Boeing Successfully Completes First Flight of Thailand’s First AH-6 Little Bird Helicopter

[Georgealbert]

 

 

Boeing has successfully conducted the first flight of the AH-6 Little Bird light attack helicopter designated for the Royal Thai Army. This milestone flight took at Boeing’s facility in Mesa, Arizona, marking a significant advancement in Thailand’s military aviation capabilities.

 

The AH-6 helicopters, part of an order for a total of eight units, are being produced as part of Thailand’s initiative to enhance its defense readiness and modernise its military fleet. Christina Upah, Vice President of Attack Helicopter Programs and Senior Executive at Boeing Mesa, stated, “With its superior performance and flexible, easily configurable mission equipment, the Little Bird packs enormous versatility into a small, combat-proven package to get the job done. 
 

 

We are proud to partner with the U.S. Army to provide Thailand with these critical defense capabilities, and we look forward to supporting training for the first Thai Little Bird pilots in the near future.”

 

Upon completion of the delivery of the helicopters, Boeing will conduct training for Royal Thai Army pilots at its Mesa site and at the U.S. Army Yuma Proving Ground. This training will enable pilots to effectively operate the AH-6 and utilise its versatile mission capabilities.

 

Designed with a purpose-built military fuselage, an integrated cockpit, and the latest fully integrated weapon systems, the AH-6 helicopter is equipped to handle a variety of missions and adapt to diverse operational environments. This acquisition is part of a broader strategy by the Royal Thai Army to strengthen its aviation capabilities and respond to evolving security challenges.

 

Boeing was awarded the contract for the AH-6 helicopters through a Foreign Military Sales order from the U.S. Department of Defense in February 2022. The contract includes spares, training devices, support equipment, and technical documentation for the Thai customer, ensuring a comprehensive support system for the new aircraft.

 

Picture courtesy of Boeing.

 

-- 2024-10-06

 

 

[Yagoda]

Thats a fabulous platform and very versatile

[CharlesHolzhauer]

1 hour ago, Georgealbert said:

Boeing has successfully conducted the first flight of the AH-6 Little Bird light attack helicopter designated for the Royal Thai Army.

 

The AH-6 helicopters, part of an order for a total of eight units, are being produced as part of Thailand’s initiative to enhance its defense readiness and modernise its military fleet.

Ah, the classic 'attack to defend' strategy—because nothing says self-protection like going on the offensive, right?

[impulse]

Boeing could use a little bit of good news.

 

[Denim]

A lot more useful and practical  than a submarine. 

[Aussie999]

Who does Thailand intend fighting with, except to "control" it's own people.

Edited October 6 by Aussie999

[JoePai]

Thailand does not have a good history with helicopters, and as for Boeing.....

[MalcolmB]

17 minutes ago, Aussie999 said:

Who does Thailand intend fighting with, except to "control" it's own people.

Well they have been attacked a few times by arch enemy Burma, the Japs caused some issues, us Brits bombed them a bit, the French tried a land grab.
 

 

[mfd101]

13 minutes ago, MalcolmB said:

Well they have been attacked a few times by arch enemy Burma, the Japs caused some issues, us Brits bombed them a bit, the French tried a land grab.

The one country it'll never be is China. They don't need to.

[watchcat]

1 hour ago, Denim said:

A lot more useful and practical  than a submarine. 

 

Ideed, but what country are they afraid of?

[Denim]

Just now, watchcat said:

 

Ideed, but what country are they afraid of?

 At least these can be useful in a non combat role.  Look at the flooding situation in Chiang Mai right now. A small helicopter to bring in vital supplies and evacuate any injured would be a big help

[herfiehandbag]

32 minutes ago, MalcolmB said:

Well they have been attacked a few times by arch enemy Burma, the Japs caused some issues, us Brits bombed them a bit, the French tried a land grab.
 

 

Come now, don't be shy, the USAAF 10th Bombing Group payed regular visits to Bangkok in 1944 and 1945!

[herfiehandbag]

1 minute ago, Denim said:

 At least these can be useful in a non combat role.  Look at the flooding situation in Chiang Mai right now. A small helicopter to bring in vital supplies and evacuate any injured would be a big help

They don't seem to be using their big ones for that - can't be getting the VIP seating dirty!

[john donson]

only 2 decades old and TH is getting it's first one

 

but to defend against whom exactly ?

 

more money in the drain

[watchcat]

2 minutes ago, Denim said:

 At least these can be useful in a non combat role.  Look at the flooding situation in Chiang Mai right now. A small helicopter to bring in vital supplies and evacuate any injured would be a big help

 

Of course you're right, but the main purpose of this investment is for defending the country.

[impulse]

8 minutes ago, Denim said:

 At least these can be useful in a non combat role.  Look at the flooding situation in Chiang Mai right now. A small helicopter to bring in vital supplies and evacuate any injured would be a big help

 

There you go, making sense in a Thai bashing thread.

 

[ravip]

42 minutes ago, MalcolmB said:

Well they have been attacked a few times by arch enemy Burma, the Japs caused some issues, us Brits bombed them a bit, the French tried a land grab.
 

 

Be prepared. Be pro active!

555

[Tropicalevo]

2 hours ago, Yagoda said:

Thats a fabulous platform and very versatile

 

Perfect for shooting up students and demonstrators?

Now, where is Thaksin???

The army's ability to spend money is second to none.

[Yagoda]

6 minutes ago, Tropicalevo said:

 

Perfect for shooting up students and demonstrators?

Now, where is Thaksin???

The army's ability to spend money is second to none.

Perfect for defending ones borders from incursions. Cant have enough quality equipment.

