A Real Kiowa Pilot shares his Thoughts and Impressions | OH-58D Kiowa Warrior DCS World

I spent over 10 years in the US Army as a OH-58D Kiowa Warrior pilot and I just want to share my views and opinions for the incoming OH-58D module from ‪@polychopofficial‬
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Hardware:
intel core i9-13900k, 64GM RAM, Zotac 4090 GPU
Joystick: VKB Gunfighter III with 20cm extension
Pedals: Virpil ACE
Throttle: Virpil Mongoose 3

[@Barundus]

I'll drop the first comment, pre-release. Thanks for your thoughts, Casmo. It's been a pleasure to help the talented Polychop guys bring this little gem to reality. It's been a labor of love, with more than a few bumps along the way. In the end, it's truly a genuine and sincere effort to represent the "The Little Engine That Could" in the most realistic and useable way in the DCS world. I think players will fall in love with the KW, same as you and I did. Scouts Out! Forward!

[@Happy-tp4jd]

When are the indepth barundus vids?

[@vz6235]

Looking forward to some of your videos too Barundus

[@1128lrc]

@@vz6235 Ditto

[@bazej1080]

Thx for your work!

[@Decepticon2-1]

I hear you say "we weren't famous". @CasmoTV, you guys were more famous than you think. From us ground guys, we have a special place in our hearts for you KW pilots. I remember the ease and relief I felt when you guys were overhead in Afghanistan. I was lucky enough to have 2 birds with us on most of our patrols. Myself, and my guys will always have a special place in our hearts for the Kiowa. We never met "the voice" overhead, but we were damn sure glad you were there. Saved our tails a few times in Afghanistan. (Khost province 09-10) I am so excited to experience this in DCS. Thank you and your people for just being amazing and watching our backs.

[@armyfreak9389]

TF Viper were my pilots in Khost OEF X out of FOB Salerno!

[@Decepticon2-1]

@@armyfreak9389 that’s where I was at 09-10. Doing route clearance. RCP-7

[@armyfreak9389]

@@Decepticon2-1 Small world, Rocket City wasn't so bad.

[@choasisgoated]

Damn, thats crazy you guys should meet sometime lol

[@jtf111]

BS. You'all were famous in Mosul in OIF1. The daily reminders to bad guys to stay away from the small convoys on the ground were huge. We all literally looked up to you. (plus you provided some entertainment when we had to do guard duty overlooking the city lol) January-February '04 was a hard couple months for the ( 3-17 or 2-17 I think?) in Mosul. We helped with recovery, patroling the Tigris. Point is, I think I'll be thinking of those guys every time I put myself into this sim. (fitting today is Memorial Day) We rarely saw Apaches in the air, but Kiowas were on constant overwatch. And it helped. As a know-nothing on the ground every day in that time/place, your service is truly appreciated.

[@CasmoTV]

Was in Mosul in 06. Wild place. Left on a stretcher lol.

[@andrewbergman9315]

@@CasmoTV you can't just say that and not tell us all a story about what happened 😉

[@jtf111]

@@CasmoTV I hope in the AVN circles you OH-58 guys have bragging rights about being closest to the enemy. I saw your story. Wild ride, man. Glad you made it back. I slept in a tent up at the Palace. The first 6mo, Mosul was actually fairly peaceful, rebuilding even. Then Ramadan happened and it all fell apart. I saw a video recently and was amazed to see how much of the city ISIS destroyed. Looks like Dresden.

[@CasmoTV]

@@jtf111 yeah I was back there in 2018. Was a very different landscape.

[@benedictus5657]

@@andrewbergman9315 You should check out his podcast!

[@InterstellarTaco]

Brother you all were legends. Back then we could always rely on the Kiowas to show up, they saved our asses multiple times, spotted IEDs, even speedballed us energy drinks on a few occasions. The Kiowa always has a special place in my heart along with those crazy air cav bastards. Shoutout to Stetson 51/52 whoever and wherever you are.

