MD Helicopters
Encyclopedia
MD Helicopters, Inc. is an aerospace company that produces helicopters primarily for commercial use. Coverage here includes the company's tenure as McDonnell Douglas Helicopter Systems, a subsidiary of McDonnell Douglas
.
The company began in 1947 as a unit of Hughes Aircraft
, then was part of the Hughes Tool Company
after 1955. It became the helicopter division of Hughes' Summa Corporation
in 1972, and was finally reformed as Hughes Helicopters, Inc.
in 1981. However, throughout its history, the company was informally known as Hughes Helicopters. The company was sold to McDonnell-Douglas in 1984.
Hughes Helicopters produced three major designs during its 37-year history. The Model 269/300 was Hughes' first successful helicopter design. Built in 1956, and entering production in 1957, it would eventually become part of the Army inventory as a primary trainer, designated TH-55 Osage. In 1983
, the company licensed Schweizer Aircraft
to produce the Model 300C, which Schweizer continues to produce to this day.
In May 1965
, the company won the contract for a new observation helicopter for the U.S. Army
, and produced the OH-6 Cayuse (Hughes Model 369). The OH-6 was later developed into the civilian Model 500
, variants of which remain in production to this day.
In 1975, the company won the contract for the AH-64 Apache
attack helicopter. By December 1981, six AH-64A prototypes had been built and the Army had awarded a production contract to the company. Production would reach more than 1,100 by 2005.
, Hughes Helicopters, Inc. was sold to McDonnell Douglas
by Summa Corporation
. McDonnell Douglas paid $470 million for the company and made it a subsidiary
with the name McDonnell Douglas Helicopter Systems in August 1984. In 1986
, McDonnell Douglas sold all the rights to the Model 300C to Schweizer Aircraft
.
On August 1, 1997
, McDonnell Douglas merged with Boeing, but Boeing's plans to sell the civilian helicopter lines to Bell Helicopter in 1998 were thwarted by the US Federal Trade Commission (FTC).
In 1999
, Boeing completed the sale of the civilian line of helicopters to MD Helicopter Holdings Inc., an indirect subsidiary of the Dutch company, RDM Holding Inc. The line included the MD 500 and variants as well as the family of derivative NOTAR
aircraft that originated with Hughes Helicopters Inc. Boeing maintained the AH-64 line of helicopters, and rights to the NOTAR system.
After suffering dismal commercial performance, the company was purchased in 2005
by Patriarch Partners, LLC, an investment fund. The company was recapitalized as an independent company, MD Helicopters, Inc. MD Helicopters is based in Mesa, Arizona. The Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of MD Helicopters is Lynn Tilton
, who is also the Chief Executive Officer and sole principal of Patriarch Partners, LLC.
(Under both McDonnell Douglas and MD Helicopters)
(Under McDonnell Douglas only)
McDonnell Douglas
McDonnell Douglas was a major American aerospace manufacturer and defense contractor, producing a number of famous commercial and military aircraft. It formed from a merger of McDonnell Aircraft and Douglas Aircraft in 1967. McDonnell Douglas was based at Lambert-St. Louis International Airport...
.
Background
Hughes Aircraft
Hughes Aircraft Company was a major American aerospace and defense contractor founded in 1932 by Howard Hughes in Culver City, California as a division of Hughes Tool Company...
, then was part of the Hughes Tool Company
Hughes Tool Company
Hughes Tool Company was established in 1908 as Sharp-Hughes Tool Company when Howard R. Hughes, Sr. patented a roller cutter bit that dramatically improved the rotary drilling process for oil drilling rigs. He partnered with longtime business associate Walter Benona Sharp to manufacture and market...
after 1955. It became the helicopter division of Hughes' Summa Corporation
Summa Corporation
Summa Corporation was the name adopted for the business interests of Howard Hughes after he sold the tool division of Hughes Tool Company in 1972. The tool division would merge with Baker International in 1987 to form Baker Hughes, the world's third-largest oil-services company...
in 1972, and was finally reformed as Hughes Helicopters, Inc.
