This paper introduces a novel static output feedback version of the design procedure of [McFarlane & Glover, 1992. IEEE Trans. Ant. Control 37(6), 759-769]. Existence conditions for a static out ut loop shaping controller are given in terms of two coupled matrix inequalities. Simple linear sufficient conditions can be derived from these coupled nonlinear inequalities and the determination of a static, sub-optimal, H-infinity loop shaping controller reduces to an optimization problem over Linear Matrix Inequalities. The new procedure is demonstrated by its application to the design of a flight control system for the Canadian NRC fly-by-wire Bell 205 research helicopter. The resulting H-infinity controller has just three states and would appear to be the simplest flight control system used on this helicopter. The system was successfully flight-tested and high levels of performance were achieved. (c) 2005 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.