[@ChipDavis160]

My son and I fly together in the AH64, cant wait for this module. I am also training my 15 year old daughter to be my CP/G so she will get to enjoy it as well.

[@Halozocker104]

Parenting goals 🙏🏻

[@ChipDavis160]

@@Halozocker104 Absolutely, my son is 24 and I get to "hang out" with him when we fly and now my Daughter wants in so I have no complaints.

[@Jeremy61300]

Kids aren’t cheap that’s why you get them into your hobbies and then it’s a combine expense!

[@wildcard3233]

Great to see DCS getting passed on to another generation and spending time with family ! Win, Win 😁🤘❤️

[@bartbroekhuizen5617]

One day i hope mine will too :). Even secretly hoping one will be a pilot and fly me around when im enjoying my retirement.

[@ivaniuk123]

Polychop released the gazelle with broken physics and then they teased the oh 58 and 3 years later it was still to be released. These guys are an example of how you can go from a complete disappointment in the community to absolute heroes by not abandoning your product and actually working on them to make them good.

[@sahhull]

The gazelle is still janky.

[@chrismaverick9828]

@@sahhull But fun to fly and fight

[@gazgazgaz2]

Gazelle has been messed up every thing. Still broken physics and horrible sounds effects

[@Glostermeteorf3]

⁠@@gazgazgaz2the new gazelle flight model is pretty good I think, actually feels like it has some inertia now

[@potatopilot1699]

@@gazgazgaz2sither you havent flown a helicopter or dont know what one feels like bc the new FM is good

[@leehrvyoswld]

1:18 can confirm, anecdotally: in Afghanistanin 2012, our air cav attachment would shoot from above with a SAW from on of their Kiowa Warriors as a sort of makeshift CAS. Was awesome and something I'll never forget.

[@TheoreticalApex]

I’m going to echo what others have said here. You guys and the KW were very famous to those of us on the ground. I can tell you from personal experience that we were all always so shocked, and grateful at the positions you all put yourselves in to ensure we were covered. No other aircraft or pilots did that for us, the Apache’s were there but they always had way more altitude and stand off, where as sometimes it felt like I could reach up and high five the KW pilots as they flew over head. Eternally grateful for everything you all did for us while we were out there walking around. OEF 12 & 14, RC East/RC South.

[@Ogma21]

Well those statements significantly raised the hype for me ! Having followed the project for a while, it was a very bumpy ride; glad to see Polychop managed to pull it off ! Now I cannot wait to play with it !!!

[@Travis_125]

I haven’t played dcs for a while but will jump back for this one.

[@Andywils02]

I remember trying to explain to people what I flew. Almost everyone said, "Oh, the Little Bird from Balckhawk Down?" No, not a Little Bird.

[@CasmoTV]

“We’re the ones with the balls”

[@shd4618]

Very pleased that I kept the faith. Looks like we are going to rewarded soon. Cheers Polychop, Barundas and Casmo.

[@fear2218]

My first mission in Afghanistan as an 11B: sitting on a mountain side OP with NVGs watching Kiowas do work with rockets / 50s all night in the valley below. We also had Kiowas escort our convoys from the FOB / COPs on multiple occasions. It was always a great feeling seeing you guys fly over us while leaving the gate for a patrol. Great to hear you give the module your approval

[@ShawnHinck]

I’m so happy to not only see the KW come to DCS but it being so good. The 3 hours I spent in it on launch were some of the most fun I’ve had in DCS since I started. I loved seeing KWs overhead in Mosul in early 04, they helped us out with recon, especially during a few gun fights, and getting to get a feeling for what it was like being in the air flying it over towns in Syria definitely brought back long forgotten memories.

