• Lightweight helicopter • Police operations • Military trainer
In 1948 the Hughes Aircraft Company began specialising in helicopters.
Its second design, the Model 269/300, served as the basis for one of the most successful families of light helicopters. Having evaluated five examples as potential observation aircraft in 1958, the US Army adopted this simply constructed two-seater as its standard primary holicoptcr trainer in the 1960s. Hughes went on to build nearly
3,0 for both civil and military users.
Hughes/Schweizer 300/TH-55 Osage
A Police service
More than 17 US city police departments have operated the Model 300 as a relatively economical survctUanco platform. Tho 300 has also proved its military potential in tho training role.
FACTS AND
► Schwolzor Aircraft bought tho ontiro Model 300 programme in 1986: its 500th 300C was delivered in 1994.
► In 1996 a Model 300C training holicoptor was pricod at $187,500.
>■ Iraq acquired 30 Model 300Cs tor cropdusting, but used thorn for pilot training.
FIGURES
► In 1996 12 nations operated military Model 269s. including Indonesia, North Korea, Pakistan, Paraguay and Honduras-
>- Kawasaki assembled 38 TH-55As as TH-55Js for tho JGSDF.
>• Schweizer builds a turbine development ol the Model 300 – tho Model 330.
Hughes/Schweizer 300/TH-55 Osage
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Below: For agricultural operations, the Hughes 300 otion carries a crop-spraying or dry powder dispersal kit. Stetcher kits, cargo racks and slings may also be fitted.
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Above: This Hughes 300. based at Lakewood. Los Angelos, is fitted with a searchlight, a siren and warning light. Police versions often carry armour.
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Range: 360 km |225 mi) at 124 knvh (77 m. p h) at 1220 m (4.000 tt.)
Weights: empty 474 Kg (t.043 lb ); maximum take-off 930 kg (2.046 lb). w. th external toad or 975 kg (2.145 lb)
Dimensions:
rotor diameter 8.18 m (26 ft 10 in.)
tuselago length 9 4 m (22 ft. 2 in,)
height 2.66 m (8 И. 9 in.)
roiof disc area 52.50 rtv (S6S sq ft.)
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aujutred MrxJel. vxw. including (aiiomlria ami Japan I laving acquired the programme from I lughes new oxvners. SUDonnell Douglas, in l‘7h() Vhxxet/er intnxluctsl a nexx ‘111-.TOOT, trainer xanant Tnrkex xvas an early customer.
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Тіні t Ingres 300 semes lal rotor cs oMte teetering type, witn /usl two Mock» trcxHy pivoted as one unit. Each ccmpnses a steer tux» spar will glass-Мне shxi A spring-mounted bumper projects the blades
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TH-55Ascan eoccmmuiatc tfrre©
CrVATtonbcrs БОР-by
eoe. typeuty two students and an nsUuCtor. wttrxn »ю Pie* oa;s Cuba On «ти* sOh ol the cacm there » a lorwoO-tiingso івтсглаї. іиосл ІЧЛсе versrx” ці (tic 300 сапу о wen a Mvctk^S, safety mom tout – rujht ujuts. trsi ao hi-.t, vhi uxnlou etodncal syemts
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The My. vtciAitod, three Wtxlod man rotor ol tended metal construction hus an шиппмп сото spec A man rotcr lb Остап kit в standard on tho Osayo.
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А ampu poo and boom
coufcjuntim on the 300 affords ‘ good harxlng charactensJcs Hie M
light nfcry tntooom ban horeontw and v««*jca( stnfcibang eurlactr.
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ISO lauti |lll m p fi I I-
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»7»mC0« 1И k*.tl |112 m. p * I
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The Hugh*» TOO ha* more power than tn* imaile» but iron recent RT? Also «town Oy potoe lore»», the Eretrom Па» tr* same powerplant as the Hughe* jlbort tureocrurgeO and the 300C hat л» motor dtratrd to U7 kW |tflO hp)
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Based at tho Army Aviation Center at Fori Rucker, this TH-55A is one of 792 originally ordeted by the US Army. Based on the 269C, the TH-55A is powered by а Н10-360-В1А engine. In 1996. 12 military users still operated tho type; the US has retired its hoot.
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Tta-. AVCO-Lycomaq flat-tow ptdon, engine я mounted rimcliy bohaxt too oiw. Л crasli meistorit mirtvxim tuo* term can c« oi<x**nent«j try an nut Jary tank of 71′ tinг. (19 gatcnei
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Piston-engined military training helicopters
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■ SAUNOERS-ROE SKEETER: Designed by Ciorva. the two-seat Gipsy Major-powered Skoeter served with both Britain and Germany.
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■ ROBINSON R22: Designed in the late 1970s. the R22 was bought by only one military customer, the Turkish army.
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■ ^U. MODEL 47: Bell s Model 47 Sioux ц**_|ІЄу’,n ‘945. was used by at least 30 a-r ■тип n r..j,.из in production until 1974
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■ HILLER UH-12: A contemporary of tho 300. more than 2.200 UH-12s woro built. Military operators included the Royal Navy.
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Kaman