Hughes Helicopters Inc aircraft models

Hughes Helicopters aircraft in the FAA registry

Hughes Helicopters was a major manufacturer of military and civilian helicopters from the 1950s to the 1980s. The company began in 1947 as a unit of Hughes Aircraft and became part of the Hughes Tool Company after 1955. It was sold to McDonnell Douglas in 1984 and later became MD Helicopters.

Registered Fleet Overview

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) lists 241 rotorcraft under the manufacturer name "HUGHES HELICOPTERS INC". Data as of 2026-10-16 shows that 240 of these registrations are valid. Most of these aircraft were built between 1976 and 1988, with half constructed in 1980 or earlier. All 241 units are powered by turboshaft engines.

The fleet consists of three distinct models. The HUGHES 369D is the most common variant, with 207 aircraft in the registry. These were built between 1977 and 1982 and seat four passengers. The 369E has 29 registered units, built from 1981 to 1988. The 369FF model accounts for the remaining five aircraft. All three models have four seats.

Airworthiness classes for this group include 184 standard, 26 multiple, and 11 restricted. The FAA registry also lists aircraft under the simpler manufacturer name "HUGHES", totaling 386 aircraft.

Geographic Distribution and Certification

Florida and Delaware each hold 24 registrations, while Alaska has 20. These are the states with the most registered Hughes Helicopters aircraft.

The Type Certificate Data Sheets (TCDS) for the primary models are held by MD Helicopters LLC. TCDS H3WE covers the 369E and 369FF models. Each aircraft has a specific registration record by N-number, and each model page includes its specifications and TCDS details.

The FAA registry also lists this company's aircraft as HUGHES.

Figures from the FAA registry file as of Oct 16, 2026. Company background: Wikipedia, Hughes Helicopters.