@ San Carlos, CA
July 2023
A Fairchild-Hiller FH-1100 shown in outdoor storage prior to being moved inside to join the Hiller Aviation Museum display collection. The FH-1100 was the first American, light, turbine-powered helicopter to be offered on the commercial market. First flown in 1963, this helicopter was produced as the company’s design submission for the United States Army’s Light Observation Helicopter (LOH) program. The LOH program was ultimately awarded to Hughes Aircraft’s OH-6 Cayuse in 1965. After the 1964 merger with Fairchild, the company decided to focus the FH-1100 on the commercial market, competing against the Bell JetRanger. Production ended in 1973 after 253 were delivered to operators around the world, making this the last helicopter designed by the Hiller company. There was an effort during the 1990’s to market an updated FH-100 as a light attack helicopter, the Rogerson Hiller RH-1100M Hornet.
