• Helicopter books
  • Books
  • Helicopter patches
  • Patches
  • Oil & Gas
  • Wind Energy
  • Urban air mobility
  • Air Ambulances
  • Model kits
  • Kits
  • Mobile APP
  • Hiller Helicopters



    Founded by Stanley Hiller during a time when the future of helicopter technology, in contrast to that of fixed-wings aircraft, was still uncertain. A time when the civilian helicopter market had scarcely emerged and military procurement programs where never guaranteed, forcing to ride a financial roller coaster. During remarkable 25 years, Hiller's designs introduced new significant technologies.

    July 4, 1944 : XH-44 Hiller-Copter
    With an unlike any other helicopter of the epoch, nineteen years old Stanley Hiller Jr enters in helicopter history

    The XH-44 used a coaxial configuration and was the first world's successful all-metal rigid-rotor blades helicopter

    The designation denoted Experimental Hiller and the year that was designed

    Between 1946 and 1951, Hiller joined Henry Kaiser and formed United Helicopters (UH)
    XH-44


    March, 1946 : J-5 A single-rotor model without a tail-rotor. It was soon abandoned due insufficient engine power

    July, 1946 : J-10 / UH-4 Commuter Return to the coaxial rotor system, 8 prototypes where used in experimental roles

    1947 : UH-5

    November 1947 : Hiller 360X
    Prototype of the successful Model 360

    October 14, 1948 : CAA ( predecessor of today's FAA ) issued production certificate 6-H-1 to the Hiller 360

    January, 1949 : The 360 is the first civilian helicopter to cross the United States

    UH-4


    May 8, 1950 : UH-12A
    The first 360 model for the US Army and Navy.
    By 1965, when production of all Model 360 derivates was finished, more than 2000 units were built
    The Navy designations were HTE-1 and HTE-2

    September, 1950 : Hiller YH-23
    The improved civilian version of the UH-12A, was also acquired by the militaries as OH-23 Raven
    UH-12


    September, 1953 : Hiller acquired production rights to the Doman LZ-5 (YH-31) An improved version (the LZ-5-2) was built and tested by the US Army but lost against the Bell XH-40 (later to be known UH-1 'Huey' )

    September, 1953 : HJ-1 Hornet
    A two-seat ultra light Tip-Powered helicopter. Was only powered by small ramjets at the tips of the two-bladed rotor.

    14 Units were built for evaluation for the US Navy as HOE-1 and for the US Army as YH-32 Hornet

    These units were the only tip-powered helicopters ever produced in USA


    1954 : H-23B The US Army 's version of the civilian UH-12B
    Hornet


    October 28, 1954 : The Hiller 8RJ2B ramjet is the first american-designed jet engine of any kind to be approved for production by the CAA

    February 27, 1955 : Hiller Flying Platform Designed upon Charles Zimmerman concepts, 7 units built

    1955 : YH-32A ULV An ultralight helicopter incorporated H-32 Hornet 's ramjet rotor and systems Was designed to be transported and operated by the infantry. 3 units built


    Hiller Flying Platform



    Continue with Continue to Part II






    share     facebook     twitter     linkedin