Hummingbird
Role Light utility helicopter
National origin Philippines
Manufacturer Philippine Aerospace Development Corporation
First flight 8 May 1998[1]
Status Cancelled
Primary user Philippine Air Force
Number built 1 prototype
Developed from MBB/Eurocopter Bo 105C

The PADC Hummingbird was a light utility helicopter that was developed by the Philippine Aerospace Development Corporation to reduce dependence on second-hand aircraft for the Philippine Air Force.[2]

Design and development

During the 1980s, the Philippine Air Force (PAF) wanted to reduce dependence on foreign aircraft by starting indigenous programs. This resulted in the "Hummingbird". The project was not allowed to proceed by the government until July 1997, when then-President Fidel Ramos authorized spending.

After then-President Joseph Estrada was elected, an assessment was conducted on the Hummingbird. The review concluded that the project was likely to be unjustifiably lengthy and expensive.[3] Another factor was that the Hummingbird was an unlicensed copy of the MBB/Eurocopter Bo 105C and Eurocopter planned to raise lawsuits regarding the project.[4][3]

Variants

X-100A
One prototype converted from an MBB/Eurocopter Bo 105C.[5]

Surviving aircraft

See also

Related development

Aircraft of comparable role, configuration, and era

Related lists

References

  1. ↑ Ferreras, Ernesto Jr. (July 6, 2013). "Philippine Aircraft Research & Development: a brief outline". aeroengineer101.blogspot.com. Retrieved January 27, 2018.
  2. ↑ "Philippine Aerospace Industry". globalsecurity.org. April 3, 2012. Retrieved January 21, 2018.
  3. 1 2 https://web.archive.org/web/20171228172628/http://gulftoday.ae/portal/c7523d74-a4dd-4edf-b3fe-ab0ecdba2008.aspx
  4. ↑ https://www.ndcp.edu.ph/opportunities-and-challenges-facing-philippine-defense-industrial-development/
  5. 1 2 Filmer, Paul (December 2011). "Worldwide: Military Aviation in Manila". globalaviationresource.com. Retrieved January 21, 2018.
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