Hiller OH-23 Raven

Published: Friday, 12 November 2010 12:13 | Print | | Hits: 12538

History

The Hiller UH-12 was a development of the Hiller Model 360 from 1948. It was equipped with a Franklin 6V4-178-B33 engine rated 175 hp. This type made the first transcontinental commercial helicopter flight.
With another engine and new rotor blades the UH-12 was bought by the US Army under the designation UH-12A . Its military designation was H-23 Raven. The US Navy also used the type with Naval designation HTE-1, mainly as a trainer.

Versies

The H-23B:: was equipped with a more powerful Franklin 6V4-200-C33 engine rated 200-210 hp. 216 examples of this type were used by the US Army as H-23B for training purposes and another 237 examples were used for general purposes.
The UH-12B:: This type could have skids or floats. The US Navy ordered a series under the designation HTE-2 equipped with wheels.
The UH-12C:: was released in 1955 and had the same engine, but full metal rotor blades and Bell 47 like canopy. 156 examples were delivered to the US Army under the designation H-23C.
The OH-12D:: was a fully military version was released in 1956, 483 of this type were used by the US Army. The engine was a more powerful Lycoming VO-540 rated 320 hp and also the transmission was modified and improved.
The UH-12E:: the best known version was equipped with a more powerful engine. The US Army used this type under the designation OH-23G to replace all Hillers OH-23D.
The UH-12E:: In 1960 a four seat version was released as Model E4, with an enlarged cabin and revised stabilizer. The US Army used 23 of this type under the designation OH-23F.

Technical information Hiller UH-23B
Dimensions:
Length with rotor	8,8 m	Height:	7,7 m
Rotor diameter	2,5 m	Tail Rotor diameter	- m²
Weights:
Empty weight:	457 kg	Full weight:	839 kg
Performances:
Max. speed:	153 km/hr	Cruising speed:	135 km/hr
Range:	330 km	Service ceiling:	4025 m
Miscellaneous:
Engine:	One Franklin 0-335-6 rated 250 hp
Crew:	Two men: one aviator plus one observer

The first Hillers H-23B entered service in June 1955 and were transferred to 298 squadron.
During May 1956 some were transferred to 299 squadron.
All Hillers were in fact property of the Netherlands Army and part of GPLV (Groep Lichte Vliegtuigen = Group Light Aircraft), but they were flown and under maintenance by the RNlAF.
Initially squadron codes were applied, but from 1959 these were replaced with the serials.
All Hillers were received under MDAP (Mutual Defence Assistance program) conditions.
May 1959 an extra aircraft was delivered, registered O-36. This was a H-23C.

Hiller OH-23 O-36, photographed in 1989 at the Militaire Luchtvaart Museum at Soesterberg.

Serial overview

Serial Serial	2^nd Serial 2^nd Serial	US Fisc. Year nr. US Fisc. Year nr.	Constr. nr. Constr. nr.	Date in service Date in service	Date out of service Date out of service	Notes notes
8A-201	O-1	54-2935	729	06-1955	04-1965	Became N 7299
8A-205	O-2	54-2936	730	06-1955	04-1965	Became D-HAMU
8A-203	O-3	54-2937	731	06-1955	12-1965	Became N42937
8A-206	O-4	54-2938	732	06-1955	06-1965	To Turkey
8A-204	O-5	54-2939	733	06-1955	06-1965	Became N8505
8A-200	O-6	54-2940	734	06-1955	01-1965	Out of service 1965
8A-202	O-7	54-2941	735	06-1955	06-1965	8A-202; became N8506
8A-207	O-8	54-2942	736	10-1955	06-1965	Became G-AYCI
8A-208	O-9	54-2943	737	10-1955	12-1965	Out of service 1966
8A-209	O-10	54-2944	738	09-1955	21-03-1958	Written off.
8A-210	O-11	54-2945	739	10-1955	04-1965	Became D-HFNA
8A-211	O-12	54-2946	740	09-1955	01-1965	To Turkey mid 1965
8A-212	O-13	54-2947	741	09-1955	01-1965	Remains to USAFE Disposal Yard SSB
8A-213	O-14	54-2948	742	10-1955	25-04-1956	Written off 06-1956 after accident near Stroe
8A-214	O-15	54-2949	743	12-1955	06-1965	Became N8507
O-16	54-862	675	11-1958	12-1965	Became N43677
O-17	54-863	676	11-1958	06-1965	Became N8504
O-18	54-864	677	11-1958	12-1965	To Army AviationSchool, Fort Rucker
O-19	54-865	678	11-1958	12-1965	Became N 9885
8A-218	O-20	54-866	679	01-1957	12-1965	To Army Aviation School, Fort Rucker
	O-21	54-867	681	11-1958	06-1965	Became N8503, D-HGAG
	O-22	54-868	682	12-1958	12-1965	Became N4724, N25PC
8A-220	O-23	54-869	683	03-1957	06-1965	Became OH-HHA
O-24	54-870	684	11-1958	12-1965	Became N4725
8A-221	O-25	54-871	685	05-1957	12-1965	To Army Aviation School, Fort Rucker
	O-26	54-872	687	11-1958	06-1965	Became G-AYCH
	O-27	54-873	688	11-1958	12-1965	To Army Aviation School, Fort Rucker
	O-28	54-874	689	10-1958	05-1965	Remains to USAFE Disposal Yard SSB??
	O-29	54-875	690	12-1958	12-1965	To Army Aviation School, Fort Rucker
	O-30	54-876	693	12-1958	12-1965	To Army Aviation School, Fort Rucker
8A-219	O-31	54-877	694	01-1957	12-1965	Became N4877A
8A-222	O-32	51-16411	664	03-1957	12-1965
8A-216	O-33	51-16412	665	04-1956	04-1965	Remains to USAFE Disposal Yard SSB
8A-217	O-34	51-16413	666	04-1956	06-1965	Became OH-HHB
8A-215	O-35	51-16414	669	01-1956	04-1965	Became G-AWKG
	O-36	57-6521	937		04-1965	OH-23C; Preserved and went to MLM

Scale 1/72

Special Hobby
- Kit 72017: A model of a Hiller UH-12C.

