Oakland Aviation Museum in Oakland, Calif., now has on display the Hiller Ten99, aka Hiller 1099, helicopter. This one-of-a-kind helicopter was loaned to OAM by the Hiller Aviation Museum of San Carlos, Calif. The Ten99 was built in 1961 as an experimental helicopter by Hiller Aircraft.
The helicopter seats six and is similar in design to other helicopters by Hiller of that era. It features a larger box-shaped cabin that could carry some 1,000 pounds, with four doors and a set of clamshell doors in the rear. The aircraft was one of the first to have a turboprop power plant, the Pratt & Whitney PT6, according to museum officials.
The Hiller Ten99 was developed for the USMC Assault Support Helicopter Program but was never put into production. A civilian model was proposed, never produced and the project was eventually abandoned.
The Oakland Aviation Museum, located at old North Field at Oakland Airport has been educating the public since 1981. The museum is open Wednesday through Sunday 10 am-4pm. The museum is housed in the 1939 Boeing School of Aeronautics building at 8252 Earhart Road. For more information: OaklandAviationMuseum.org or 510-638-7100.