[@SGTJackMorgan]

I'm so glad to see this module make it to DCS World. The Kiowa may not be the Hollywood star that the Apache is, but I always thought of it as a great aircraft. I have a personal love for this thing but not because I flew it, but because I was one of those guys on the ground that was lucky enough to have Kiowas close by pretty often. The first time my vehicle took a hit it was a pair of Kiowas that found the triggerman lurking in a barn and made sure he could do no more harm. These guys traced a trigger wire from blast site all the way to the barn, AT NIGHT! That was the first of a few times they were on hand to help use deal with problems. Love the helo, and all those that flew them.

[@CasmoTV]

We lived for events like that. Glad it worked out. 💪🏼

[@TheMeanOldMan]

As a “concerned” customer (it will be a day one purchase for myself) I really appreciate the support you and all the other SMEs provided to make this module as real as it can get. Not only is the KW a very good looking helicopter but also the role as a scout is very appealing to me. Thank you again for creating DCS content and I hope to see more in the near future.

[@johnhermann7498]

"...been in development for a long time..." *Star Citizen*: "Am I a joke to you?!?"

[@Jakes_1-1]

That is some high praise from someone with your experience. Looks like 2 high quality aircraft releases in a row then (The F4 is is amazing)! Thanks for the great content and insight!

[@wildcard3233]

Many thanks to Casmo for a great review ! We are so lucky to have someone with your real life experience and knowledge to pass on to us ! Thankyou once again 😂🤘👍

[@Elysian_Angel_]

Happy to hear this module has your seal of approval, Mr. Casmo! 🥳

[@CasmoTV]

It’s been pretty solid.

[@TFB-chris]

For years I was preventing me and my surrounding with getting into DCS, I even ditched the F-14 of which I am a huge fan since my child hood. But boy, after all these years of development and watching videos (some of them more than 30 times) of you, Casmo, and all the other knowledgable guys helping that thing come to life, I cannot hold it anymore. I will buy a PC and hotas stuff just to fly that little bird.

[@bsc_frizzinald4569]

I've never played DCS...but I worked on these Kiowas from 04-10, and in both OIF (05-06) and OEF (08-09). I miss these birds dearly! I plan on downloading DCS only to get the Kiowa, looking forward to flying these bad boys instead of knuckle busting on them.

[@RyGuy13]

My favorite thing about Casmo is his humility and candor. That's something I only saw a little bit of from some of the military aviators I knew from my time in. I'm so glad this module is finally here. I've been in love with the KW ever since I got to work with a pair in JRTC.

[@WanderfalkeAT]

Loving this Chopper to death. A perfect addition to the Apache. Now I can't wait for a decent Blackhawk and the Chinook! I remember the time when I played Gunship 2000 on the Amiga and was fascinated with it. This is the logical next step. The tactical ARMY Aviation Immersion I was hoping for. And together with Massun92 and Currenthill MOD's the immersion is simply breathtaking. Polychop did not dissapoint with this! From the 3D to the Flight Model, this is a absolute joy to fly.

[@Astax]

Thank you for those insights. Really enjoyed hearing all the information about the Kiowa and your feedback to the module. I'm looking forward to jumping into that module and probably building a few missions for it

[@MrScar88]

Awesome video Casmo, thank you. Especially the thing about "organic feeling" I absolutely love it. Big thanks to Polychop for taking their time to flesh it out. As a virtual rotorhead, after hearing what you had to say, im very optimistic now. Thank you again. And the drone command thing... awesome.

[@josefwitt9772]

Great video! Kudos to Polychop for persevering on this and the Gazelle - it's gotta be really tough to get helicopters right. Fully expecting some tweaks over the coming months, I'll be in it from day one. Rotary flying in DCS is the pinnacle of flight simming as far as I'm concerned.

[@davidpodbury8415]

Looks like a awesome module. Thanks for the video!

[@justsomeguyinnc473]

Thanks for the video and info Casmo. Love seeing the collabs w/Mover & Gonky. Quite the endorsement.

[@ryanw1433]

Awesome photos at the end - thanks for sharing!