(Building and Conversion of the Special Hobby UH-12 in 1/72nd scale by Jan Brussaard:

A couple of years ago I bought the Hiller UH-12 model from Special Hobby. It proved to be a different type than the Hille used in Dutch military service. I started looking for photo's and other information and found this site Aircraft Walk-Around Hiller UH-12C Militaire Luchtvaart Museum.

This is a complete photo report of the Hiller UH-12C, which is preserved in de Dutch military Aviation museum at Soesterberg. This was the sole UH-12C used in Dutch service, all other 35 models were of the type UH-12B, so a new canopy had to be made from scratch. I produced a mould for this new canopy.
The floor, part nos 4, 14, 15, 16, 17, 25 and 27 were glued together as instructed. The seat on part 25 is a for two persons, the one used by the Dutch was one for three persons, two crew members and a passenger, so a new one was made.

Next step was to double the steering. The seat was split in two parts by sawing a gap in it. A second part no 23 was made, a stick an pedals were added to both sides of the instrument panel.
Both sticks, parts no.24 were not in the floor, both placed in the front of the seat, so two new parts 23 were made from pieces electrical wire. As grips part of the isolation material was used. I drilled a hole in the front of the seat and glued one part no 23 in it.

Next another piece of wire was used to realize a transmission just behind the back of the cabin, to connect both steering sticks, pats no 23. Check photos for this step of the conversion.
The Hiller in the Museum has instruments just in front of the console on the floor. The B model had these instruments placed besides the console, just like the model.
The floor was was modified to fit the new canopy. Note the floor ended to the front, the floor of the museum Hiller is open at the front.

next step was the engine. This didn't fit. Is used wire of different thickness to make a new holding frame. The resin parts added to the kit I thought un usable.
By checking photos I made several smaller parts for the engine. The hose for the cockpit heating was added.

Boom no. 6 and 7, was glued together and added . At the rear I removed the skew part. Part no No. 5 was useless and a new one was made from several pieces of wire. At the end of the tail gear boxes etc were added.

Note the tail rotor was positioned to the right side of the machine, not to the left! I added steering wires etc. to the model.
According to photographs a battery and other smaller parts were added.
The doors of the kit were modified to fit in the new canopy.

Photo's of the result can be seen at: Hiller UH-12B Jan Brussaard

A model of a Hiller OH-23C, built by Adri Kleijn.

Modeling add-on

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Decals

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Scale 1/48

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Modeling add-on

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Decals

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Schema		Colour name	RAL-numner	FS-nummer	Humbrol	XtraColor	Vallejo Model Color	Notes
delivery scheme first series	Overall	Olive Drab ANA613	-	34088	66	X-111	-	70.889

Delivery schem Second series	Overall	Dark green, Matt 19	-		116	X-110	70.893	71.016	Serials White

later the aircraft of the first series were after overhaul, sprayed in Dark Green. Some Hiller used by HVO (Helikopter VliegOpleiding = helicopter Training unit) had Day glo parts.(source: Camouflage en Kentekens…) According to some painters of air base Ypenburg some Hillers wore a camouflage pattern of dark green and khaki. (Source: Camouflage en Kentekens…)

For an extended conveersiontable with many colour and paint systems, check www.paint4models.com

Hiller UH-23B: delivery scheme, overall US Olive drab.

Hiller UH-23B: overall dark green.

Hiller UH-23C: overall US olive drab.

Literature.

Dutch Military Aviation 1945-1978	Paul A. Jackson	Pag. 88	1978	Uitgever: Midland Countries Publications, Leicester
Nederlandse Militaire Luchtvaart in Beeld. deel 2	Hugo Hooftman	Pag. 124 - 125	1978	Uitgever: Europese Bibliotheek, Zaltbommel
Squadrons van de Koninklijke Luchtmacht	Willem Helfferich	Pag. 63	1983	Uitgever: Unieboek b.v., Houten
KLu Vliegtuigen: De vliegtuigen van de Koninklijke Luchtmacht vanaf 1913	Wim Schoenmaker & Thijs Postma	Pag. 119	1987	Uitgeverij De Alk, Alkmaar
Van Luchtvaartafdeling tot Koninklijke Luchtmacht 75 jaar Militaire Luchtvaart in Nederland	Koos van de Berg	Pag. 42	1987	Uitgever: Rebo Produkties, Sassenheim
Camouflage en Kentekens	J. Greuter e.a.		1997	Uitgeverij Bonneville, Bergen (NH)

Websites.

Special thanks to mr J. Brussaard for the information and especially the nice photos and for the conversion and building report of the Special Hobby Hiller.

Nederlandse Modelbouw en Luchtvaartsite

Dutch Modelling and Aviation

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