Hiller OH-5A
| FH-1100 | |
|---|---|
 |
|
| File:Model FH-1100 on display at the Paris Air Show at Paris Le Bourget Airport in June 1967 | |
| Role | Helicopter |
| Manufacturer | Fairchild Hiller |
| First flight | 21 January 1963 |
| Introduction | 1966 |
| Status | Currently in use |
| Primary users |
Okanagan Helicopters Royal Thai Police |
| Produced | 1966-1973 |
| Number built | 253 |
The Fairchild Hiller FH-1100 is a single-engine, single two-bladed rotor, light helicopter which began as a design entry into the United States Army's Light Observation Helicopter program. The Hiller Model 1100 was not selected but after Hiller Aircraft was purchased by Fairchild Stratos in 1964, the Model 1100 was successfully marketed as a civilian helicopter, the FH-1100. The type certificate is now held by the FH1100 Manufacturing Corporation of Century, Florida.
In October 1960, the Army submitted a request for proposals (RFP) for the Light Observation Helicopter (LOH). Hiller Aircraft (Hiller), along with 12 other manufacturers, including Bell Helicopter (Bell) and Hughes Tool Co. Aircraft Division (Hughes), entered the competition, submitting their designs to a Navy team for evaluation. Hiller submitted the Model 1100, which was recommended by the Navy team and eventually selected as one of three winners of the design competition by the Army in May 1961. The Army designated the Model 1100 design as the YOH-5.
Detailed design work began in November 1961, and the Model 1100 prototype made its maiden flight on 21 January 1963. Hiller produced a total of five copies of the Model 1100 to submit to the Army for the Test and Evaluation phase at Camp Rucker, Alabama in 1963. After the test and evaluation, the Bell YOH-4 was eliminated, and Hiller and Hughes competed in a program cost analysis bid for the contract. In 1965, Hiller was underbid by Hughes and the Army selected Hughes' YOH-6. Although Hiller formally protested, Hughes was awarded a production contract for the OH-6 Cayuse.
In 1967, when the Army reopened the LOH competition for bids because Hughes Tool Co. Aircraft Division could not meet the contractual production demands. Fairchild-Hiller decided not to resubmit their bid with the YOH-5A, instead choosing to continue with commercial marketing of their civilian version, the FH-1100.
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