design, designated OH-5A,[7] had featured a boosted control system, while the Hughes design did not, a difference that accounted for some of the price increase. By Richard Toops. In the event of a crash the tailboom and engine separate from the egg-like cabin, improving the survival chances of the crew and passengers. We were combat trackers, says Mills. The Boeing CH-47 Chinook is a tandem rotor chopper that was developed by Vetrol and built by Boeing Vertol. The U.S. Army began to use Bell OH-13 Sioux and Hiller OH-23 Raven helicopters, once artillery spotters, to scout ahead of UH-1D Huey formations in the moments before air assaults to gather information about landing zones and enemy locations. Adopted after. In 1965, the concept of helicopter-borne fighting forces was still new and largely untested, and units in Vietnam invented tactics on the spot. [17] On 26 March 1966, Jack Schwiebold set the closed circuit distance record in a YOH-6A at Edwards Air Force Base, California, flying without landing for 1,739.96mi (2,800.20km). The OH-6 was also exported as the Model 500 Defender. Following a competitive fly-off and a sealed bidding process, Hughes lost the contract to Bell, resulting in the competing Bell OH-58 Kiowa being produced. Has a mouth full of pointy teeth and a pair of eyes. It was mostly used to transport troops and cargo during the Vietnam war. At peak production, during the Vietnam War, as many as 100 OH-6As were built a month. The OH-6 was developed in response to the United States Army issuing Technical Specification 153 in 1960 to replace its Bell H-13 Sioux fleet. As the reserve units have continued to move away from the OH-6 as their primary scout aircraft, military technical support of the aircraft has dwindled. Your email address will not be published. The Piasecki H-21 Workhorse was the fourth line of tandem rotor helicopters developed by Piasecki Helicopters. Search and Rescue Helicopters 5. The helicopter was hit in the Cockpit The Chickasaw was a multi-purpose helicopter designed for both the US Army and Air Force. During the testing phase, it became clear the Bell prototype was underpowered, so it was dropped. Ive seen them, whites of the eyes, and theyve seen me, whites of the eyes. When the 1980 hostage situation of Operation Eagle Claw was deemed a disaster, the US military realized there was a lack of aircraft and personnel trained for such special operations. Terms of Use I liked it because in the Bronx, I was a ghetto kid. Can a Helicopter Fly to the Top of Mount Everest. Improved versions were issued through the war and included pockets on the chest and back in which large additional plates could be inserted. The helicopter was designed around their earlier model 269/300 making use of monocoque steel tube construction techniques, allowing a strong and compact fuselage. The Hughes OH-6 Cayuse is a light helicopter with a single engine and a four-bladed main rotor. The high-low hunter-killer combination gave way to uniform-altitude missions, with all helicopters flying nap of the earth. When the Loach debuted in 1966, it broke records for speed, endurance, and rate of climb, all important attributes for a scout helicopter. Typically missions were flown during the daylight, starting at dawn; common roles included the clearance of landing zones and general intelligence/observation flights. In the hunter-killer teams, the Loach would fly low over the jungle, drawing fire and then calling for the Cobra to kill the teams on the ground. After evaluation, three designs were selected and 5 of each: the Bell OH-4A; the Hiller OH-5 and the Hughes OH-6, were ordered for trials by the U.S.Army Aviation Board. All written content, illustrations, and photography are unique to this website (unless where indicated) and not for reuse/reproduction in any form. To this day I am closer to those guys I flew with in Vietnam than my own brothers, says Mills. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); 2023 Vietnam Helicopters Museum. Information on U.S. Army helicopter OH-6A tail number 67-16304 [22] The remaining H-13s were promptly withdrawn in favour of the OH-6s. 605th transportation Company (Direct Support): Nov . Hughes developed the Model 369 as a prototype for the U.S. Army in the early 1960s. s/n 66-07841. Cookie Settings, pilot. [14][15], During 1966, the OH-1 entered service with the U.S. Army. The Boeing (McDonnell Douglas) (formerly Hughes model 369A) OH-6A was designed for use as a military scout during the Vietnam war to meet the US Army's need for an extremely maneuverable light observation helicopter. Total flight hours at this point: 00000265 There was one day of initial training, says Bob Moses, who was first trained as a tank crewman and then as infantry before a sudden transition to helicopter door gunner. Disclaimer Photographs It had a distinct teardrop-shaped fuselage, which made it instantly recognizable, and a cockpit for two crew members, along with two removable seats in the passenger cabin. The Light Observation Helicopter ( LOH) program was a United States Army program to evaluate, develop and field a light scout helicopter to replace the Army's aging Bell OH-13 Sioux. But even that armament combined with the Cobra escort couldnt keep them safe. Despite its strong offensive abilities, the SH-2 Seasprite was mostly used for rescuing downed friendly aircrews instead of direct combat. The prototype first flew in early 1963, and production began two years later. Thats why the majority of pilots who served in Vietnam shared the opinion that, if you were going to crash, it was best to do it in a Loach. The Mil Mi-8 was developed in the later stage of the Vietnam War to counter the Bell Huey UH1. The aircraft, dubbed 500P (penetrator) by Hughes, began as an ARPA project, codenamed "Mainstreet", in 1968. Contact | EH-6B, a previous version of the Little Bird, was used for command, control and radio relay. The Hughes OH-6A Cayuse, was designed for use as a Light Observation Helicopter (LOH) nicknamed LOACH, military scout during the Vietnam war to meet the U.S. Armys need for an extremely maneuverable observation helicopter. Queer John was famous not just for crashing, but for keeping the crew safe while it did so. During 1960, the United States Army issued Technical Specification 153 for a Light Observation Helicopter (LOH) capable of fulfilling various roles on the battlefield, including personnel transport, escort, casualty evacuation, observation, and attack missions. With all these benefits, several variations were developed. The Hughes OH-6 "Cayuse" (popularly recognized as the "Loach") was a revolutionary light helicopter mount primarily in service with the United States Army and saw combat service during the Vietnam War (1955-1975). The small-arms protection aircrewmen armor that was introduced in 1966 was a vest with pockets containing composite laminated plates commonly called chicken plates. Here are the 24 helicopters used in Vietnam. This was a Combat incident. OH-58 "Kiowa" light observation / scout platform. Ace Cozzalio was among the most colorful characters of the Vietnam War. On a few occasions, the OH-23 was also used for medical evacuation purposes, but this was rarely the case. The Cayuse was publicly introduced in 1966 and set several records, including record for endurance, speed and rate of climb. The Cayuse . In order to reduce their acoustic signature, the helicopters (N351X and N352X) received a four-blade 'scissors' style tail rotor (later incorporated into the Hughes-designed AH-64 Apache), a fifth rotor blade and reshaped rotor tips, a modified exhaust system, and various other performance boosting modifications. Missions began every day at dawn, when crews were briefed on where to fly and what to look for. The Aircraft Division of Hughes Tool Company came up with the Model 369, which became one of three finalists, alongside designs from Bell Helicopter Company and Fairchild Hiller. I went up in a Loach with an M60 machine gun to get used to firing the weapon. These hunter-killer missions, among the most hazardous of the Vietnam War, tested the resolve of the OH-6 pilots and the aerial observers sitting beside them. Unlike its troop-carrying ancestors, a Cobra was like a World War II fighter, says Jim Kane, who arrived in Vietnam fresh out of Purdue University. Unknown as to mission impact. The Gyrodyne company built the Gyrodyne QH-50 DASH (Drone Anti-Submarine Helicopter) to combat submarines from a distance. NVA troops shot down a Cobra, killing the crew. On top of this, Fairchild Hiller lodged a formal complaint over Hughes Tool Companys deceitful tactics to earn the original contract. Troop