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.
The 1975-built Hughes 269C c/n 105-0444 (ex. N???; D-HKEP and OY-HCE)
was registered first PH-RYF in the Netherlands with Ryfas Heli Service
BV, Hilversum, on 13 May 1980. On 30 June 1980, the PH-RYF was crashed
near 's Gravendeel and the registration PH-RYF was cancelled on 28
August 1980. After being rebuilt by Heli-Holland the registration PH-HAH
was allotted for the Hughes. The authorities refused this registration.
On 28 November 1983, the aircraft re-entered the register as PH-RYF with
Heli-Holland BV. On 16 October 1989, the PH-RYF was registered with
Dibova VoF in Beuningen. After Dibova received its new Schweizer 300C
PH-DIB, the PH-RYF was returned to Heli-Holland and registered with Heli
Holland Holding BV, Emmer-Compascuum on 11 November 1992.
Luchtvaart déjà vu
