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Hughes Helicopters was a major manufacturer of military helicopters, now part of The Boeing Company.
The company began as a unit of Hughes Aircraft when in 1947 helicopter manufacturer Kellett sold their latest design, the H-17 Sky Crane, to Hughes for production. In 1955 this unit became the Toolco Aircraft Division.
In the May 1965 they won the contract for a new observation helicopter for the US Army, and produced the OH-6 Cayuse - which has remained in production, under various names, to this day.
In 1972 the US Army issued a request for proposals (RFP) for an Advanced Attack Helicopter (AAH). From an initial list of 5 manufacturers Hughes Aircraft's Toolco Aircraft Division (later Hughes Helicopters) and Bell were selected as finalists. Hughes' Model 97/YAH-64 was selected over Bell's. First flight of a development prototype occurred in 1977 but it was not until 1982 that a production contract was signed. In 1983 the first production helicopter was rolled out at Hughes Helicopter's facility at Mesa, Arizona.
In 1984 Hughes Helicopters was purchased by McDonnell Douglas for $500m and was soon renamed McDonnell Douglas Helicopters. In 1996 this became Boeing Helicopters with the merger of McDonnell Douglas and Boeing and is now a part of Boeing Integrated Defense Systems.
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