C, 1st squadron, 9th Cavalry Regiment, 1st Cavalry Division: Oct 68 Jan 69 In 1972, as U.S. troops slowly withdrew, the NVA began a major push that became known as the Easter Offensive. Date: 02/08/1969 Scout crews argued that the Kiowa was nowhere near as nimble as the Cayuse, but scouting flights were changing. In air mobile teams, a pilot would fly low while an observer would scan the ground for signs of the enemy force. Although most combat aircraft in Vietnam aimed for altitudes and speeds that helped them avoid anti-aircraft weapons, U.S. Army crews flying Hughes OH-6A Cayuse helicopters flew low and drew fireto set up the shots for the Bell AH-1G Cobras circling above. [8][9], A total of 387 OH-6/Hughes 369s were produced under license in Japan by the Japanese aerospace company Kawasaki Heavy Industries. This was a Recon mission for Unarmed Recon You had a couple of flights in the Huey, then you rode front seat in a Cobra, scout pilot Allan Krausz recounts. The Loach's main role was reconnaisance and observation. Crews trained side by side with the 160th for all operational concepts. The LOH program opened the floor to several companies to come up with their own designs. South Vietnam In January 1968 PFC Richard Toops went on to Infantry OCS at Ft. Benning, Ga. graduating in September 1968. In the event of a crash the tailboom and engine separate from the egg-like . The first Loach arrived in Vietnam in 1966, and a total of 1,434 of the primary . [2] Originally designated as the YHO-6A according to the Army's designation system, the aircraft was redesignated as the YOH-6A in 1962 when the Department of Defense created a joint designation system for all aircraft. The Bell Model 206 is a line of both single and twin-engined helicopters with two primary rotor blades. Reportedly, Hughes had consulted at the last moment with Real, who recommended a bid of $53,550. article/image or apply full credit information. 79th Transportation Company: Jun 70 Jul 70 I have come home with blood on my windshield. The CH-34 Choctaw was developed by Sikorsky Aircraft for transport purposes to carry personnel and deliver supplies. The Cayuse could absorb an extensive amount of small arms fire and still bring the crew home safely. This was a Combat incident. Note: The above text is EXCLUSIVE to the site www.MilitaryFactory.com. More from us: The US Air Force Panicked When Its Top-Secret Stealth Fighter Crashed Into the California Wilderness. This helicopter was UNK In the Vietnam War, these choppers were used to recover downed aircraft. Vietnam following a morning mission with the 11th Special Forces (SF) at Long Than North, South Vietnam. Kiowas, largely relegated to low-threat cargo and liaison missions in Vietnam, were after the war tasked to spot targets from afar and guide Cobras (and later, Boeing AH-64 Apaches) to good firing spots. We do not sell any of the items showcased on this site. We were about ready to call in tactical air support to blow up the wrecked ship when another Cobra took a lot of fire. Accordingly, this tactic had resulted in substantial losses being incurred on the contract with the U.S. Army; the company had allegedly anticipated that an extended production cycle would eventually make the rotorcraft financially viable. During the Vietnam War Era, different types of helicopters were crucial for providing support for ground forces, scouting locations, and deploying or retrieving soldiers. AH/MH-6J: US Army Special Operations variant derived from the MD-530MG. They were employed in hunter-killer tactics, wherein they flew low over the jungle as bait to draw enemy fire. The "OH-6C" was the creation of the Maintenance Section of The Real Cav, B Troop 7/17th Air Cavalry Squadron, which was stationed near Pleiku in early 1972. [5] Accordingly, the bidding for the LOH contract came down to Fairchild-Hiller and Hughes. Nate Shaffer and Bruce Campbell at their assigned positions. Late in the war, the HH-43 was also deployed for short overland search and rescue missions. The Hughes (Model 500M) international military version was sold in ten countries and built under license in Italy and Japan. The campaign included the first major use in the war of Soviet-built, shoulder-launched anti-aircraft missiles. [10][self-published source][11], Due to price escalations for both the OH-6 and