Hughes500, are the Confederation Against Aviation actually that thick?
Of the total number of OH-6As lost in Viet Nam, 654 were lost due to hostile fire while 293 are listed as operational losses. Compare that with the ratio for the Huey, 1,211 versus 1,379, and, combined with the OH-6A's higher rate of availability, the Loach looks like a very safe aircraft indeed. Did the CAA not realise that the Hughes 500 and Hughes 500C is nothing more than a civilian OH-6A and they were happy to certify those two helicopters? The LOH contract also made it a requirement that the OH-6A be FAA-certified from the very start.
500 Fan.