United Helicopters was formed in 1945 as a joint venture between American helicopter poineer Stanley Hiller and American industrialist Henry Kaiser.[1] The company made a very wide range of helicopters, including the world's first successful two-seat co-axial helicopter[2] and several single-seater "commuter" helicopters.
The company was also notable for making military helicopters, however, including the UH-12/H-23. While Bell Helicopter's notable UH-1 contains the United Helicopter prefix "UH", it actually competed directly against United's "Ten99" and UH in that case was its military designation and not the Bell's designation.[3]
The company became Hiller Aircraft in 1948. The Hiller Aviation Museum has several United Helicopter prototype helicopters available for display.
References
edit- ^ "Helis.com Hiller Background".
- ^ "US and Russian Helicopter Development in the 20th Century". Archived from the original on September 27, 2006.
- ^ Spenser, Jay P. (1998). Whirlybirds – A History of the U.S. Helicopter Pioneers. Seattle: University of Washington Press.
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