spare components, the U.S. Army opted to reopen bids for the programme in 1967. For other AH-6 and MH-6 variants, see MH-6 Little Bird and Boeing AH-6. Under enemy fire this nimble machine had to fly low to the ground, just above the jungle canopy. The four-passenger teardrop shaped "Flying egg" (six-passenger with rear seats folded-down) was a small, light, sturdy, maneuverable helicopter, with very low drag. The US Army charged Hughes for 714 units with the serial production contract formally announced in May of 1965. Ribbon graphics not necessarily indicative of actual historical campaign ribbons. To remedy this shortcoming, the Army began developing a special aviation task force to prepare for the next attempt to rescue the hostages: Operation Honey Badger. These rotorcraft were operated by several different organisations, the majority of which were based in Japan. Jim Kanes Vietnam tour abruptly ended one day in February 1971. While Hiller did not participate in the rebidding, Bell opted to, submitting their redesigned Model 206. Donald Porter served in Vietnam with the helicopters he writes about. Another such gunner was 19-year-old Joel Boucher, drafted and sent to Vietnam from 1967 to 1969. Within that same year, help was on the way. These choppers were modified for combat rescue missions and had self-sealing fuel tanks, rescue hoist, and in-flight refueling abilities. The Bell H-13 Sioux was developed as a light-weight single-engine and single-rotor helicopter. US Army Loach OH-6 Helicopter Vietnam War Era Steve1958OR 242 subscribers 14K views 9 years ago A friend came by today with his Vietnam war era Hughs OH-6 Loach helicopter. In 1966 it entered military service with the US Army. This story is a selection from the September issue of Air & Space magazine, Donald Porter I had another lead that went through 150 feet of trees, and they survived., Shafer himself had brushes with disaster, and his luck nearly ran out on a mission west of Dak To, near the border with Laos. Modifications were also made to the rotor assembly by way of a five blade main rotor which increased stability. purchase. Just as I set it down, the tail rotor spun off. Primarily, it was used by the Marine Corp to transport personnel and cargo. The OH-6A was powered by a single Allison T63-A-5A 285 shp turboshaft engine, and had a cruising speed of 144 mph (125 knots). The pilots dubbed the new helicopter Loach, a word created by pronunciation of the acronym of the program that spawned the aircraft, LOH (light observation helicopter). [27], During the early 1970s, Soviet-supplied SA-7 Grail shoulder-launched anti-aircraft missiles emerged amongst North Vietnamese troops; one hit could down a Loach, potentially dealing fatal damage before its crew were aware that they were under fire. Following the lead, we got peppered with rounds. The Loach had a bad vibration, but he made it about half a mile before he had to land. Some crews argued that the Kiowa was nowhere near as nimble as the OH-6, however, the transition proceeded while scouting doctrine was changed to emphasis operations from greater distances. During 1966, the OH-6 entered service with the U.S. Army, it promptly arrived into active combat in the Vietnam War. He is proud of his service, which involved a great deal of combat, but has concluded that U.S. involvement in Vietnam was a mistake. The Huskie was used by the US Air Force, US Navy, and US Marine Corps. In addition, an M60D 7.62mm machine gun could be mounted in the front port (left) or rear starboard (right) door openings. I was flying wing and just dropped into the AO [Area of Operations]. OH-6A/Cayuse: Developed initially by the Hughes Aircraft company (later McDonnell Douglas Helicopter Company) in the mid-1960s for the US Army. The armed OH-6s from Fort Rucker joined the training program in the fall of 1980.