PADC Hummingbird

Hummingbird

Role  | Light utility helicopter

Type of aircraft

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

[edit]

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.[3]

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.[4] 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.[5][4]

## Variants

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X-100A
One prototype converted from an MBB/Eurocopter Bo 105C.[6]

## Surviving aircraft

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* The sole prototype is stored at Ninoy Aquino International Airport.[6]

## See also

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Related development

* MBB/Eurocopter Bo 105C

Aircraft of comparable role, configuration, and era

* Bell 206
* Bell 407
* Bell 427
* Eurocopter AS350 Écureuil
* MD Helicopters MD Explorer

Related lists

* List of rotorcraft

## References

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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. Archived from the original on March 1, 2023. Retrieved January 21, 2018.
3. ^ "The Phil. Aerospace Dev't Corporation & The Indigenous Aircraft Revival". Pitz Defense Analysis. 27 September 2016. Archived from the original on 7 March 2024. Retrieved 7 March 2024.
4. ^ a b "gulftoday.ae | Philippines to close aerospace agency for inactivity". 2017-12-28. Archived from the original on 2017-12-28. Retrieved 2024-03-07.
5. ^ Javier, Erick Nielson. "Opportunities and Challenges facing Philippine Defense Industrial Development". National Defense College of the Philippines. Archived from the original on 2023-06-26. Retrieved 2024-03-07.
6. ^ a b Filmer, Paul (December 2011). "Worldwide: Military Aviation in Manila". globalaviationresource.com. Archived from the original on March 7, 2024. Retrieved January 21, 2018.