Hughes Helicopters
Hughes Helicopters was a major manufacturer of military and civil 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...
in 1981. However, throughout its history, the company was informally known as Hughes Helicopters. The company was sold to McDonnell-Douglas in 1984.
Hughes Helicopters produced three major designs during its 37-year history. The Model 269/300 was Hughes' first successful helicopter design. Built in 1956, and entering production in 1957, it would eventually become part of the Army inventory as a primary trainer, designated TH-55 Osage. In 1983
1983 in aviation
This is a list of aviation-related events from 1983:-January:* January 1 – Eastern Air Lines' first revenue Boeing 757 flight.* January 5 – United Airlines begins the first scheduled nonstop service between the continental United States and Maui....
, the company licensed Schweizer Aircraft
Schweizer Aircraft
The Schweizer Aircraft Corporation is a manufacturer of sailplanes, agricultural aircraft and helicopters located in Horseheads, New York. It was incorporated in 1939 by three Schweizer brothers , who built their first glider in 1930...
to produce the Model 300C, which Schweizer continues to produce to this day.
In May 1965
1965 in aviation
This is a list of aviation-related events from 1965:-January:* January 2 - Denis Healey, the United Kingdoms Secretary of Defence, cancels the nation's fighter and military transport programmes and orders the purchase of the US-built F-4 Phantom and C-130 Hercules in their place.* January 26 -...
, the company won the contract for a new observation helicopter for the U.S. Army
United States Army
The United States Army is the main branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for land-based military operations. It is the largest and oldest established branch of the U.S. military, and is one of seven U.S. uniformed services...
, and produced the OH-6 Cayuse (Hughes Model 369). The OH-6 was later developed into the civilian Model 500
MD Helicopters MD 500
The MD Helicopters MD 500 series is an American family of light utility civilian and military helicopters. The MD 500 was developed from the Hughes 500, a civilian version of the US Army's OH-6A Cayuse/Loach...
, variants of which remain in production to this day.
In 1975, the company won the contract for the AH-64 Apache
AH-64 Apache
The Boeing AH-64 Apache is a four-blade, twin-engine attack helicopter with a tailwheel-type landing gear arrangement, and a tandem cockpit for a two-man crew. The Apache was developed as Model 77 by Hughes Helicopters for the United States Army's Advanced Attack Helicopter program to replace the...
attack helicopter. By December 1981, six AH-64A prototypes had been built and the Army had awarded a production contract to the company. Production would reach more than 1,100 by 2005.
History
In January 19841984 in aviation
This is a list of aviation-related events from 1984:-February:* February 21 - 14 hours and 2 minutes after taking off from New York, Air France pilot Patrick Fourticq and his companion, race driver Henry Pescarolo, land their Piper Malibu in Paris, setting a world record for a trans-Atlantic flight...
, Hughes Helicopters, Inc. was sold to McDonnell Douglas
McDonnell Douglas
McDonnell Douglas was a major American aerospace manufacturer and defense contractor, producing a number of famous commercial and military aircraft. It formed from a merger of McDonnell Aircraft and Douglas Aircraft in 1967. McDonnell Douglas was based at Lambert-St. Louis International Airport...
by Summa Corporation
Summa Corporation
Summa Corporation was the name adopted for the business interests of Howard Hughes after he sold the tool division of Hughes Tool Company in 1972. The tool division would merge with Baker International in 1987 to form Baker Hughes, the world's third-largest oil-services company...
. McDonnell Douglas paid $470 million for the company and made it a subsidiary
Subsidiary
A subsidiary company, subsidiary, or daughter company is a company that is completely or partly owned and wholly controlled by another company that owns more than half of the subsidiary's stock. The subsidiary can be a company, corporation, or limited liability company. In some cases it is a...
with the name McDonnell Douglas Helicopter Systems in August 1984. In 1986
1986 in aviation
This is a list of aviation-related events from 1986:-January:* January 9 - the UK Defence Secretary, Michael Heseltine, resigns amidst a political furore over the future of Westland Helicopters...