[@colinterry7261]

I’m really stoked to see it, and really happy to hear it has your endorsement!

[@nicolasandre9886]

Thanks, I always enjoy listening to actual pilots' and former pilots' takes on DCS modules.

[@MeatVision]

I've always loved the Kiowa, amazing bird 😊

[@andrewgrant7517]

Really looking forward to this one! Well done mate, looking forward to absorbing your knowledge of this bird

[@Hawc51]

True or false, the Kiowa is the Mazda Miata of the army aviation world? You flew it for the chicks, but all it ever got you is attention from dudes?

[@DaBabaBene]

But hey. Its a GOD DAMN SEXY BIRD

[@Murdock47]

PMSL!!!!

[@TurboHappyCar]

As a Miata driver I was also considering the KW. Nobody warned me about this. 😂

[@arkady86]

Miata owner here, I'd say around 60-70% true, both the analogy and the reason itself!

[@Zarma4074]

Thanks for your thoughs. I read "Scout Out" and was amazed how much work the KW did !

[@CajunFoots]

Thanks for the review Casmo. I'm excited to get into it.

[@SkullCollectorD5]

I was one of the people who knew nothing about the Kiowa Warrior. Despite being fairly heavily invested in milsim, it just never popped up. What's got me excited about it is the possibility that DCS is finally fleshing out the unsung heroes side of a battle. The kit and people that don't get movies made about them. Which is a shame, because the KW is one photogenic machine! Keen to find out what it's like in depth.

[@simpo5958]

Thank you for your feedback and for your valuable contribution to the development of this module. definitely a day one purchase for me.

[@mustezdcs6329]

Appreciate for the knowledge Casmo shared

[@flyguy1237]

Just from the intro, I could tell you were stoked. I'm happy to see this module finally make it and I hope to see you and the others have lots of fun with it.

[@panthera1536]

Looking forward to see the tutorials. Thanks for the info and thanks to you its going to be a very long 2 weeks now :D

[@JimmFozzy]

Kiowa is the shit. On convoys I use to love seeing Kiowas, Apaches, and warthogs stacked in the battlespce. Cosmo, you’re the shit my dude!

[@wilbuzllf5057]

It looks really sweet! Thanks for the quick look. Got my comnputer packed due to moving but now I really just want to unpack it and get testing the Kiowa, been waiting so long! Also, I realize the most fun that can be had in DCS is in the modules that are a little bit of underdogs.

[@belgeode]

Hearing your thoughts on this is huge for me. I was onboard and to be fair I am still waiting for this one with bated breath... but hearing your endorsement on it puts at ease any potential buyer's remorse I might have. Thank you for that!!!

[@CasmoTV]

Hope it meets expectations. I try not to be bias about it but having seen how far it’s come, it’s hard not to be impressed.

[@TheCorbu1]

Great video!!!! Looking forward to KW!

[@Sevyns762]

Appreciate ya Casmo - thanks for the info.

[@Michael_3043]

I can't wait. I remember cruising around the streets of Mosul in 2007 completely lost watching the kiowas fly around.

[@slow9573]

Hey casmo. I haven't been around in a year or so and it'll probably still be a few months before I come back but the Kiowa (and the phantom) are what will bring me back. Thanks for your impressions on it.

[@CWLemoine]

Not famous? Billie Lee Guthrie would beg to differ!

[@benshakespeare268]

Excellent episode Casmo 👍

[@llama1910]

Absolutely looking forward to flying the Kiowa Warrior :) Great video!

[@Cormac433]

Really loving all the videos lately, cant wait to get my hands on it :D

[@Mirage-7519]

Awesome!!! Finally!!!! I was quite skeptical to the Kiowa vs having a Gazelle (Hind,Mi-8, KA-50 also ) but remotely control a drone just got me sold on it!! Thanks!!!

[@bobcoughlan929]

Been delving into the AH-64 lately, and your videos have been really informative. However, this particular module has me really excited.

