Nederlandse Helikopter Industrie
Encyclopedia
The Nederlandse Helikopter Industrie (NHI) was a Dutch
helicopter
manufacturer. It was founded in 1955 as a commercial successor of the Stichting voor de Ontwikkeling en Bouw van een Experimenteel Hefschroefvliegtuig (SOBEH - the Foundation for Development and Manufacturing of an Experimental Helicopter 0. From 1951 on, SOBEH developed and built two helicopters, the H-1 (1954) and H-2 (1955). After having met its goal of developing a helicopter, SOBEH ceased activities. Further development and serial production were granted to the newly formed NHI. This was a joint venture between aircraft manufacturer Aviolanda
and truck company Kromhout. NHI quickly came forward with an improved design, called the H-3 Kolibrie (Hummingbird). This helicopter made its first flight in May 1956. The Certificate of Airworthiness, based on U.S. requirements for rotorcraft, was issued in March 1958.
During its existence, NHI was confronted with parent companies in trouble. Kromhout ceased building trucks in 1958 due to stiff competition from DAF
. It kept building engines and finally the company was taken over by Stork
. As a result, Kromhout gave up its partnership in 1959. Aviolanda resumed production of the H-3 on its own.
Finally in 1961 production ceased due to a lack of orders. Subsequently, NHI was liquidated by Aviolanda. The failure of NHI was only a contributing factor to the liquidation, as Aviolanda and Fokker were having hard times. Aviolanda depended heavily on licenced production of foreign designs, which made the business uncertain. Fokker was having troubles with the then slow selling F.27 Friendship
.
Netherlands
The Netherlands is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, located mainly in North-West Europe and with several islands in the Caribbean. Mainland Netherlands borders the North Sea to the north and west, Belgium to the south, and Germany to the east, and shares maritime borders...
helicopter
Helicopter
A helicopter is a type of rotorcraft in which lift and thrust are supplied by one or more engine-driven rotors. This allows the helicopter to take off and land vertically, to hover, and to fly forwards, backwards, and laterally...
manufacturer. It was founded in 1955 as a commercial successor of the Stichting voor de Ontwikkeling en Bouw van een Experimenteel Hefschroefvliegtuig (SOBEH - the Foundation for Development and Manufacturing of an Experimental Helicopter 0. From 1951 on, SOBEH developed and built two helicopters, the H-1 (1954) and H-2 (1955). After having met its goal of developing a helicopter, SOBEH ceased activities. Further development and serial production were granted to the newly formed NHI. This was a joint venture between aircraft manufacturer Aviolanda
Aviolanda
Aviolanda was a Dutch aircraft manufacturer. The company was established in December 1926 by H. Adolph Burgerhout. Aviolanda mainly produced licenced built aircraft, such as the Dornier Do-24 flying boat, Gloster Meteor jet, Hawker Hunter jet and the Lockheed F-104 Starfighter. It was eventually...
and truck company Kromhout. NHI quickly came forward with an improved design, called the H-3 Kolibrie (Hummingbird). This helicopter made its first flight in May 1956. The Certificate of Airworthiness, based on U.S. requirements for rotorcraft, was issued in March 1958.
During its existence, NHI was confronted with parent companies in trouble. Kromhout ceased building trucks in 1958 due to stiff competition from DAF
DAF
-Science, nature and technology:* Decay accelerating factor, a protein involved in the complement system* Delayed auditory feedback, a device used to delay a person's voice to their own ear, which reduces stuttering and cluttering...
. It kept building engines and finally the company was taken over by Stork
Stork
Storks are large, long-legged, long-necked wading birds with long, stout bills. They belong to the family Ciconiidae. They are the only family in the biological order Ciconiiformes, which was once much larger and held a number of families....
. As a result, Kromhout gave up its partnership in 1959. Aviolanda resumed production of the H-3 on its own.
Finally in 1961 production ceased due to a lack of orders. Subsequently, NHI was liquidated by Aviolanda. The failure of NHI was only a contributing factor to the liquidation, as Aviolanda and Fokker were having hard times. Aviolanda depended heavily on licenced production of foreign designs, which made the business uncertain. Fokker was having troubles with the then slow selling F.27 Friendship
Fokker F27
The Fokker F27 Friendship is a turboprop airliner designed and built by the Dutch aircraft manufacturer Fokker.-Design and development:Design of the Fokker F27 started in the 1950s as a replacement to the successful Douglas DC-3 airliner...
.