[30]. The Army dictated that after 300 hours of flight time, each Loach go through a thorough inspection, but in practice such inspections were rare: Few Loaches survived to reach that mark. MD-500E/MD-500MG/Defender II: Had a more elongated nose for streamlining, and an optional 4x blade tail rotor for reduced acoustic signatures. He shares memories of his service and reflects on what the war meant to him then and what it means to him now. The Loach also had its own gunner in the rear and could carry everything from 7.62mm miniguns to 70mm rockets and anti-tank missiles. Worthy, the OH-6 Loach and two other air scout helicopter pilots, all decorated, were in Topeka on Saturday night for an event at Forbes Field Airport designed to increase interest and. Infantrymen would also launch an assault from the ground. I could tell how old a footprint was by how it looked. The Model 206 was mostly employed as a general utility helicopter, but at times it was also used for transporting troops and high command, in addition to serving observational and reconnaissance roles during the Vietnam war. When the opposing forces exposed themselves, the crew would call upon an accompanying Bell AH-1 Cobra to attack. Light Observation Helicopter (LOH) program, The US Air Force Panicked When Its Top-Secret Stealth Fighter Crashed Into the California Wilderness. On 1 October 1986, to help meet the increasing demands for support, the 1-245th Aviation Battalion from the Oklahoma National Guard, which had 25 AH-6 and 23 UH-1 helicopters, was placed under the operational control of the 160th. Its formal name is derived from the Cayuse people while its "Loach" nickname comes from the acronym for the Light Observation Helicopter (LOH) programme that it was procured under. MD-500MD/Scout and TOW Defender: Improved military version of the model 500 with 5 main rotor blades, 375-shp Allison 250-C20B turboshaft engine, and T-tail. On March 3, 2023, at a White House ceremony, retired Army Colonel Paris Davis received the Medal of Honor. One of the most dangerous helicopter assignments was a tiny scout helicopter known as the Loach. Officially designated the OH-6 Cayuse, these things were made of thin plexiglass and metal but were expected to fly low over the jungles and grass, looking for enemy forces hiding in the foliage. Each time we went out, we got shot at. [2] The pilot was provisioned with excellent external visibility via its large plexiglass windscreen, while its four-bladed fully-articulated main rotor meant it was considerably more agile than the preceding H-13 Sioux. The observers and gunners had even less experience. When the opposing forces exposed themselves, the crew would call upon an accompanying Bell AH-1 Cobra to attack. In the end, Hughes lost its contract to Bell, who was deemed to have the superior design. I was wounded three times and shot down nine times, Romero reports. Loach and Cobra crews lived together, and schedulers generally paired the teams with the partners they requested, though given the high turnover rate, that wasnt always possible. President As we navigate rapidly evolving military culture and Like any deployed troops, Russian soldiers make calls Sign up for our newsletter and receive the mighty updates! Unfortunately, the weight of the armament kept the little bird from taking off. The Bell OH-58 Kiowa was an entire line of military helicopters with a single engine and a single rotor. [18] Subsequently, on 6 April 1966, Robert Ferry set the long distance world record for helicopters by flying from Culver City, California, with over a ton of fuel to Ormond Beach, Florida, covering a total of 1,923.08 nm (2,213.04mi, 3,561.55km) in 15 hours, and near the finish at up to 24,000 feet (7,300m) altitude. (7.62MM) Armament The unrefueled range of the AH-6 is 250 nautical miles. [24][25] As to indicate the position of concealed enemy ground forces, the observer in the OH-6 would mark the spot using a smoke grenade, assisting other units in effectively firing upon them. Terms and Conditions, Safety Standards Acknowledgement and Consent (SSAC) We got into another aircraft and went back out. These would be used to replace its fleet of Bell H-13 Sioux, a compact first generation rotorcraft. The OH-6A made its first flight in 1963. The OH-6 helicopters served in huge numbers and were used for light observation and utility roles. During the Vietnam War, it was mostly deployed for aerial combat and for conducting rescue operations in areas close to US Air bases. Casualties = 01 WIA . A recontoured nose allowed for greater leg and head room. Fitted with 1x 253-shp Allison T63-A-5A turboshaft, 4 bladed main rotor, and an offset "V" tail. It was powered by a 285-hp engine but the helicopter weighed less than a Volkswagen. Privacy Statement The Gyrodyne QH-50 was mostly designed