OH-23 Raven

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H-23 Raven
Hiller OH-23
Type	Multipurpose light helicopter
Manufacturer	Hiller Aircraft Corporation
Primary user	United States Army

The four-place Hiller OH-23 Raven light observation helicopter was based on the UH-12 ("UH" for United Helicopters),^[1] which was first flown in 1948.

Contents 1 Operational history 2 Operators 3 Specifications (H-23) 4 References 5 External links 6 Related content

[edit] Operational history

The H-23 Raven performed as a utility, observation, and MedEvac helicopter during the Korean war. Model numbers ranged A through D, F and G. The H-23A had a sloping front windshield. The H-23B was used as a primary helicopter trainer. Beginning with the UH-23C, all later models featured the "Goldfish bowl" canopy similar to the Bell 47, and also featured the Bell-designed short weighted gyro-stabilizer bar.^{[verification needed]} The OH-23 had a speed of 97 mph (84 knots). The Raven had a two-bladed main rotor, a metal two-bladed tail rotor. Both the OH-23B and the OH-23C were powered by one O-335-5D engine.

The OH-23D was a purely military version with a 0-435-23C engine and a more reliable transmission. Most OH-23Ds were replaced by the OH-23G, the most common version of the Raven, with a more powerful Lycoming O-540-9A six-cylinder, horizontally opposed, air cooled 305 hp engine. The OH-23G could seat four. The MEDEVAC version carried two external skid-mounted litters or pods. The Raven saw service as a scout during the early part of the Vietnam war before being replaced by the OH-6A Cayuse in early 1968. The Raven could be armed with twin M37C .30 Cal. machine guns on the XM1 armament subsystem or twin M60C 7.62mm machine guns on the M2 armament subsystem. The XM76 sighting system was used for sighting the guns.

[edit] Operators

•  Argentina
•  Bolivia
•  Canada: Canadian Army - CH-112 Nomad
•  Chile
•  Colombia
•  Dominican Republic
•  Germany
•  Guatemala
•  Indonesia
•  Israel
•  Japan
•  Mexico
•  Morocco
•  Netherlands
•  Paraguay
•  Peru
•  Thailand
•  United Kingdom: Royal Navy
•  United States: USAF, US Army, US Navy
•  Uruguay

[edit] Specifications (H-23)

General characteristics

• Crew: 2
• Payload: lb (kg)
• Length: (overall) 28 ft 11 in (8.8 m)
• Rotor diameter: 25 ft 3 in (7.7 m)
• Height: 8 ft 3 in (2.5 m)
• Empty weight: 1008 lb (457 kg)
• Loaded weight: 1850 lb (839 kg)
• Powerplant: 1× Lycoming HIO-360-B1A 6 cylinder, horizontally opposed, 180 hp ()

Performance

• Never exceed speed: kts (mph)
• Maximum speed: kts (mph)
• Cruise speed: kts (75 mph)
• Range: nm (204 miles)

[edit] References

1. ^ Hiller 360 / UH-12 / OH-23 helicopter.

• OH-23 Factsheet

[edit] External links

[edit] Related content

Comparable aircraft

• Bell 47
• Schweizer (Hughes) 300

Designation sequence

• XH-20 - CH-21 - YH-22 - H-23 - YH-24 - H-25 - XH-26

Related lists

• List of military aircraft of the United States