Bell YOH-4

Bell Textron · United States · first flew 1962 · helicopter

The Bell YOH-4 was Bell's prototype submission for the US Army's Light Observation Helicopter (LOH) competition of the early 1960s, which was ultimately won by the Hughes OH-6 Cayuse.

Recognition (WEFT)

W — Wings	High-mounted, rotary
E — Engines	1 × turboshaft, fuselage-mounted
F — Fuselage	Teardrop-shaped bubble canopy on slender fuselage, overall length 11.79m
T — Tail	Conventional

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Spot it by:

US Army LOH competition prototype, lost to Hughes OH-6
Bell's entry in the Light Observation Helicopter contest
Teardrop-shaped bubble canopy on slender fuselage, overall length 11.79m

A slim turbine helicopter with a rounded teardrop cabin and a long tail boom; closely resembles the early Bell 206 JetRanger prototype.

Specifications

The Bell YOH-4 has a length of 11.79 m (39 ft).
It has a wingspan of 10.77 m (35 ft).
Its maximum speed is 204 km/h (127 mph).
Typical crew: 2.

Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.

History

In 1961 the US Army issued a requirement for a light observation helicopter to replace the Hiller OH-23 and Bell H-13. Bell's YOH-4 competed against the Hughes 369 and Hiller OH-5; the Hughes design won, though Bell later developed the Model 206 JetRanger from experience gained.

Variants

The YOH-4 prototype directly informed the Bell 206 JetRanger design, which became one of the most successful light turbine helicopters ever produced.

Where you'll see it

Never entered military service in the YOH-4 form; the design lineage led directly to the commercially and militarily successful Bell 206.

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