MH-9 Hummingbird

Hummingbird
Faction	NATO
Type	Light Helicopter
Seats	8 seats: 1× Pilot 1× Co-Pilot 6× Passengers
Item capacity	Max: 1000 kg 12× Weapons 48× Magazines 24× Backpacks
Top speed	~ 240 km/h
Service ceiling	~ 4,000 m
Fuel capacity	242 L
Primary armament	None
Secondary armament	None
Variants	AH-9 Pawnee, M900
Games

The MH-9 Hummingbird is a light observation and transport helicopter used by NATO forces.

Overview

• Roles:
  • Troop transport
  • Observation

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A light single-engine helicopter used in special operations by the US Army since the Vietnam War, it now exists in several variants fielded by both militaries and the civilian populace. The MH-9 Hummingbird is mostly used as a special forces troop transport with its two outboard benches. Field Manual

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Design

The Hummingbird is a five-bladed, single engine, rotary-wing light helicopter designed for both observation and light transport roles.

It has the best aerial maneuverability out of all the helicopters currently available in ArmA 3. And in contrast to its larger CSAT and AAF counterparts, its small size makes it ideal for quick insertions or extractions at almost any kind of landing zone, whether it be a small building rooftop, a forest clearing, or in a narrow urban street.

Although it is not designed to be a stealth helicopter, its small size makes it difficult to spot with the naked eye and on radar as well, particularly when flying low with plenty of ground clutter. Its rotors also operate very silently, further compounding the difficulty of hearing a Hummingbird fly in except from at close ranges.

All of this mobility comes at a cost of protection, however, as the Hummingbird (along with its attack and civilian variants) relies exclusively on its high speed and agility to avoid taking any damage at all. This is due to the airframe lacking any sort of armour plating or doors. Many components, such as the flight instruments or cockpit itself, are left completely exposed to enemy fire because of this setup.

Even the pilots themselves are only covered from the front by a thin plexiglass bubble canopy, which can easily be penetrated from a few rounds of small arms fire. It also lacks defensive avionics like an RWR, and is therefore helpless against any anti-aircraft weapon systems that manage to lock-on to it via radar.

In addition, the Hummingbird is completely defenceless due to carrying side benches instead of stub wings that would enable it to mount weapons or munitions. Though passengers riding on the side benches can still fire their weapons in self-defence, they too are vulnerable and can easily be shot out of the sky if the helicopter is left exposed to enemy fire for too long.

The Hummingbird has a seating capacity of eight personnel including the crew that consists of the pilot and co-pilot.

Slingloading

The Hummingbird is able to slingload and transport equipment, though it is limited to just:

• Quad bikes
• Supply boxes

This makes it a potentially useful airlift vehicle, although far less useful than the Ghost Hawk, Huron, and Blackfish.

Trivia

• The airframe is based on the real-life "MD-500" series of light helicopters. However, both the Hummingbird's roles and capabilities closely resemble that of the real-world "MH-6 Little Bird"; both of which are designed by MD Helicopters, Inc.

Gallery

Arma3-hummingbird.jpg

Promotional screenshot released during the pre-Alpha. The NATO infantryman in the foreground is armed with a Bulldog shotgun, and is seen dismounting from an MH-9 at the Altis International Airport.

External links

• Wikipedia: MD Helicopters MD 500
• Wikipedia: MD Helicopters MH-6 Little Bird

See also

Variants

• AH-9 Pawnee
• M900 (Unarmed civilian/Syndikat variant, ArmA 3: Helicopters/ArmA 3: Apex only)

Aircraft of comparable role and configuration

• PO-30 Orca (CSAT counterpart)
• WY-55 Hellcat (AAF counterpart)