Originally Posted by
Hedski
This one....?
I'm more curious about the side pod.
That's the one. The consensus is that the pods are combination fuel cells / planks for external riders. It also has provisions for fast-rope, the aforementioned FLIR some large, very non-standard antennas under the nose, radar warning receivers and a very early SATCOM antenna. Pretty unique for a "civilian" helo. Consensus seems to be that this aircraft belong to Project Seaspray (or one of it's other designations).
Anyway, if anyone has some pics of early cockpit mounted FLIR displays, I'd be most grateful. Supposedly the OH-6A (OVL) helos may have had a similar FLIR set-up so if anyone has pics of those instrument panel's, that would be useful as well.