- MD Helicopters MD 500
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Hughes/MD 500 series 
An MD 500E Role Light utility helicopter Manufacturer Hughes Helicopters
McDonnell Douglas Helicopter Systems
MD Helicopters, Inc.Number built 4700 [1] Developed from OH-6 Cayuse Variants MD 500 Defender
MD Helicopters MD 600The MD Helicopters MD 500 series is an American family of light utility civilian and military helicopters. The MD 500 was developed from the Hughes 500, a civilian version of the US Army's OH-6A Cayuse/Loach. The series currently includes the MD 500E, MD 520N, and MD 530F.
Contents
Design and development
A Hughes 500 Model 369HS
A Hughes 500 Model 369D
A NOTAR MD 520NThe successful Hughes 500/MD 500 series began life in response to a US Army requirement for a light observation helicopter.[2] Hughes' Model 369 won the contest against competition from Bell and Hiller. The OH-6 Cayuse first flew in February 1963.
Hughes/MD 500
Prior to the OH-6's first flight, Hughes announced it was developing a civil version, to be marketed as the Hughes 500, available in basic five and seven seat configurations.[2] A utility version with a more powerful engine was offered as the 500U (later called the 500C).
The improved Hughes 500D became the primary model in 1976, with a more powerful engine, a T-tail, and new five-blade main rotor; a four-blade tail rotor was optional.[2] The 500D was replaced by the 500E from 1982 with a pointed nose and various interior improvements such as greater head and leg room. The 530F was a more powerful version of the 500E optimized for hot and high work.
McDonnell Douglas acquired Hughes Helicopters in January 1984, and from August 1985 the 500E and 530F were built as the MD 500E and MD 530F Lifter.[2] Following the 1997 Boeing/McDonnell Douglas merger, Boeing sold the former MD civil helicopter lines to MD Helicopters in early 1999.
Military variants are marketed under the MD 500 Defender name.
MD 520N
The MD 520N introduced a revolutionary advance in helicopter design being dispensed with a conventional anti-torque tail rotor in favor of the Hughes/McDonnell Douglas developed NOTAR system.[2] Exhaust from a fan is directed through slots in the tail boom, using the Coandă effect to counteract the torque of the main rotor, and a controllable thruster at the end of the tail boom is used for yaw control.
McDonnell Douglas originally intended to develop the standard MD 520N alongside the more powerful hot and high optimized MD 530N (both were launched in January 1989 and were based on the conventional MD 500E). The MD 530N was the first to fly, on December 29, 1989, the MD 520N first flew on May 1, 1990. Development of the MD 530N was suspended when McDonnell Douglas decided that the MD 520N met most customer requirements for the 530N. Certification for the MD 520N was awarded on September 13, 1991, and the first was delivered on December 31 that year.
In 2000, MD Helicopters announced enhancements to the MD 520N including an improved RR 250-C20R+ engine with 3-5% more power for better performance on warm days, and, with changes to the diffuser and fan rigging, increased range.
Variants
- 369
- Military prototype designated YOH-6A.
- 369A
- Military production designated OH-6.
- MD 500C (369H)
- Improved five-seat commercial variant powered by an Allison 250-C18B rated at 317 shp (236 kW), Certified in 1966.
- MD 500M Defender (369HM)
- Military export version as the MD 500 Defender, Certified in 1968.
- MD 500C (369HS)
- Improved four-seat commercial variant by an Allison 250-C20 rated at 400 shp (298 kW), Certified in 1969.
- MD 500C (369HE)
- A 369HS with higher standard interior fittings, Certified in 1969.
- MD 500D (369D)
- New commercial version from 1976 powered by an Alison 250-C20B rated at 420 shp (313 kW), Certified in 1976.
- MD 500E (369E)
- Executive version of the 500D with recontoured nose, Certified in 1982.
- KH-500E
- Japanese-version of the 500E. Licensed by Kawasaki Heavy Industries.[3]
- NH-500E
- Italian-built version of the 500E. Licensed by Breda Nardi before merging with Agusta.[1]
- MD 530F (369F)
- Hot and high version of the 500E powered by an Allison 250-C30B rated at 650 shp (485 kW), certififed in 1985.
- MD 520N
- NOTAR version of the 500E, certified in 1991.
- Unmanned Little Bird Demonstrator
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- A civilian 530F modified by Boeing Rotorcraft Systems to develop UAV technologies for both civilian and military applications.[4]
Military
Main article: MD 500 DefenderMilitary export version of the 500 have been marketed under the Defender name, and include the 500M, 500MD, 500MG, and 530MG.
Operators
Kern County Sheriff's MD 500EMilitary operators
- Afghan Air Force 6 MD 530F with option for additional 50
- Argentine Air Force
- Argentine Coast Guard (retired 1988) [5]
- Finnish Air Force former operator
- Finnish Army 12 helicopters, 8 still in use
- 4 helicopters, all retired
- 5 helicopters
- Armed Forces of Haiti
- Honduras Air Force
- Japan Ground Self Defense Force, numerous "Little Birds" used on "Pink Teams" in conjunction with AH-1 Cobra Attack Helicopters. Training is conducted at JGSDF Akeno near Nagoya. Hughes 500 series aircraft are an integral part of the JGSDF army air force and are stationed on various JGSDF installations throughout the country.
- Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force, five MD 500Es for Trainer
- Korean People's Air Force 87 in service
- Republic of Korea Army 257 in service
- Servicio Nacional Aeronaval
- 15 in service of Philippine Air Force
- Republic of China Navy: 10 500MD/ASW in service with the 501st Helicopter Squadron (Light)
Civil operators
The MD 500 is widely operated by private individuals, companies and law enforcement agencies around the world.
- Brigada Militar do Rio Grande do Sul
- Hungarian Police
- Used by Xe Services LLC formerly Blackwater USA, a Private Military Security Firm
- San Diego County Sheriff's Department
- Houston Police Department
- Riverside Police Department: The Riverside Police Department uses 2 MD 500E's and 2 Hughes/MD 500D's.[7]
- Kansas City, Missouri Police Department
- Huntington Beach Police Department HBPD has 3 of them.
- Puerto Rico Police Department: The PRPD use the MD 500E and MD 520N NOTAR for FURA.
- [[Columbus Police
- Oakland Police Department :
Specifications
Cockpit of an MD 500E
MD 500E rotorheadModel 500C
Data from The International Directory of Civil Aircraft[2]
General characteristics
- Crew: 1-2
- Capacity: 5 total
- Length: 30 ft 10 in (9.4 m)
- Rotor diameter: 26 ft 4 in (8.03 m)
- Height: 8 ft 2 in (2.48 m)
- Empty weight: 1,088 lb (493 kg)
- Max takeoff weight: 2,250 lb (1,157 kg)
- Powerplant: 1 × Allison 250-C20 Turboshaft, 278 hp (207 kW)
Performance
- Maximum speed: 152 knots (175 mph, 282 km/h)
- Cruise speed: 125 kn (144 mph, 232 km/h)
- Range: 375 mi (605 km)
- Service ceiling: 16,000 ft (4,875 m)
- Rate of climb: 1,700 ft/min (8.6 m/s)
MD 520N
Data from The International Directory of Civil Aircraft[2]
General characteristics
- Crew: 1-2
- Capacity: 5 total
- Length: 33 ft 2 in (9.78 m)
- Rotor diameter: 27 ft 4 in (8.33 m)
- Height: 9 ft 0 in (2.74 m)
- Disc area: 586.8 ft² (54.5 m²)
- Empty weight: 1,636 lb (742 kg)
- Max takeoff weight: 3,350 lb (1,520 kg)
- Powerplant: 1 × Allison 250-C20R Turboshaft, 375 hp (280 kW)
Performance
- Maximum speed: 152 knots (175 mph, 282 km/h)
- Cruise speed: 135 kn (155 mph, 250 km/h)
- Range: 267 mi (429 km)
- Service ceiling: 14,175 ft (4,320 m)
- Rate of climb: 1,850 ft/min (9.4 m/s)
MD 530F
Data from The International Directory of Civil Aircraft[2]
General characteristics
- Crew: 1-2
- Capacity: 5 total
- Length: 32 ft 7 in (9.94 m)
- Rotor diameter: 27 ft 4 in (8.33 m)
- Height: 8 ft 9 in (2.48 m)
- Disc area: 587.5 sq ft (54.6 sq m)
- Empty weight: 1,591 lb (722 kg)
- Max takeoff weight: 3,550 lb (1,610 kg)
- Powerplant: 1 × Allison 250-C30 Turboshaft, 375 hp (280 kW)
Performance
- Maximum speed: 152 knots (175 mph, 282 km/h)
- Cruise speed: 135 kn (155 mph, 250 km/h)
- Range: 232 nmi (267 mi, 430 km)
- Service ceiling: 18,700 ft (5,700 m)
- Rate of climb: 2,070 ft/min (10.5 m/s)
See also
- Related development
- OH-6 Cayuse
- MD 500 Defender
- MD Helicopters MD 600
- Boeing AH-6
- Aircraft of comparable role, configuration and era
- Related lists
References
- ^ a b The MD Helicopters MD-500/530. Retrieved on January 16, 2008.
- ^ a b c d e f g h Frawley, Gerard: The International Directory of Civil Aircraft, 2003-2004, page 155. Aerospace Publications Pty Ltd, 2003. ISBN 1-875671-58-7
- ^ MD Helicopters MD 500/530 (United States), Helicopters in service – Rotary-wing – Civil/military.
- ^ "Boeing Manned/Unmanned Light Helicopter Makes First Flight", Boeing news release, October 9, 2006, accessed August 27, 2008
- ^ LAMilitary.org
- ^ Global Security.org
- ^ Aviation Division
External links
Hughes Aircraft/Hughes Helicopters Fixed-wing aircraft Experimental helicopters Civil helicopters Military helicopters Communications satellites Intelsat I · Syncom · TDRS · GOES
Spacecraft Surveyor I · Pioneer Venus
Avionic/Fire Control Systems Missile Systems MD Helicopters rotorcraft MD 500/MD 520N/MD 530F · MD 600 · MD Explorer
Lists relating to aviation General Aircraft (manufacturers) · Aircraft engines (manufacturers) · Airlines (defunct) · Airports · Civil authorities · Museums · Registration prefixes · Rotorcraft (manufacturers) · TimelineMilitary Accidents/incidents Records Categories:- United States helicopters 1960–1969
- United States civil utility aircraft 1960–1969
- MD Helicopters aircraft
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