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. On 14 April 1975, Hughes 269B PH-HOP was the
first helicopter registered by Heli-Holland in the Dutch register. The
first 269C was the PH-JOH, registered with Heli-Holland BV on 29 May
1976.
On 31 October 1983, the 1980-built Hughes 269C c/n 110-0986 (ex
ex. N1108T; C-GDLW) was registered first as PH-HBH with Heli-Holland BV,
Emmer-Compascuum. On 2 November 1983, the registration was cancelled and
the Hughes 269C was registered SE-HNC in Sweden with Heli AB, Linköping
on 11 November 1983. On 18 February 1987, the SE-HNC was transferred to
Heliparts AB, Linköping. The registration SE-HNC was cancelled on 27
February 1990 and on 8 May 1990, the Hughes was registered PH-HBH with
Heli Holland Holding BV. On 16 October 1992, the registration PH-HBH was
cancelled as the Hughes was withdrawn from use. The helicopter was
rebuilt with parts of the Hughes 269C s/n 70-0024 ex LN-OBL and
re-entered the register with Heli Holland Holding BV as PH-HBH on 26
February 1996. Hughes 269C PH-HBH was photographed at the Heli-Holland
heliport near Emmen in the Netherlands.
Luchtvaart déjà vu
