D-HBOL Hughes 269C/300C c/n 104-0367 - Heli-Holland - Groningen Airport Eelde, Holland - 29 May 1976

The first of two prototypes of the two-seat Hughes Model 269 helicopter flew first in October 1956, only 13 months after commencement of design work. The basic design sparked US Army interest to order 5, designated YHO-2-HU, for evaluation. As a result Hughes won a US Army contract for a light helicopter primary trainer and 792 were built as the TH55A Osage. Deliveries of the commercial Model 269A, designated Hughes 200, started in 1961. The three-seat Model 269B, designated Hughes 300, flew first in 1964. In 1969 the 300 was followed by the improved Model 269C, designated Hughes 300C. Since 1983 Schweizer has built the 269C/300C, initially under licence for Hughes. Schweizer Aircraft Corp. acquired all rights to the helicopter in 1986. Already over 3400 helicopters of the 269/300/TH55 are built, of which 2800 by Hughes before production was transferred to Schweizer. In 2005 Schweizer Aircraft Corp. became a wholly owned Sikorsky Aircraft Corp. subsidiary.

Over the years a number of Hughes 269B, 269C and Schweizer 300 were operated by Heli-Holland. The 1974-built Hughes 269C PH-JOH was the second helicopter and the first 269C operated by Heli-Holland. However Heli-Holland BV registered it PH-JOH already on 20 May 1976, the Hughes wears the old registration D-HBOL when photographed on 29 May 1976. The registration PH-JOH was cancelled on 25 March 1983. The 269C was sold in Sweden and registered SE-HMR on 4 May 1983. After the Hughes 269C was sold in the UK the registraton SE-HMR was cancelled on 27 July 1988. The helicopter was registered G-BOXT on 4 July 1991. The G-BOXT was in 2008 still active with Jetscape Leisure Ltd.