, McDonnell Douglas sold all the rights to the Model 300C to Schweizer Aircraft
Schweizer Aircraft
The Schweizer Aircraft Corporation is a manufacturer of sailplanes, agricultural aircraft and helicopters located in Horseheads, New York. It was incorporated in 1939 by three Schweizer brothers , who built their first glider in 1930...
.
On August 1, 1997
1997 in aviation
This is a list of aviation-related events from 1997:-Events:* British Airways adopts a new livery which consists of a revised logo and around 20 different ethnic tailfins featuring art and designs representing many countries around the world.-January:...
, McDonnell Douglas merged with Boeing, but Boeing's plans to sell the civilian helicopter lines to Bell Helicopter in 1998 were thwarted by the US Federal Trade Commission (FTC).
In 1999
1999 in aviation
This is a list of aviation-related events from 1999:-February:* February 16 – Gulfstream II carrying film director Barry Sonnenfeld , slid off runway at Van Nuys, California; Sonnenfeld was uninjured.*February 24 – A China Southwest Airlines Tupolev Tu-154 crashes in Ruian, China while descending...
, Boeing completed the sale of the civilian line of helicopters to MD Helicopter Holdings Inc., an indirect subsidiary of the Dutch company, RDM Holding Inc. The line included the MD 500 and variants as well as the family of derivative NOTAR
NOTAR
NOTAR is the name of a helicopter anti-torque system which replaces the use of a tail rotor. Developed by McDonnell Douglas Helicopter Systems , the name is an acronym derived from the phrase NO TAil Rotor...
aircraft that originated with Hughes Helicopters Inc. Boeing maintained the AH-64 line of helicopters, and rights to the NOTAR system.
After suffering dismal commercial performance, the company was purchased in 2005
2005 in aviation
This is a list of aviation-related events from 2005:-January:*January 18 - The world's largest passenger plane, the Airbus A380, gets unveiled in an elaborate ceremony in France....
by Patriarch Partners, LLC, an investment fund. The company was recapitalized as an independent company, MD Helicopters, Inc. MD Helicopters is based in Mesa, Arizona. The Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of MD Helicopters is Lynn Tilton
Lynn Tilton
Lynn Tilton is an American trader, investor and industrialist.Tilton is Chief Executive Officer and sole principal of Patriarch Partners, LLC and its affiliated entities, a private equity firm managing US$7 billion in assets...
, who is also the Chief Executive Officer and sole principal of Patriarch Partners, LLC.
Products
- MD 500MD Helicopters MD 500The MD Helicopters MD 500 series is an American family of light utility civilian and military helicopters. The MD 500 was developed from the Hughes 500, a civilian version of the US Army's OH-6A Cayuse/Loach...
- MD 520MD Helicopters MD 500The MD Helicopters MD 500 series is an American family of light utility civilian and military helicopters. The MD 500 was developed from the Hughes 500, a civilian version of the US Army's OH-6A Cayuse/Loach...
- MD 530MD Helicopters MD 500The MD Helicopters MD 500 series is an American family of light utility civilian and military helicopters. The MD 500 was developed from the Hughes 500, a civilian version of the US Army's OH-6A Cayuse/Loach...
- MD 600MD Helicopters MD 600|-See also:-External links:*...
- MD ExplorerMD Helicopters MD Explorer|-See also:-References:* Jackson, Paul. Jane's All The World's Aircraft 2003–2004. Coulsdon, UK: Jane's Information Group, 2003. ISBN 0 7106 2537 5.-External links:* *...
(Under McDonnell Douglas only)
- AH-64 ApacheAH-64 ApacheThe Boeing AH-64 Apache is a four-blade, twin-engine attack helicopter with a tailwheel-type landing gear arrangement, and a tandem cockpit for a two-man crew. The Apache was developed as Model 77 by Hughes Helicopters for the United States Army's Advanced Attack Helicopter program to replace the...
- Retained by Boeing in 1998.