Hiller HTE-2
Hiller Aircraft Company · USA · first flew 1950 · helicopter
The HTE-2 was a US Navy training helicopter based on the Hiller UH-12 (Model 360), used to instruct naval aviators in rotary-wing flying. It incorporated Hiller's distinctive Rotormatic stabilising paddle system on the rotor head.
Recognition (WEFT)
| W — Wings | High-mounted, rotary |
|---|---|
| E — Engines | 1 × piston, fuselage-mounted |
| F — Fuselage | 8.7 m fuselage |
| T — Tail | No tailplane |
WEFT is AircraftIQ's four-point recognition method — how it works.
Spot it by:
- US Navy training helicopter
- Hiller 360 variant with open cockpit
- Rotor-tip stabiliser paddles (Hiller Rotormatic)
Small two-seat helicopter with a narrow open or lightly enclosed cockpit, the distinctive Rotormatic stabiliser paddles visible at the rotor head, and a simple tube tail boom — the paddle stabilisers are unique to Hiller designs.
Specifications
- The Hiller HTE-2 has a length of 8.7 m (29 ft).
- It has a wingspan of 10.8 m (35 ft).
- Its maximum speed is 154 km/h (96 mph).
- Typical crew: 2.
Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.
History
Hiller Aircraft developed the Model 360 in the late 1940s and it became a widely used training and utility helicopter. The Navy adopted it as the HTE-1 and HTE-2 for basic rotary-wing instruction; the Rotormatic system used small paddle blades on the rotor head to provide inherent stability, making the aircraft particularly suitable for training.
Variants
The HTE-1 was the initial Navy variant; the HTE-2 was an improved follow-on. The civil UH-12 was sold worldwide and remains in limited production in evolved forms.
Where you'll see it
Served with the US Navy at rotary-wing training bases in the United States during the 1950s; the UH-12 family was widely exported and used as a training helicopter by many nations.
Related aircraft
- Hiller YH-32 Hornet
- Hiller UH-12
- Hiller VZ-1 Pawnee
- Hiller X-18
- Bristol Type 171 Sycamore Mk 3
- Kaman HTK-1
- Sikorsky HRS-2
- Bristol Type 171 Sycamore Mk 2
AircraftIQ — the aircraft field guide: 5,024 recognition guides, live overhead identification, works offline.