User:Born2flie/Fairchild Hiller FH-1100

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The Fairchild Hiller FH-1100 is a single-engine, single, two-bladed rotor, light helicopter which began as a design entry into 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 successful marketed as a civilian helicopter, the FH-1100. Fairchild Hiller produced the FH-1100 until 1973. (Something about Hiller Aviation here). (Something about the RH-1100 production here). In 2000, the Type Certificate was purchased by FH1100 Manufacturing. The company reconditioned aircraft and offered training but never received a production certificate for the FH-1100, which it called the FHoenix.

Light Observation Helicopter (LOH)
On 14 October 1960, the United States Navy issued Technical Specification 153, a request for proposals (RFP) for a four-seat, turbine-powered, light observation helicopter capable of fulfilling various roles: personnel transport, escort and attack missions, casualty evacuation and observation. 25 aircraft manufacturers were solicited for the program on behalf of the Army Chief of Transportation. By January 1961, 12 manufacturers, including Cessna, Hughes Tool Co. Aircraft Division, Hiller Aircraft and Bell Helicopters, had responded with 19 designs. 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 of 1961. The Army designated the Model 1100 design as the YHO-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 5 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, Bell's 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. Hiller protested the award, claiming that their bid had been leaked to Hughes, but the Army denied the protest and awarded Hughes a production contract for the OH-6A Cayuse.

Operational History
In 1967, when the Army reopened the LOH competition for bids because Hughes Tool Co. Aircraft Division couldn't meet the contractual production demands. Fairchild-Hiller failed to resubmit their bid with the YOH-5A, instead choosing to continue with commercial marketing of their civilian version, the FH-1100.

Former operators

 * Forca Aeronaval de Marinha do Brazil (1968-1976) - 6 aircraft as H-5
 * Okanagan Helicopters - 30 aircraft
 * Fuerza Aerea Salvadorena - 1 aircraft
 * $\phi$
 * General Services Administration
 * Nassau County Police Department
 * California Highway Patrol
 * Louisiana State Police
 * New Jersey State Police
 * Virginia State Police
 * Columbus, Georgia municipal police department
 * Baltimore City Police Department
 * Puerto Rico
 * Royal Thai Police - 16 aircraft
 * Nassau County Police Department
 * California Highway Patrol
 * Louisiana State Police
 * New Jersey State Police
 * Virginia State Police
 * Columbus, Georgia municipal police department
 * Baltimore City Police Department
 * Puerto Rico
 * Royal Thai Police - 16 aircraft
 * Royal Thai Police - 16 aircraft