Bell starts OH-58 Block II flight demo

Oct 23, 2012 by Dave Majumdar – FG

Washington DC - Bell is starting its voluntary flight demonstration for its Block II OH-58 Kiowa Warrior this week for the US Army's prospective Armed Aerial Scout programme.

"We started this week our portion of the voluntary flight demonstration," says Stephen Eppinette, Bell's business development manager.

The demonstration will last for about two weeks, but the army will decide in December if it will actually proceed with a new programme.

Eppinette argues that Bell's upgraded Kiowa Warrior aircraft offers the US Army a lower cost, lower risk option than potential competitors. The army already has an established logistical and training tail for the venerable OH-58. The new Block II would be able to leverage those facilities while offering far superior performance.

The Block II is equipped with the Honeywell HTS-900 turboshaft with 1000 shp. It also has the rotors and transmission from Bell's 407 model, Eppinette says. The tail comes from the Bell 427. The modifications should allow the helcopter to hover the 6000 ft and 95 degrees Fahrenheit.

Bell is working with an incremental upgrade strategy for the aircraft. Block II would eventually be upgraded to the Block III with a more powerful power and rotor systems should army buy the Block II Kiowa Warrior.