Hughes

The Hughes Aircraft Company was a major American aerospace and defense contractor founded in 1932 by Howard Hughes in Glendale, California as a division of Hughes Tool Company. The company was known for producing, among other products, the Hughes H-4 Hercules "Spruce Goose" aircraft, the atmospheric entry probe carried by the Galileo spacecraft, and the AIM-4 Falcon guided missile.
Howard Hughes donated Hughes Aircraft to the newly formed Howard Hughes Medical Institute (HHMI) in 1953 allegedly as a way of avoiding taxes on its huge income. It was acquired by General Motors (GM) from HHMI in 1985. Hughes Aircraft was put under the umbrella of Hughes Electronics, until GM sold its assets to Raytheon in 1997.
Hughes Helicopters was a major manufacturer of military and civil helicopters, created in 1947 as a unit of Hughes Aircraft. It was part of the Hughes Tool Company after 1955. In 1972 it became the Hughes Helicopter Division, Summa Corporation, and was reformed as Hughes Helicopters, Inc. in 1981. However, throughout its history, the company was informally known as "Hughes Helicopters". It was sold to McDonnell Douglas in 1984 and made a subsidiary under the name McDonnell Douglas Helicopter Systems.

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Hughes 269 | Hughes 500

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Hughes 269

The Hughes TH-55 Osage was a piston-powered light training helicopter produced for the United States Army. From 1960 it was also produced as the Model 269 family of light utility helicopters, some of which were marketed as the Model 300. The Model 300C was produced and further developed by Schweizer after 1983.
The Hughes 269 was designed with a fully articulated, three-blade main rotor, and a two-blade tail rotor that would remain as distinctive characteristics of all its variants.

Hughes 269C, registration PH-RYF, built 1976, serial number 1050444
Vliegveld Hilversum (EHHV/QYI), Hilversum, Netherlands, 4 February 2017

Hughes 269C/300C, registration PH-RYF, built 1976, serial number 1050444
Vliegveld Hilversum (EHHV/QYI), Hilversum, Netherlands, 25 February 2017

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Hughes 269 | Hughes 500

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Hughes 500

The Hughes 500 was developed from a military observation helicopter (OH-6 Cayuse). The 369HS is an improved four-seat variant, certified in 1969. After acquisition in 1984 by McDonnell Douglas the 500 was marketed as MD-500.

Hughes 500 369HS, registration OO-DVB, built 1974, serial number 14-0558S
Ardennes (near Durbuy), Belgium, 20 August 1989

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Hughes 269 | Hughes 500

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