Country of origin:

United States of America

Description:

General purpose utility helicopter

Power Plant:

One 320 kw (429 shp) Allison 250-C-20B turboshaft de-rated to 225 kw (301 shp)

Specifications:

History:

The Hiller UH-12 series of utility helicopters has been in service world-wide for many years, being produced by the original Hiller company and being known as the Model 360 family. Some were produced by Fairchild-Hiller, being supported by Hiller Aviation Inc which produced new or re-manufactured examples until late 1983.  The original UH-12 was designed in 1946 by Stanley Hiller and the US Army was one of many military forces to buy the type, it becoming known as the OH-23 Raven with that service.

Soloy Conversions Ltd of Chehalis, Washington, a company founded by Joseph Soloy, has been involved in the conversion of helicopters and light aircraft for many years, commencing work to obtain Supplemental Type Certificates for the Bell 47 Series and Hiller UH-12 Series in the mid-1970s.  The conversions were designed for performance and dependability, the aircraft having the ability to perform at peak capacity and providing maximum productivity.  The aim was to provide the helicopter operator with better performance, including the aerial applicator operating on spraying operations, or for the exploration geologist with high altitude performance, and increasing performance for those used in the logging industry.

Hiller Aviation and Soloy Conversions Ltd jointly developed a variant of its UH-12E known as the UH-12E4T with a Soloy developed turboshaft package and this proved quite popular.  The helicopter could be obtained by the owner supplying an aircraft to Soloy for conversion, purchase of a fully re-built unit, or by obtaining a kit to have the conversion carried out.  The first Soloy equipped conversion received certification in 1975 and a Supplemental Type Certificate was obtained.

Prior to rebuilding an airframe, Soloy stripped all components, wiring and paint. The basic airframe was disassembled as necessary to facilitate the rebuilding process.  Components were inspected and as indicated overhauled or replaced.  During re-assembly the aircraft and applicable components were painted with poly-urethane primer and paint.  New upholstery was fitted, as was new plexiglass, a new instrument console packing and wiring assemblies, as well as a fully warranted Allison 250-C20B engine and a Soloy reduction gearbox.  In the UH-12 series a landing light, extended undercarriage, dual cyclic and tail rotor controls, and a cargo hook bracket were installed.

Soloy has converted and rebuilt many aircraft, installing Allison turbines, and in recent years these have included the Bell 206 series and the Aerospatiale AS-350.  City and Country Helicopters Pty Ltd was formed in 1978 at Bankstown, NSW to import the Hiller 12 Series and at least 20 examples were imported.  A few turbine powered examples of the UH-12 Series have been seen in Australia, one of the first being a UH-12E demonstrator VH-FBY² (c/n 5107) registered on 6 December 1979 but which crashed near Coen, QLD on 15 April 1981.

Another was delivered to Pacific Helicopters of Goroka, PNG which used the machine for fertilising a coffee plantation at 1,981 m (6,500 ft) elevation above sea level.  An example in New Guinea, registered as a Rogerson UH-12E, has been registered P2-DWH (c/n 5199). A UH-12E conversion, VH-ECK (c/n 1081- ex ZK-HKY, C-GHTI, 58-5432), was exported to Canada in October 2017 where it became C-GDJS.