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In 1961, Hughes was one of the twelve companies that submitted proposals to meet U.S. Army TS-153
requirement for a four-seat turbine-powered light observation helicopter. Model 369 was developed
and flew first on 27 February 1963. Five machines of this type were ordered as OH-6A for the
evaluation programme. The OH-6A Cayuse powered by an Allison T63-A-5A turboshaft was the winner of
the U.S. Army's contest in May 1965. Deliveries commenced in September 1966 to meet an initial
three-year commitment for 1071 machines. Next to the military OH-6A Hughes developed a larger,
five-passenger civilian version. Initially designated as the 369H and 369A during the development stage,
it emerged on the market as the Hughes 500. In 1968, the 500C with the more powerful Allison 250-C20
engine was introduced. In 1977, the 500D entered the market with a new five-bladed rotor system and the
Allison 250-C20B engine. In 1982, Hughes introduced both the 500E with the Allison 250-C20B and the 530F
with the more powerful Allison 250-C30 engine. On 6 January 1984, Hughes Helicopters became a subsidiary
of McDonnell Douglas, and subsequently re-designated the McDonnell Douglas Helicopter Company.
The Hughes 500 thus became the MD500. The ICAO Aircraft Type Designator for the Hughes 369 helicopters is H500. |
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In 1971, a dedicated Army aviation unit was established in Denmark for observation and liaison duties, flying the Piper L-4 and Hughes 500.
The Danish Army Flying Unit - Hærens Flyvetjeneste was based at Vandel AB and operated a total of seventeen Hughes 369HM Cayuse helicopters.
In 2003, Flyvestation Vandel closed and both helicopter units operated at that time by Hærens Flyvetjeneste moved to Karup AB, and were
combined into Esk 724 Panservaerns Helikopter Kompani that was operated further under RDanAF control. At that time sixteen Hughes 369HM
Cayuse helicopters were in service. In 2005, the Hughes 369HM Cayuse helicopters were withdrawn from use and stored at Flyvestation Karup
till sold via the public tender.
On 13 April 1971, Hughes 369HM Cayuse s/n 1090201M entered service with Hærens Flyvetjeneste as H-201. In 2003,
Cayuse H-201 was transferred to the Eskadrille 724 of the Royal Danish Air Force (Flyvevåbnet). In 2005, the Hughes 369HM Cayuse H-201 was
withdrawn from use and stored at Flyvestation Karup till sold. On 8 March 2007, the Hughes 369HM was registered N150AG in the USA with
Aircraft Guaranty Holdings & Trust LLC Trustee, Houston, Texas, with Airworthiness Date 10 March 2007. However registered in the USA,
the N150AG had his home at Faldingworth Airbase in Lincolnshire, UK. On 14 July 2009, the N150AG was registered with
Skydock Helicopter Holdings Inc. at Faldingworth. On 28 August 2012, Hughes 369HM N150AG was registered with International Air Services Inc
Trustee, Carson City, Nevada, and stayed as before based at the Skydock Faldingworth Airbase in the UK.
On 15 June 1978, Hughes 369HM
Cayuse H-201 was seen at Deelen AFB in the Netherlands during the "65 jaar Koninklijke Luchtmacht" anniversary days. |
Luchtvaart déjà vu
