Hughes Helicopters

Hughes Helicopters
Cpl. Johnson · Public domain · source
Name	Hughes Helicopters
Fate	Acquired by McDonnell Douglas in 1984
Foundation	1947 (as helicopter division of Hughes Aircraft)
Founder	Howard Hughes
Location	Culver City, California (later Mesa, Arizona)
Key people	Howard Hughes, Frank W. "Frank" Linden
Industry	Aerospace
Products	Helicopters

Hughes Helicopters. It began as the helicopter manufacturing division of the Hughes Aircraft company, founded by the reclusive industrialist Howard Hughes. The division gained independence in 1972 and became known for its innovative light helicopters, most famously the Hughes OH-6 Cayuse and the AH-64 Apache attack helicopter. Its legacy endures through the continued production and evolution of its designs under Boeing and MD Helicopters.

History

The origins trace to Howard Hughes's personal interest in vertical flight, leading to the acquisition of the Kellett Autogiro Company's design rights in the mid-1940s. The division was formally established in Culver City, California in 1947, with early work focused on the experimental Hughes XH-17 "Flying Crane". A significant early success was winning the United States Army's Light Observation Helicopter (LOH) competition in 1965 with the Hughes OH-6 Cayuse, a victory over rivals Bell Helicopter and Hiller Aircraft. This military contract established the company as a serious player in the aerospace industry. Throughout the Cold War, the company continued to develop both civilian and military models, eventually relocating its main production to a new facility in Mesa, Arizona in 1982.

Products

The company's product line was defined by lightweight, high-performance helicopters. Its most iconic product was the Hughes OH-6 Cayuse, known for its egg-shaped fuselage and exceptional performance, which saw extensive service during the Vietnam War. The civilian counterpart, the Hughes 500, became a worldwide success in roles including law enforcement, news media, and private aviation. The pinnacle of its engineering was the AH-64 Apache, a twin-turboshaft attack helicopter developed for the United States Army that featured advanced sensors and formidable anti-tank weaponry. Other models included the larger Hughes 300 utility helicopter and the experimental NOTAR (NO TAil Rotor) demonstrator aircraft.

Notable projects and developments

Beyond production models, the company pursued several groundbreaking projects. The massive Hughes XH-17 experimental helicopter, funded by the United States Air Force, set early records for payload but never entered production. The company pioneered the NOTAR anti-torque system, which replaced a conventional tail rotor with directed air circulation, a technology later adopted by MD Helicopters. Its most significant project was the Advanced Attack Helicopter (AAH) program, launched by the United States Department of Defense in the 1970s. The company's YAH-64 prototype defeated a design from Bell Helicopter (the YAH-63) in a rigorous fly-off competition, leading to the full-scale development of the AH-64 Apache.

Corporate history and legacy

The helicopter division was spun off from Hughes Aircraft in 1972, becoming Hughes Helicopters. Following the death of Howard Hughes in 1976, the Summa Corporation sold the company to executives in a 1981 management buyout. In 1984, the company was acquired by McDonnell Douglas, which continued production of the AH-64 Apache and the MD 500 series. After the merger of McDonnell Douglas and Boeing in 1997, the AH-64 Apache program became part of Boeing Defense, Space & Security. The commercial helicopter line was sold, forming the core of MD Helicopters, which continues to manufacture updated versions of the Hughes 500 in Mesa, Arizona.

In popular culture

Hughes helicopters, particularly the Hughes 500, have achieved iconic status in film and television. The sleek helicopter is famously associated with the television series *M*A*S*H*, where it was used as the medical evacuation aircraft. It also featured prominently in the opening sequence of the television drama *Magnum, P.I.*. In cinema, a modified Hughes 500 appears as the stealthy "Little Bird" helicopters used by the Delta Force in the action film *Black Hawk Down*. The distinctive sound of its Allison T63 engine is a recognizable audio cue in many productions, cementing its place in the public imagination.

Category:Aerospace companies of the United States Category:Defunct aircraft manufacturers of the United States Category:Companies based in Los Angeles County, California Category:Helicopter manufacturers