Hughes’ Name Removed From Helicopter Unit

A major reminder of Howard Hughes’ legacy has faded away: Hughes Helicopters Inc., which the late billionaire founded in 1934, has been renamed McDonnell Douglas Helicopter Co.

The name change was announced Tuesday, nearly 20 months after McDonnell Douglas acquired Culver City-based Hughes. It was motivated in part by confusion over the name, McDonnell Douglas spokesman Jack Cooke said.

“We have had problems with (people) confusing Hughes Helicopters with Hughes Aircraft and occasionally with Hughes Tool Co.,” Cooke said. Howard Hughes separated what is now Hughes Helicopters from Hughes Aircraft in 1953, and Hughes Helicopters operated as the aircraft division of Hughes Tool until 1972, when they were separated.

The change also “is to demonstrate that Hughes Helicopters is in fact a solid, respected and loved member of the McDonnell Douglas family,” Cooke said.

While the Hughes Helicopter name is passing, the Hughes Aircraft name is expected to remain. General Motors, which plans to acquire the El Segundo-based firm, “has no plans to change the name,” Hughes Aircraft spokesman Bill Herrman said.

GM has said it will operate Hughes Aircraft as a separate company under a new subsidiary to be called GM Hughes Electronics.

Herrman applauded the Hughes Helicopter change. “Hopefully, this will help avoid confusion in the future,” he said.