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Schweizer 269D/330/333
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SP-SSI Schweizer 269D Model 333 c/n 0019 - Aircom - Heli Holland heliport Emmen in the Netherlands - 12 August 2009 helicopters in Emmen

The Schweizer 269D Model 333 is a four-seat light utility helicopter powered by a single derated 420hp Rolls-Royce 250-C20W turboshaft engine. The Model 333 is an evolution of the earlier Model 330SP design featuring modifications to the main rotor sytem. The basic of the Schweizer 269D Model 333 goes back to the Hughes 269 helicopter. 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. To join in the 1990 U.S.Army NTH competition for the TH-55 replacement, Schweizer Aircraft Co. developed the 269D out of the 269 basic design. The 269D uses the 269 airframe, has an enlarged cabin and is powered by an Allison 250 turboshaft engine. Schweizer markets the 269D as Model 330. An evolutionary development with upgraded dynamic systems components, new-technology rotor blades with cambered airfoil and larger diameter is the Model 333. The Schweizer 333 is featuring more gross weight, more useful load, more speed and more hover performance. On 28 September 2000, Schweizer achieved FAA-certification for the Model 333. 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 no longer retained the Schweizer name. Schweizer Model 333 helicopters manufactured after February 2009, would be known as Sikorsky S-333 helicopters. For a while, it appeared that the acquisition would revitalize the series. Instead, the S-333 more or less dropped off the map, particularly after Sikorsky moved the production of the S-333 from the original Schweizer manufacturing plant in Elmira, N.Y. to a S-333 production line at Sikorsky’s facilities in Coatesville, Pennsylvania, also home to the company’s S-92 and S-76 production lines. On 26 September 2011, Sikorsky Aircraft Corporation became the holder of the type certificate for the 269A; 269A-1; 269B; 269C; 269C-1 and 269D models. In 2014, Cherokee Nation Industries was provided the frame assembly for the S-333 cockpit, as well as manufacturing the aircraft’s full instrument panel. Once completed, the units were integrated into final assembly at Sikorsky. By the end of 2014, Sikorsky stopped taking orders for either the S300 or S333 and after the single-engine productionline was closed, final assembly was outsourced to Summit Aviation. The S-434 production line was officially closed after the Saudi Ministry of Defense bought and then returned several of the four-bladed turboshaft helicopters because they were wearing out before the end of their estimated service lives. On 6 November 2015, Lockheed Martin completed its $9 billion acquisition of Sikorsky Aircraft, replacing United Technologies as the American helicopter maker’s parent company. On 24 January 2018, Sikorsky announced that it had sold its light product line, including the S-300, to Schweizer RSG, a new company affiliated with Rotorcraft Services Group in Fort Worth, Texas, bringing an end to years of uncertainty as to the type’s future with the manufacturing giant. Next to this, the company had already established a partnership with Aviation Industry Corporation of China (AVIC), which will producing the S-300 under license with approval from the Civil Aviation Administration of China. On 25 January 2018, Schweizer RSG LLC became the holder of the type certificate for the 269A; 269A-1; 269B; 269C; 269C-1 and 269D models.

On 6 August 1997, the 1997-built Schweizer 269D Model 330 c/n 0019 was flown first. The aircraft was registered N61456 and delivered to Soloflex Inc., Hillsboro (OR), USA, in 1997. On 2 July 2001, the N61456 was registered with Schweizer Aircraft Corp. and upgraded to a Schweizer 269D Model 333. On 18 June 2002, registration N61456 was cancelled and on 9 September 2002, the aircraft was registered SE-JGS with Rhenström Aero AB at Eslöv in Sweden. On 8 September 2006, registration SE-JGS was cancelled and the helicopter was registered SP-SSI with Aircom in Poland on 15 September 2006.

Polish helicopter operator Aircom operates four Schweizer S-333 helicopters. Aircom provides helicopter services for power line patrol, gas pipeline patrol and flight training. In February 2009, Sikorsky Global Helicopters business unit sold the first fully certified, commercial S-434 to Aircom. The Sikorsky S-434 helicopter, which incorporates the design and performance technologies of the Fire Scout VTUAV (vertical takeoff and landing tactical unmanned aerial vehicle), was scheduled to be delivered in 2010 to Aircom, but finally the S-434 did not enter commercial production and the helicopter was not delivered to Aircom.

page last updated: 23-02-2018
Copyright © Jack Wolbrink, Emmen, the Netherlands
 

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