Boeing AH-6 Little Bird
Boeing · United States · first flew 2004 · helicopter
The Boeing AH-6 is a series of light helicopter gunships based on the MH-6 Little Bird and the MD 500 family.
Recognition (WEFT)
| W — Wings | High-mounted, rotary |
|---|---|
| E — Engines | 1 × turboshaft, fuselage-mounted |
| F — Fuselage | 9.94 m fuselage |
| T — Tail | Conventional |
WEFT is AircraftIQ's four-point recognition method — how it works.
Spot it by:
- Small light helicopter descended from the MD 500 family
- Single Allison 250-C30 turboshaft
- Armed or uncrewed Little Bird versions including the Unmanned Little Bird demonstrator
A small egg-shaped helicopter with a single main rotor and a tail rotor.
Specifications
- The Boeing AH-6 Little Bird has a length of 9.94 m (33 ft).
- It has a wingspan of 8.33 m (27 ft).
- Its maximum speed is 282 km/h (175 mph).
- Typical crew: 1-2.
Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.
History
Boeing built the Unmanned Little Bird demonstrator from a civilian MD 530F, and it first flew on 8 September 2004. The first A/MH-6X Mission Enhanced Little Bird flew on 20 September 2006 with a pilot on board.
Variants
The A/MH-6X can be flown crewed or uncrewed. The AH-6S and AH-6i were proposed developments, and the AH-6i first flew on 16 September 2009.
Where you'll see it
The demonstrator controlled weapons remotely from an AH-64 Apache in 2006 and made a fully autonomous flight in June 2010. Jordan and Saudi Arabia showed interest in the AH-6i.
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