The Schweizer S300 series (formerly Hughes 300, Schweizer 300, and Sikorsky S-300) family of light utility helicopters was originally produced by Hughes Helicopters, as a development of the Hughes 269. Later manufactured by Schweizer Aircraft, and currently produced by Schweizer RSG, the basic design has been in production for over 50 years. The single, three-bladed main rotor and piston-powered S300 is mostly used as a cost-effective platform for training and agriculture.
Manufacturer: Hughes Helicopters, Schweizer Aircraft Corporation, Sikorsky Aircraft, Schweizer RSG
First flight: 2 October 1956 (Hughes 269)
Introduction: 1964
Status: In production
Produced: 1964–1983 (Hughes)
Number built: 2800 (Hughes)
General characteristics
Crew: 1 pilot
Capacity: 2 passengers / 950 lb (431 kg) payload
Length: 30 ft 10 in (9.40 m)
Height: 8 ft 9 in (2.67 m)
Empty weight: 1,100 lb (499 kg)
Max takeoff weight: 2,050 lb (930 kg)
Powerplant: 1 × Textron Lycoming HIO-360-D1A 4-cylinder air-cooled horizontally opposed piston engine, 190 hp (140 kW)
Main rotor diameter: 26 ft 10 in (8.18 m)
Main rotor area: 565 sq ft (52.5 m2)
Blade section: – NACA 0015
Performance
Maximum speed: 95 kn (109 mph, 176 km/h)
Cruise speed: 86 kn (99 mph, 159 km/h)
Range: 195 nmi (224 mi, 361 km)
Rate of climb: 750 ft/min (3.8 m/s)
Hughes Helicopters was a major manufacturer of military and civilian helicopters from the 1950s to the 1980s.
The company began in 1947, as a unit of Hughes Aircraft, then was part of the Hughes Tool Company after 1955. It became the Hughes Helicopter Division, Summa Corporation in 1972, 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.
In 1997 McDonnell Douglas merged with Boeing with Boeing as the surviving company.
