Editing Bell OH-58 Kiowa (section)

===Light Observation Helicopter (LOH)===
On 14 October 1960, the [[United States Navy]] approached 25 helicopter manufacturers to request on behalf of the Army the submission of proposals for a [[Light Observation Helicopter]] (LOH). [[Bell Helicopter]] was one of the manufacturers approached, and chose to enter the competition along with 12 other manufacturers, including [[Hiller Aircraft]] and [[Hughes Helicopters|Hughes Tool Co., Aircraft Division]].<ref>{{cite web |last= Remington |first= Steve |url= http://www.collectair.com/cessna.html |title= The Cessna CH-1 Helicopter |publisher= CollectAir.com |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20090621043635/http://www.collectair.com/cessna.html |archive-date= 21 June 2009}}</ref> Bell's design was internally referred to as the ''D-250'', and would be officially designated as the ''[[Bell YOH-4|YHO-4]]''.<ref name="LOH-1">{{cite web |last= Beechy |first= Robert |url= http://fire.prohosting.com/hud607/uncommon/reference/usa/army.html |title= U.S Army Aircraft Acquisition Programs |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20061118064815/http://fire.prohosting.com/hud607/uncommon/reference/usa/army.html |archive-date= 18 November 2006 |publisher= Uncommon Aircraft 2006 |date= 18 November 2005 |access-date= 19 September 2006}}</ref> On 19 May 1961, Bell and Hiller were announced as winners of the design competition.<ref>''See [[Light Observation Helicopter]]''. The Navy, who was assisting the Army in the selection phase, recommended the Hiller Model 1100, while the Army team preferred the Bell D-250, and then the 1100. The Selection Board selected both aircraft. Afterwards, the acting Army Chief of Staff directed the Selection Board to include the Hughes 369 in the fly-off competition.</ref><ref>{{cite web |last= Spangenberg |first= George A. |url= http://www.georgespangenberg.com/gasoralhistory.pdf |title= George A. Spangenberg Oral History |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20080910202517/http://www.georgespangenberg.com/gasoralhistory.pdf |archive-date= 10 September 2008 |publisher= georgespangenberg.com |editor= Judith Spangenberg-Currier |pages= 187–190 |url-status= usurped |access-date= 29 April 2008}}</ref>

[[File:Oh4a002.jpg|thumb|right|YOH-4A LOH in flight]]
Bell developed the D-250 design into the ''Model 206'', while the HO-4 designation was changed to ''YOH-4A'' in 1962, and produced five prototype aircraft for the Army's test and evaluation phase. On 8 December 1962, the first prototype performed its [[maiden flight]].<ref name="1000photos-1">{{cite web |last= Visschedijk |first= Johan |url= http://www.1000aircraftphotos.com/HistoryBriefs/Bell206.htm |title= Bell 206 JetRanger |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20060914180524/http://www.1000aircraftphotos.com/HistoryBriefs/Bell206.htm |archive-date= 14 September 2006 |publisher= 1000AircraftPhotos.com |date= 16 October 2003 |access-date= 19 September 2006}}</ref> The YOH-4A was also called the ''Ugly Duckling'' in comparison to other contending aircraft.<ref name="1000photos-1"/> After a fly off of the Bell, Hughes and Fairchild-Hiller prototypes, the [[Hughes OH-6 Cayuse]] was selected in May 1965.<ref>Spenser, Jay P. "Bell Helicopter". ''Whirlybirds, A History of the U.S. Helicopter Pioneers'', p. 263. University of Washington Press, 1998. {{ISBN|0-295-98058-3}}.</ref>

When the YOH-4A was rejected by the Army, Bell went about solving the problem of marketing the aircraft. In addition to the image problem, the helicopter lacked cargo space and only provided cramped quarters for the planned three passengers in the back. The solution was a fuselage redesigned to be more sleek and aesthetic, adding {{convert|16|ft3|m3|abbr=off|lk=off}} of cargo space in the process.<ref name="aastad">{{cite magazine |last= Aastad |first= Andy |url= http://rotormagazine.org/Portals/24/pdf/winter2006_7/32.pdf |title= The Introduction to the JetRanger |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20080910202517/http://rotormagazine.org/Portals/24/pdf/winter2006_7/32.pdf |archive-date= 10 September 2008 |magazine= Rotor Magazine |publisher= Helicopter Association International |date= Winter 2006–2007 |access-date= 29 April 2008}}</ref> The redesigned aircraft was designated as the ''Model 206A'', and Bell President Edwin J. Ducayet named it the ''JetRanger'' denoting an evolution from the popular [[Bell 47J Ranger|Model 47J ''Ranger'']].

In 1967, the Army reopened the LOH competition for bids because Hughes Tool Co. Aircraft Division could not meet the contractual production demands.<ref name="Holley_p8">Holley and Sloniker, p. 8.</ref><ref name= "flight cutaway2010">{{cite web |url= https://www.flightglobal.com/cutaway-ultimate-survivor-oh-58-enters-fifth-decade-stronger-than-ever/97391.article |title= CUTAWAY: Ultimate Survivor - OH-58 enters fifth decade stronger than ever |publisher= flightglobal.com |first= Stephen |last= Trimble |date= 13 December 2010}}</ref> Bell resubmitted for the program using the Bell 206A.<ref name="LOH-1"/> Fairchild-Hiller failed to resubmit their bid with the YOH-5A, which they had successfully marketed as the [[Fairchild Hiller FH-1100|FH-1100]].<ref name="Hirschberg">Hirschberg, Michael J. and David K. Daley. [http://www.vtol.org/History.htm#_Toc486998807 "Bell".] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20010605193600/http://www.vtol.org/History.htm |date=5 June 2001}} ''US and Russian Helicopter Development In the 20th Century''. [http://www.vtol.org/ American Helicopter Society]. 7 July 2000. Accessed on 20 April 2007.</ref> In the end, Bell underbid Hughes to win the contract and the Bell 206A was designated as the OH-58A. Following the U.S. Army's naming convention for helicopters, the OH-58A was named ''Kiowa'' in honor of the [[Kiowa|Native American tribe]].<ref name="Holley_p90">Holley and Sloniker, p. 90.</ref>