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.

Contents

Hughes 500 Model 369D
Hughes 500 Model 369D
MD 500E
MD 500E
NOTAR MD 520N
NOTAR MD 520N
Kern County Sherrif's MD 500E
Kern County Sherrif's MD 500E

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.

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.

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.

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 out of a controllable thruster at the end of the tail boom for yaw control.

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
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)

Main article: MD 500 Defender

Military export version of the 500 have been marketed under the Defender name, and include the 500M, 500MD, 500MG, and 530MG.

Flag of Belgium Belgium
Flag of Chile Chile
Flag of Finland Finland
12 helicopters, 8 still in use
Flag of Croatia Croatia
4 helicopters, all retired
Flag of South Korea Republic of Korea
Flag of North Korea Democratic People's Republic of Korea[2]
Flag of Hungary Hungary
Flag of Iceland Iceland
Flag of Iran Iran
Flag of Kenya Kenya
Flag of Mexico Mexico
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Flag of the United States United States

Puerto Rico Puerto Rico Electric Power Authority

Cockpit of an MD 500E
Cockpit of an MD 500E
MD 500E rotorhead
MD 500E rotorhead

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

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

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

  1. ^ 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
  2. ^ Global Security.org

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