Hughes/Schweizer 269/300
Hughes Helicopters / Schweizer Aircraft · United States · first flew 1956 · helicopter
The Hughes 269/300 family is a light piston helicopter widely used for pilot training, police patrol, and agricultural work. Its simple, exposed-frame construction and docile handling made it a favourite for flight schools worldwide.
Recognition (WEFT)
| W — Wings | High-mounted, rotary |
|---|---|
| E — Engines | 1 × piston, fuselage-mounted |
| F — Fuselage | Exposed tubular steel tailboom and fuselage frame |
| T — Tail | Conventional |
WEFT is AircraftIQ's four-point recognition method — how it works.
Spot it by:
- Light two- or three-seat piston training helicopter
- Exposed tubular steel tailboom and fuselage frame
- Three-blade main rotor, piston engine in open rear fuselage
Immediately recognisable by its open tubular tail structure with no fuselage skin aft of the cabin pod, a three-blade main rotor, and a compact bubble-canopy cabin — an honest, unadorned helicopter design.
Specifications
- The Hughes/Schweizer 269/300 has a length of 6.8 m (22 ft).
- It has a wingspan of 7.71 m (25 ft).
- Its maximum speed is 153 km/h (95 mph).
- Typical crew: 1-2.
Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.
History
First flown as the Hughes 269 in October 1956, the design was refined into the 300 series and adopted by the US Army as the TH-55 Osage for primary helicopter flight training during the Vietnam War era. Hughes sold the type certificate to Schweizer Aircraft in 1983, who continued production as the 300C until 2010.
Variants
The 269A was the original; 269B added a third seat; the 300 (269C) used a more powerful engine; the 300C (Schweizer) is the definitive variant. The Army TH-55A Osage was the military training version.
Where you'll see it
Operated by the US Army as the TH-55A Osage for primary helicopter training and by dozens of civil operators, police agencies, and flying schools worldwide; some remain in service today.
Related aircraft
AircraftIQ — the aircraft field guide: 5,024 recognition guides, live overhead identification, works offline.