to be used on ships that werent large enough to carry a full-sized helicopter. [22][23] Prior to the arrival of the AH-1, "hunter-killer" teams often relied on the firepower from armed models of the Bell UH-1 Iroquois utility helicopter. In some areas, Purple Teamsone Loach and two Cobraswere also common, as were other variations.) The OH-6A helicopters used for transporting personnel became the MH-6 aircraft of the Light Assault Company and the armed OH-6As became the AH-6 aircraft of the Light Attack Company. On the night of 56 December 1972, the remaining helicopter deployed a wiretap near Vinh, Vietnam; useful information provided from this wiretap was acted on by the United States on several occasions, such as during the Linebacker II campaign and Paris Peace Talks. The 'Loach' was one of the riskiest helicopter assignments in Vietnam Radiomen in the Vietnam War faced a 5-second life expectancy 5 cringeworthy military slang terms (that we should actually retire) From nursing to newspapers, these were the women of Vietnam It had no hydraulic system and its electrical setup was used primarily to start up the enginesimple even by 1960s standards, which for practical purposes meant it was easier to maintain and harder to shoot down than other helicopters. Two (2) Crew: one Pilot, one Observer/Doorgunner. Army headquarters developed doctrine by building on what worked in the field, rather than the other way around, and each unit in-country did things slightly differently. If you would like Initially fielded in Vietnam in early 1968, the Hughes OH-6A was used for command and control, observation, target acquisition, and reconnaissance. While they were circling the wreckage, enemy rounds hit their ship. Observation Helicopters Hughes OH-6 Cayuse (Loach) The Hughes OH-6 Cayuse is a light helicopter with a single engine and a four-bladed main rotor. You were right in the enemys face with a helicopter and had to know what you were doing, recalls warrant officer Clyde Romero of his 1,100 hours flying scout missions over South Vietnam in 1971. OA-6A 'Loach' Scout platoon. A.J. Army units this aircraft deployed with in Vietnam: Troop B, 1st squadron, 9th Cavalry Regiment, 1st Cavalry Division: Aug '68 - Oct '70. In her spare time, Samantha enjoys reading, knitting, and hanging out with her dog, Chowder! The Bell H-13 Sioux were used for multiple roles, ranging from transporting troops, conducting medical evacuations, and performing reconnaissance and observational activities. . The Cayuse was publicly introduced in 1966 and set several records, including record for endurance, speed and rate of climb. 2 TOW missile pods (2 each) A Troop, 7th Squadron, 7th Cavalry Regiment, 1st Cavalry Division: Aug 70 Feb 72 The United States deployed all types of helicopter, ranging from massive troop transport choppers, to smaller multipurpose and attack helicopters, and even helicopter drones. While in Vietnam, Loach helicopters operated as part of air mobile teams. Click on the hotlinks for more information. Reportedly, 964 out of the 1,422 OH-6As produced for the US Army were destroyed in the Vietnam theatre, the majority of these losses being a result of hostile action, typically ground fire. The shelf life of a scout pilot was probably six months. It was used prolifically because of its unique hovering abilities. [2] This shaping, combined with the provision of internal bulkheads, has been attributed as giving the rotorcraft its uncommonly strong crashworthiness properties. The Hughes 369 was redesignated the OH-6A "Cayuse" by the U.S. Army. Furthermore, the helicopter was also developed into a civilian helicopter, the Model 500, which was still in production into the twenty-first century under MD Helicopters as the MD 500. Books/Magazines It would often be crewed by a pilot and an observer; up to five passengers or up to 1,000lb of cargo could be carried internally. To hunt for encampments, bunkers, or other signs of the enemy, commanders would deploy a flight of one scouting Loach and one supporting Cobra, called Pink Teams. Kane and Casher were pulled aboard and returned to Khe Sanh, but the Huey barely made it back; slicing trees had left its blades shredded, and the tail section had almost separated. Your email address will not be published. Hughes bid $56,550 per airframe, while Bell bid $54,200.