[Tropicalevo]

57 minutes ago, watchcat said:

 

Of course you're right, but the main purpose of this investment is for defending the country.

 

They are going to need a lot of these little things if they want to defend their borders.

 

Quote

The air travel (bird fly) shortest distance from Myanmar Burma to Cambodia is 1413.55 km

 

The little bird range range is about 450 kilometers.

As for Malaysia.......

[billd766]

5 hours ago, MalcolmB said:

Well they have been attacked a few times by arch enemy Burma, the Japs caused some issues, us Brits bombed them a bit, the French tried a land grab.
 

 

And how many decades ago was that?

 

The problem with only buying 8 helicopters is 2 fold.

 

1.   During normal training, the most helicopters available on a daily basis will be 5 or if they are very lucky, 6. 

 

2.   In a real shooting war, 6 will be available for a first strike, for the second strike, they may be lucky to raise 4, for a 3rd strike they may get 1 or 2, there will probably be no 4th strike as they will all have been destroyed in action.

 

It would be best if the airmen were trained in ground defence as there will most likely be no helicopters left.

[watchcat]

3 hours ago, Tropicalevo said:

The little bird range range is about 450 kilometers.

As for Malaysia.

 

As for Malaysia, the vonuntears that will take over the defense 2027, can use the train from Hat Yai.

[John Drake]

2 hours ago, billd766 said:

And how many decades ago was that?

 

The problem with only buying 8 helicopters is 2 fold.

 

1.   During normal training, the most helicopters available on a daily basis will be 5 or if they are very lucky, 6. 

 

2.   In a real shooting war, 6 will be available for a first strike, for the second strike, they may be lucky to raise 4, for a 3rd strike they may get 1 or 2, there will probably be no 4th strike as they will all have been destroyed in action.

 

It would be best if the airmen were trained in ground defence as there will most likely be no helicopters left.

 

These helicopters will never be used in a war. OTOH, they just might prove useful during natural disasters.

[herfiehandbag]

2 hours ago, billd766 said:

And how many decades ago was that?

 

The problem with only buying 8 helicopters is 2 fold.

 

1.   During normal training, the most helicopters available on a daily basis will be 5 or if they are very lucky, 6. 

 

2.   In a real shooting war, 6 will be available for a first strike, for the second strike, they may be lucky to raise 4, for a 3rd strike they may get 1 or 2, there will probably be no 4th strike as they will all have been destroyed in action.

 

It would be best if the airmen were trained in ground defence as there will most likely be no helicopters left.

Gracious me, anyone would think you know what you're talking about!

 

Anyway, the border with Myanmar is 2400 km long. These little helos have a range of 450km, and there are 8 of them, so coverage is going to be a little patchy!

 

Mind you, the "Praetorian Guard" based in and around Bangkok, which amounts to a reasonably well equipped armoured infantry brigade group, with modern armour and self propelled artillery, would find them quite useful.

 

The rest of the army is equipped with leftovers from the Vietnam war, and their mobility and deployability is constrained by the availability of tour buses to move the troops.

[Will B Good]

 

 

 

 

Should be more than adequate when it comes to dealing with the PP and their supporters..

[billd766]

25 minutes ago, John Drake said:

 

These helicopters will never be used in a war. OTOH, they just might prove useful during natural disasters.

They are too small to carry stretchers internally and would need to be retrofitted with external stretchers as the Bell 47/H13 as used in the M.A.S.H. TV series were. This puts an extra external load on the helicopter and would be better if 1 stretcher each side were used to balance the load out. It would probably be able to carry 1 pilot, plus preferably 1 medic and 2 pax. I am not sure if it would be able to carry an underslung load, or how heavy that load would be.

Edited October 6 by billd766

[John Drake]

3 minutes ago, billd766 said:

They are too small to carry stretchers internally and would need to be retrofitted with external external stretchers as the Bell 47 H47 as used in the M.A.S.H. TV series were. This puts an extra external load on the helicopter and would be better if 1 stretcher each side were used to balance the load out. It would probably be able to carry 1 pilot, plus preferably 1 medic and 2 pax. I am not sure if it would be able to carry an underslung load, or how heavy that load would be.

 

Could be useful as spotters and emergency food, water, and medicine drops. I'll bet they would work great in a place like North Carolina right now. Not to mention a flood like Thailand had in 2011.

Edited October 6 by John Drake

[Will B Good]

3 minutes ago, John Drake said:

 

Could be useful as spotters and emergency food, water, and medicine drops. I'll bet they would work great in a place like North Carolina right now. Not to mention a flood like Thailand had in 2011.

 

 

That being the case, why not just use drones....... save a fortune and avoid human casualties?

 

 

[John Drake]

3 minutes ago, Will B Good said:

 

 

That being the case, why not just use drones....... save a fortune and avoid human casualties?

 

 

 

Maybe they should. But human participation may spot things a drone would miss. Actually, Thailand could well go out to the RTAF Museum and bring back into service the O1 Bird Dogs they've got sitting out there. Wonderful observation aircraft, durable, reliable. I think Ravens used them as FACs during the war in Laos. There are successor aircraft of course. But the helicopters at least make sense for peacetime emergency services. The US helped several months ago, if I remember correctly, by donating inflatable military river boats. Both beat submarines and new jets.

[NoDisplayName]

Boeing Successfully Completes First Flight of Thailand’s First AH-6 Little Bird Helicopter

 

First flight?

 

The Unmanned Little Bird demonstrator, which Boeing built from a civilian MD 530F, first flew on September 8, 2004, and made its first autonomous flight (with safety pilot) on October 16, 2004.

 

Hub of pulling stock off the shelf, sticking a "Made in Thailand" sticker on it and shouting "Lookit what we can do!"