Hughes 280
The Hughes 269, later produced by Schweizer as the Schweizer 300, is a small, simple piston-engine helicopter that has trained generations of student pilots since the 1960s. Its low cost, simple mechanical systems, and forgiving handling made it one of the most widely used primary helicopter trainers in the world for decades. Unlike most modern light helicopters, it never moved to a turbine engine, keeping its piston powerplant for lower fuel and maintenance costs at flight schools. Many remain in active training use today, valued for exactly the same reasons that made it popular sixty years ago.
Did you know?
Unlike most light helicopters today, the Hughes 269 kept its piston engine throughout six decades as a primary flight trainer.
Specifications
| Length | 6.9 m (22 ft) |
|---|---|
| Height | 2.7 m (9 ft) |
| Rotor diameter | 8.2 m (27 ft) |
| Maximum passengers | 2 |
| Persons on board | 3 |
| Maximum take-off weight | 0.9 t |
| Range | 200 NM (370 km) |
| Maximum speed | 86 kt (159 km/h) |
| Service ceiling | 10,000 ft (3,048 m) |
| Optimum ceiling | 8,000 ft (2,438 m) |
| Rate of climb | 750 ft/min (3.8 m/s) |
| Engines | 1x Lycoming HIO-360-D1A |
| Units built | 2,800 |
Curated by CatchFlights from manufacturer documents, ICAO Doc 8643 and reference works; values are left out where no source could confirm them. Sources are listed on our credits page.
In CatchFlights
In CatchFlights the Hughes 280 starts as a Uncommon catch. The tier is an editorial judgement of how special a sighting of this type is. The more often you catch it, the closer it moves to Common for you.
A catch counts for the manufacturer Hughes, the 280 family and the model in your collection, and the daily Type Rating quiz asks about the types of each family.
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