[@asphelite]

I really really enjoyed the addition of some of your images there in the end of the video. I would bet that this module means a lot to you as a real Kiowa Pilot ^^ Thanks and see you soon :tm:

[@cftex4771]

Super excited to get back into DCS for this!

[@therocinante3443]

Been looking forward to this bad boy for years. I can't wait! Also that song is fire!

[@MrSpinkser]

I‘m so thrilled for this!

[@NoXiDLP]

Thank you for sharing this. I cant wait to fly the Kiowa

[@herisson15]

Happy for Polychop that they finally managed to get the module over the line. Looking forward to flying this bird myself...

[@Wolfe351]

it looks really impressive so far!

[@cutlass6332]

I am really looking forward to jumping in!

[@kmcnelley1981]

Can’t help but notice the spring in voice talking about this module. Keen to know what the Kiowa has to offer. My buddy is pretty keen to get this and head off some cool buddy lazing missions with myself in the Apache. Looking forward to it Cool as always Casmo.

[@GrimshawAviation]

Dude i worked on these! I loved the platform and i cannot wait to get my hands on this for DCS

[@brickmantooth2317]

Wow, if I wasn't excited before (I was) I certainly am now. I have to say these impressions coming from a no bs person like you, means a whole lot. I'm pumped! Thanks

[@CasmoTV]

Hope it meets expectations and you enjoy.

[@HabitualButtonPusher]

11:46 Only guy in the command that could inspect the MMS while both feet were still on the ground! WOW can’t believe you fit in that thing

[@RH03111BFOUR]

I had the pleasure of working with our Kiowas in the 101st on several occasions and always felt safe on the ground when they were on station. I also was fortunate enough while playing OPFOR to see what our enemies have seen so many times as the Kiowas was nosing in on me and a fellow soldier for a simulated guns and rockets attack. Let me tell you, if you haven't been witness to that its a humbling experience.

[@rudyvinck1447]

This is the module im waiting for for long time, im delight to put my hand on it soon.

[@SacredTridentHunter]

When I head about the Kiowa I was stoked. As many people have said it may not be the belle of the ball, but it does such an important job. It's on my list of aircraft I find really cool that most may not, like the OV-10. Great video and I can't wait to get my hands on it.

[@KnyghtErrant]

Looking forward to this. I flew 60's in the Navy but the Bell-206 airframe is near and dear to my heart since the TH-57 was the USN/USMC trainer. I actually have more time in jet rangers than seahawks from being able to go back and become an instructor in the '57. Obviously nowhere near the performance of a Kiowa, but it will be cool to sit in a more familiar aircraft in the DCS universe.

[@DevilDolphin734]

I always loved aviation, especially helos. All that being said, I saw the Kiowa in a movie back in the '90 as a kid and instantly loved it.

[@HeloHounds]

Definitely waiting for your tutorials on the Kiowa.

[@thorstenh1976]

It is always a pleasure to listen to you. There was a smile and a sad eye while listening since the AH64 ist really my favorite Modul. 😊

[@LJS020973]

The AH-64 is massively complex to fly well

[@dereklchung]

I'm pretty excited about this one. Also nice to have a module that's (almost) complete upon release rather than being in early access for many years.

[@Ares200A]

came for the Apache...... stayed for the Jets and other fun.... and now THIS! Great job on your chanel @CasmoTV and thank you for all the tips, tricks, insights and just fun to watch ops! all the best! K

[@hectiky]

Interesting to hear about the roles and sub roles of this bird. Can't wait to see what kinds of stuff mission/campaign makers come up with. As far a 'fame' goes, nice thing is that games can help with that just as much as anything else. There's more than one aircraft in DCS that I knew little about, yet wound up becoming some of my most flown modules.

[@andrewculley8524]

I'm all in on this. I love flying choppers in DCS, been flying Gazelle mainly but I get a little frustrated with the short range of the HOT missiles. Kiowa should scratch that itch I'm sure. Looking forward to your future videos on this module.

