D-HSPU Schweizer 269C / 300C c/n S1188 - S.P. Luftbild GmbH - heliport Emmen in Holland - 16 July 2007

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.

Schweizer 269C s/n S-1188 was delivered first to the Swedish Army as a Hkp 5B serial 05233. The 05233 was one of 28 Schweizer 269C in service with the Swedish Army for training and artillery spotting during the period 1980-2002. The type code Hkp is diverted from Helikopter. After being withdrawn from use from military service, the Schweizer S269C '05233' was sold in Germany and registered as D-HSPU in 2002. The D‑HSPU "8" is operated since by S.P. Luftbild GmbH and was photographed at the Heli-Holland heliport near Emmen in the Netherlands, when used for aerial photography in Holland.