New Airport Tenant and Neighbor

[KenSandyEggo]

Saw this puppy flying in today and it landed to the east of my hangar area, so I went over to take a look. Another "Rat" appeared who knew something about it. It's a 1969 Hughes 269. It was sold by a Sheriff's Dept. in Florida. I don't know how the owner got it up here. This guy said he had it gone over at one of the heli facilities on the field and it was just about in perfect condition. It looked good in and out. There was still a Sherrif's decal on the gas tank, but I forgot the name and to take a photo of it. It had the name of the county on it. I'll get it another day.

[KenSandyEggo]

Whoa! This is weird. The rat told me that a guy in the hangars seen in the photo bought it and was going to keep it there, but look what the registration shows. For some reason it's registered "experimental." I didn't see the word on the ship. I'll have to go see Mark Dicero, the head of the museum at Ramona and see what's up with this ship. The Chula Vista address is Mark's home. Maybe he bought it as a personal craft, but why keep it here when they have a huge hangar-museum at Ramona? The museum's helis were all donated to the museum as far as I know.

N-number : N125BC
Aircraft Serial Number : 291095
Aircraft Manufacturer : HUGHES
Model : 269A
Engine Manufacturer : LYCOMING
Model : HIO-360 SER
Aircraft Year : 1969
Owner Name : CLASSIC ROTORS MUSEUM
Owner Address : RAMONA AIRPORT
: 1364 LA TEMPRA CT
CHULA VISTA, CA, 91911
Type of Owner : Corporation
Registration Date : 03-Jun-2004
Airworthiness Certificate Type : Experimental
Approved Operations : To show compliance with FAR

[Vance]

I thought that for something to be registered expermental some amature had to build 51% of it. When I looked into un-certifing an aircraft they talked about expermental exibition. It was my understanding that use was quite resticted. Please tell me how this works. Thank you, Vance

[Vance]

Thank you Jim. Why would someone do that if the primary purpose is recreational? I can't think what else someone would do with a ex military helicopter but have fun flying it around. Thank you, Vance

[animal]

Whoa! This is weird. The rat told me that a guy in the hangars seen in the photo bought it and was going to keep it there, but look what the registration shows. For some reason it's registered "experimental." I didn't see the word on the ship. I'll have to go see Mark Dicero, the head of the museum at Ramona and see what's up with this ship. The Chula Vista address is Mark's home. Maybe he bought it as a personal craft, but why keep it here when they have a huge hangar-museum at Ramona? The museum's helis were all donated to the museum as far as I know.

N-number : N125BC
Aircraft Serial Number : 291095
Aircraft Manufacturer : HUGHES
Model : 269A
Engine Manufacturer : LYCOMING
Model : HIO-360 SER
Aircraft Year : 1969
Owner Name : CLASSIC ROTORS MUSEUM
Owner Address : RAMONA AIRPORT
: 1364 LA TEMPRA CT
CHULA VISTA, CA, 91911
Type of Owner : Corporation
Registration Date : 03-Jun-2004
Airworthiness Certificate Type : Experimental
Approved Operations : To show compliance with FAR

thats a mil. trainer TH-55, that is what I use to fly,my business partner use to have one, if it just came from the sheriffs dept. it more then likely has not had the civilian ad's complied with or updates, what the deal is the government donated a bunch of ex mil. helicopters to countys to use in private use for the county,being that they are not being flown by civilians, they where not required to be updated and was most the time still flown as received from the military. most the time they where give 2 one flyable and one for parts.
that is probably why it's experimental ,you can still find them around,but cost a fortune to comply with all the ad's and updates to fly it for anything more then fun. blades alone where about $38,000 when my business partner had to have his replaced. but still a nice find, there is one on e-bay now for $25,000

prices like that make me like my Scorpion better everyday.

[Vance]

Nice pictures Jim, How would this helicopter be registered. Thank you, Vance