Hughes TH-55 Osage – Foto e Video

Le Hughes TH-55 Osage era un elicottero da addestramento leggero a pistoni prodotto per l'esercito degli Stati Uniti. Fu anche prodotto come la famiglia di elicotteri leggeri Model 269, alcuni dei quali furono commercializzati come Model 300. Il modello 300C è stato prodotto e ulteriormente sviluppato da Schweizer dopo il 1983.

fonte: Hughes TH-55 Osageon Wikipedia

Le Hughes TH-55 Osage was a piston-powered light training helicopter produced by Hughes Helicopters. The TH-55 was the primary Elicottero trainer for the United States Army from 1964 to 1988. It was also used by several other countries for basic helicopter training.
The TH-55 was a development of the Hughes Model 269, a civilian helicopter that first flew in 1956. The Army selected the Model 269 in 1959 as a replacement for the Hiller OH-23 Raven and ordered 792 units under the designation TH-55A Osage. The TH-55A had a metal semi-monocoque fuselage, a two-blade teetering main rotor, and a two-blade tail rotor. It was powered by a Lycoming O-360-A2D engine that produced 180 horsepower. The TH-55A had a two-seat cockpit with dual controls and instrumentation for flight training.
The TH-55A was used by the Army for primary and instrument flight training at Fort Rucker, Alabama, and Fort Wolters, Texas. It was also used for aerial observation and utility missions. The TH-55A proved to be reliable, easy to fly, and economical to operate. It earned the nickname “Mattel Messerschmitt” because of its small size and plastic-like appearance.
The TH-55A was replaced by the Schweizer TH-67 Creek in 1988, after more than 20 million flight hours and training over 40,000 pilots. The Army donated or sold many of the retired TH-55As to civilian operators, museums, and foreign countries. Some of the TH-55As are still flying today as private or commercial helicopters.