Hiller OH-23 Raven

Hiller OH-23 Raven
Paese	Usa
Ruolo	Elicottero leggero polivalente
Introduzione	1948
Stato	Pensionati

Le Hiller OH-23 Raven era un elicottero da osservazione leggero a tre posti basato sull'Hiller Model 360. Il Model 360 fu designato dalla compagnia come UH-12 ("UH" per United Helicopters), che volò per la prima volta nel 1948. L'addestratore OH-23 è stato scherzosamente soprannominato "Hiller Killer" dagli studenti piloti dell'aviazione dell'esercito americano che dovevano pilotarlo

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Hiller OH-23 Raven Walk Around
Fotografo	Cees Hendriks
Localizzazione	Inconsapevole
Foto	79

Hiller OH-23C Raven 01

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Hiller OH-23C Raven 05

Hiller OH-23C Raven 06

Hiller OH-23C Raven 07

Hiller OH-23C Raven 08

Hiller OH-23C Raven 09

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Hiller UH-12 Raven Walk Around
Fotografo	Unknow
Localizzazione	Museo Militaire Luchtvaart, Soesterberg
Foto	29

Hiller UH-12 Raven 01

Hiller UH-12 Raven 02

Hiller UH-12 Raven 03

Hiller UH-12 Raven 04

Hiller UH-12 Raven 05

Hiller UH-12 Raven 06

Hiller UH-12 Raven 07

Hiller UH-12 Raven 08

Hiller UH-12 Raven 09

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Hiller UH-12 Walk Around
Fotografo	Gunther Neumahr
Localizzazione	Inconsapevole
Foto	23

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The “Other” Bubble-Headed Hero

Le Hiller OH-23 Raven (originally designated the H-23) was the fierce competitor to the famous Bell 47. Designed by the teenage engineering prodigy Stanley Hiller, it became one of the U.S. Army’s most reliable light observation helicopters. While it shared the iconic “goldfish bowl” look of the era, the Raven was known for being a bit sturdier and easier to fly thanks to Hiller’s unique stabilization system. From the frozen valleys of Korea to the early jungles of Vietnam, the Raven served as the eyes of the Army, a flying ambulance for the wounded, and the primary classroom for thousands of student pilots.

Attribute	Technical Specification (OH-23D/G)
Ruolo	Light Observation / MedEvac / Trainer
Crew / Capacity	1 Pilot + 2 Passengers (G model)
First Flight	1948 (as Hiller 360)
Motopropulsore	1 × Lycoming VO-540-9A 6-cylinder (OH-23G)
Horsepower	305 hp (227 kW)
Velocità massima	95 mph (153 km/h)
Service Ceiling	13,200 feet (4,025 m)
Armamento	Occasionally twin 7.62mm M60C machine guns

The “Rotor-Matic” Innovation

Rotor-Matic Control: The Raven’s most distinctive feature was the pair of small “servo paddles” mounted at a 90-degree angle to the main rotor blades. The pilot’s controls moved these small paddles first, which then used aerodynamic force to tilt the main rotor. This made the Raven exceptionally stable and easy to handle for novice pilots.
The “Goldfish Bowl”: Starting with the “C” model, the Raven adopted a single-piece plexiglass bubble. This provided the pilot and observer with a panoramic view of the battlefield, though like the Alouette III, it turned the cockpit into an “oven” in tropical climates.
External MedEvac Litters: During the Korean War, the Raven was often fitted with two external pods or open stretchers mounted on the skids. This allowed the helicopter to carry wounded soldiers directly from the front lines to MASH units.
No Hydraulics: Unlike modern helicopters, the early Raven had no hydraulic boost for the flight controls. It was a “pure” mechanical connection, which made it simpler to maintain in the field but required more physical effort from the pilot during high-speed maneuvers.

Korean Scout to Vietnam Veteran

The My Lai Intervention: An OH-23 Raven, piloted by Hugh Thompson Jr., famously intervened during the My Lai massacre in 1968. Thompson landed his Raven between American soldiers and Vietnamese civilians, using the light helicopter to evacuate survivors.
Primary Trainer: For nearly two decades, the Raven was the “standard trainer” at the Army’s primary flight school at Fort Wolters, Texas. If you were an Army aviator in the 1950s or 60s, you likely “soloed” in a Hiller.
Global Export: The Raven was a massive export success, serving in over 20 countries. In Great Britain, it was known as the Hiller HT Mk 1, used by the Royal Navy for decades to train its carrier pilots.
The Transition to Turbine: The Raven’s military career ended in the late 1960s when the U.S. Army moved toward turbine-powered helicopters like the OH-6 Cayuse. However, many Ravens were sold to civilian operators and are still used today for crop dusting and flight training.