MD Helicopters MD 500
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| MD 500 series | |
|---|---|
 A Hughes 500 Model 369HS |
|
| Type | Light utility helicopter |
| Manufacturer | Hughes Helicopters McDonnell Douglas Helicopter Systems MD Helicopters, Inc. |
| Developed from | Hughes H-6 |
| Variants | MD 500 Defender MD Helicopters MD 600 |
The MD Helicopters MD 500 series is an American family of light utility civilian and military helicopters. The MD 500 originated as 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.
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[edit] Design and development
The successful Hughes 500/MD 500 series began life in response to a US Army requirement for a light observation helicopter.[1] Hughes' Model 369 won the contest against competition from Bell and Hiller. The OH-6 Cayuse first flew in February 1963.
[edit] 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.[1] 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.[1] 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.[1] 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.
[edit] MD 520N
The MD 520N introduced a revolutionary advance in helicopter design as it dispensed with a conventional tail rotor in favor of the Hughes/McDonnell Douglas developed NOTAR system.[1]
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.
[edit] NOTAR
The NOTAR no-tail-rotor is popular with law enforcement because of its very low noise levels.[citation needed] Instead of an anti-torque tail rotor, a fan exhaust 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 for yaw control.
[edit] Variants
[edit] Commercial
- 500
- Commercial version of the Model 369/OH-6A powered by an Allison 250C-18B rated at 317 shp (236 kW).
- 500C
- Improved commercial version powered by an Allison 250C-C20 rated at 400 shp (298 kW).
- 500D
- New commercial version from 1976 powered by an Alison 250-C20B rated at 420 shp (313 kW).
- 500E
- Executive version of the 500D with recontoured nose.
- NH-500E
- Italian-built version of the 500E. Licensed by Breda Nardi before merging with Agusta.[2]
- 520N
- NOTAR version of the 500E.
- 530F
- Hot and high version of the 500E powered by an Allison 250-C30B rated at 650 shp (485 kW).
[edit] Military
Military export version of the 500 have been marketed under the Defender name, and include the 500M, 500MD, 500MG, and 530MG.
[edit] Operators
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Finland- 12 helicopters, 8 still in use
Croatia- 4 helicopters, all retired
El Salvador- 5 helicopters
Democratic People's Republic of Korea[3]
Hungary
- Hungarian Police
- Philippine Air Force, has 28 helicopters, designated MG-520, (possibly 20 or fewer are airworthy), armed w/both 50 cal. machine gun & FFAR rockets.[citation needed]
- Blackwater Worldwide (private military and security company)
- Cleveland, Ohio Police Department, owns two helicopters.
- Columbus Division of Police, six helicopters
- Huntington Beach, California Police Department, owns two helicopters.
- U.S. Customs and Border Protection
- Puerto Rico Electric Power Authority
- Bussmann Aviation
- Las Vegas, Nevada, Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department operates three MD 500Es.[citation needed]
[edit] Specifications
This aircraft article is missing some (or all) of its specifications. If you have a source, you can help Wikipedia by adding them.[edit] Model 500C
Data from The International Directory of Civil Aircraft[1]
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× One Allison 250-C20 Turboshaft, 278 hp (207 kW)
Performance
- Maximum speed: 152 knots (175 mph, 282 km/h)
- Cruise speed: 125 knots (mph, 232 km/h)
- Range: 375 miles (605 km)
- Service ceiling 16,000 ft (4,875 m)
- Rate of climb: 1700 ft/min (8.6 m/s)
[edit] MD 520N
Data from The International Directory of Civil Aircraft[1]
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× One Allison 250-C20R Turboshaft, 375 hp (280 kW)
Performance
- Maximum speed: 152 knots (175 mph, 282 km/h)
- Cruise speed: 135 knots (144 mph, 250 km/h)
- Range: 267 miles (429 km)
- Service ceiling 14,175 ft (4,320 m)
- Rate of climb: 1850 ft/min (9.4 m/s)
[edit] MD 530F
Data from The International Directory of Civil Aircraft[1]
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: 3,100 lb (1,610 kg)
- Powerplant: 1× One Allison 250-C30 Turboshaft, 375 hp (280 kW)
Performance
- Maximum speed: 152 knots (175 mph, 282 km/h)
- Cruise speed: 135 knots (mph, 249 km/h)
- Range: 232 nm (430 km (267 mi))
- Service ceiling 18,700 ft (5,700 m)
- Rate of climb: 2070 ft/min (10.5 m/s)
[edit] See also
Related development
Comparable aircraft
Related lists
[edit] References
- ^ 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
- ^ The MD Helicopters MD-500/530. Retrieved on January 16, 2008.
- ^ Global Security.org
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