[@hummerz]

looks great, day 1 purchase for me thanks for your uploads

[@Gperalta]

I'm out in Greece and I absolutley LOVE this aircraft! It's one of my all-time favorite helicopters and aircraft of all time! They're just beautiful to look at and ill always stop and stare whenever i see them flying overhead 😅

[@flightsimulatoradventures7246]

It’s going to be amazing. Been looking forward to this. And stingers! Yes!!

[@geekmansegraves]

So I'll admit that I didn't know the Kiowa before finding your channel around the pre-release of the Apache, aside from some odd memories of it on the History Channel or Discovery. But finding out more about it and how it could fit into DCS has me really excited!

[@TheDickieP]

Great video as always. Thankyou for you passion and commitment to the community

[@Blackcloud_Garage]

Definitely accurate about the not famous thing. Whenever anyone asks me what I flew in the Army and I tell them the 58D they get the same confused look and ask what that is. When I tell them it’s the one with the ball on top they say “ooohhhh I think I’ve seen a picture of that one”.

[@ThePrybra07]

I was at Campbell for 6 years as an mp and I love the 58. On lunch i would often drove out to the airfield and watch them.

[@shagrat47]

I guess the majority of the older flight sim community had their hands on Longbow 2, the KW was one of the other helicopters they put into that game! We loved the challenge, the mast, the mission profile... DCS now brings back memories. 😂

[@dunbar555]

this will be a day one purchase. looking forward to it

[@Savage_Viking]

Looks great and awesome video.

[@Chef_PC]

I've been excited about this for years. I love the Kiowa as much or more than the Little Bird. 80s tech is my favorite kind of tech.

[@imellor711]

The Kiowa helicopter was never on my radar, as a module I'd pick up since the release of thecAH-64D Apache. However, the more I see of the more I like, and I may now pick it up on release. Thank you, Casmo. I always be a Gazzelle light helicopter fan. But after the CH-47 Chinook, we need an official Cobra and little bird in the game, finishing the suite of attack and reconnaissance helicopters off.

[@beewip]

El video que estaba esperando! The video that i was wating for! Gracias/Thanks

[@KrystianLewandowski]

Thank you for the comment - I was waiting for this video. Where can I make preorder? ;) The fact that Polychop put - after all these years - some serious work into Gazelle also helped me to decide KW is a module worth to have. Even if there are some bumps, hard work should be appreciated, and - as a helicopters fan - I can at least buy Polychop modules to show this appreciation.

[@CasmoTV]

No preorders

[@thollywood212]

I am so excited for this! Can’t wait to learn all I can about this aircraft and the scout mission. I know a few boots on the ground guys who fought in Iraq and Afghanistan, this helicopter holds a special place in their hearts.

[@greedsmack]

It would be pretty cool if Polychop added a special option where you can change between the current G level for airbag deployment and the real level. Super pumped to see this thing in the sky!

[@Thatsgonnaitchwhenitdries]

Former air defender here, got to see Kiowa shoot the stinger at Ft Stewart, was very cool to watch.

[@guilhermebechtinger]

Great intro, thanks!

[@jasonmeister6988]

This is great news, I loved the Kiowa... when I was a little kid and watched Airborne with NCage xD I might have to rebuild my simpit for this one... nice

[@krostouin]

Glad to see the Kiowa in DCS very soon. The succession of Longbow 2 is finally here !

[@AndrewH2791]

Really looking forward to the Kiowa, scouting ahead is the most bad ass job in my opinion.

[@JonBloor7]

It's been a long time coming but I can't wait to see this thing "out in the wild" on DCS. The FM is fantastic and the AI Pilot is seriously impressive. As Barundus so perfectly stated in the comments (that should be pinned btw!) - it's "The Little Engine That Could". A good metaphor for Polychop, too.