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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.
In 2009, Sikorsky Aircraft announced the
creation of Sikorsky Global Helicopters, a business unit made up of the
manufacturer’s commercial products, including the S-76, S-92 and H-92
platforms, as well as the Schweizer helicopter line. As part of the
rebranding of the commercial products, the S-300C, S-300CBi, S-333 and
S-434 helicopters will no longer retain the Schweizer name. |
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The 1992-built Schweizer 269C s/n S-1612 was test flown with the temporary registration N68G.
On 14 August 1992, the helicopter was registered in the Netherlands as PH-DIB with Heli-Holland Holding BV, Emmer-Compascuum.
On 13 October 1992, the PH-DIB was registered with Dibova BV, Beuningen. On 13 January 2000, Schweizer PH-DIB was registered with
Swanenberg Heli Services BV, Schaijk. Schweizer 269C PH-DIB was photographed at the Heli-Holland heliport near Emmen in the Netherlands. |
Luchtvaart déjà vu
