Kawasaki OH-1
The Kawasaki OH-1 Ninja is a Japanese armed reconnaissance helicopter with a narrow tandem cockpit and a distinctive enclosed Fenestron tail rotor. It was developed to scout ahead of attack helicopters and direct anti-tank units, not to carry troops. Its compact size and quiet tail arrangement suit low-level reconnaissance, but production remained limited to Japan. The OH-1 is notable as one of the few purpose-built military helicopters developed independently in Japan.
Did you know?
The OH-1 Ninja's enclosed Fenestron tail rotor and narrow tandem cockpit mark it as a scout helicopter, built to guide attack units rather than carry troops.
Specifications
| Length | 12 m (39 ft) |
|---|---|
| Height | 3.8 m (12 ft) |
| Rotor diameter | 11.6 m (38 ft) |
| Persons on board | 2 |
| Crew | 2 |
| Maximum take-off weight | 4 t |
| Range | 300 NM (556 km) |
| Maximum speed | 150 kt (278 km/h) |
| Service ceiling | 15,000 ft (4,572 m) |
| Optimum ceiling | 6,000 ft (1,829 m) |
| Engines | 2x Mitsubishi TS1-M-10 |
| Units built | 38 |
Curated by CatchFlights from manufacturer documents, ICAO Doc 8643 and reference works; values are left out where no source could confirm them. Sources are listed on our credits page.
In CatchFlights
In CatchFlights the Kawasaki OH-1 starts as a Legendary catch. The tier is an editorial judgement of how special a sighting of this type is. The more often you catch it, the closer it moves to Common for you. The first catch of a legendary type pays a bonus of its own.
A catch counts for the manufacturer Kawasaki, the OH-1 family and the model in your collection, and the daily Type Rating quiz asks about the types of each family.
Catch it yourself.CatchFlights shows the aircraft flying near you on a radar, so a type like this one is only a catch away when it passes overhead. Explore CatchFlights.
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