MD Helicopters MD 500
| Hughes/MD 500 series | |
|---|---|
 |
|
| An MD 500E | |
| Role | Light utility helicopter |
| Manufacturer | Hughes Helicopters McDonnell Douglas Helicopter Systems MD Helicopters, Inc. |
| Introduction | 1982 |
| Status | In service |
| Primary users | Republic of Korea Army Korean People's Air Force Japan Ground Self Defense Force Various law enforcement agencies |
| Produced | 1976-present |
| Number built | 4,700[1] |
| Developed from | OH-6 Cayuse |
| Variants | McDonnell Douglas 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 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.
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Design and development [edit]
The 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.
The 500 series design features shock-absorbing landing skid struts, a turboshaft engine mounted at a 45-degree angle toward the rear of the cabin pod, a fuel tank cell under the floor and the battery in the nose. The engine exhaust port is located at the end of the cabin pod underneath the tailboom. It has a short-diameter main rotor system and a short tail, giving it an agile control response and is less susceptible to weather-cocking.
Hughes won the US Army's LOH contest with its OH-6 helicopter by submitting a very low and aggressive price per airframe (without an engine). Due to rising prices, the US Army later re-opened the contest, where Hughes offered the machine at a more realistic price, but was undercut by the redesigned Bell OH-58 Kiowa (military JetRanger). OH-6 helicopters were still ordered by the US Army, though at a much reduced number.
Hughes/MD 500 [edit]
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 [edit]
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 [edit]
- 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.
- NH-500E
- Italian-built version of the 500E. License-produced 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 and AH-6
- A civilian 530F modified by Boeing Rotorcraft Systems to develop UAV technologies for both civilian and military applications.[3]
Military [edit]
- For military variants see McDonnell Douglas MD 500 Defender
Operators [edit]
Civil operators [edit]
The MD 500 is widely operated by private individuals, companies and law enforcement agencies around the world.
- Academi[7]
- Columbus Police[8]
- Hawaii County Fire Dept[9]
- Houston Police Department[10]
- Las Vegas Police Department[11]
- Pasadena Police Department[12]
- Riverside Police Department[13]
- San Diego County Sheriff's Department[14]
Operational Use [edit]
El Salvador [edit]
During the Salvadoran Civil War, the Salvadoran Air Force operated six MD 500Ds, which were supplemented later by 9 MD 500Es supplied by the United States in 1983. These were used as gunships, armed with 7.62 mm Miniguns and unguided rockets, as well as being used for reconnaissance and liaison duties. One MD.500D and two MD.500Es were lost to SA-7 missiles in 1989 and 1990. By the end of the conflict, only 1 MD 500D and 6 MD 500Es were in operational condition.[15]
In popular culture [edit]
- The 500D variant was featured, wildly bedecked with diagonal stripes of various colors, in the 1980s television series Magnum, P.I., the personal mount of show character "T.C.".
- In almost every episode of the 1980s TV-series Airwolf, the title helicopter faces two MD-500D armed with rocket pods as opponents in a final showdown.
- One 500C made a flying appearance at the end of rock musician Steve Miller's video for his 1986 hit I Want To Make The World Turn Around. A dual exposure shot from inside shows two helicopters hovering outside, moving slowly in front of the main window of Tacoma, Washington's Union Station; finally, one descends and hovers near the entrance momentarily and then climbs away.
Specifications [edit]
Model 500C [edit]
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)
Model 500E [edit]
Data from "MD Helicopters web site" (PDF).
General characteristics
- Crew: 1-2
- Capacity: 5 total
- Length: 30.81 ft (9.4 m)
- Rotor diameter: 26.4 ft (8.1 m)
- Height: 8.4 ft (2.6 m)
- Disc area: 586.8 ft² (54.5 m²)
- Empty weight: 1,481 lb (672 kg)
- Max. takeoff weight: 3,000 lb (1,361 kg)
- Powerplant: 1 × Allison 250-C20B Turboshaft, 420 hp (313 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: 16,000 ft (4,877 m)
- Rate of climb: 1,770 ft/min (9 m/s)
MD 530F [edit]
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, 650 hp (485 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 [edit]
- Related development
- Aircraft of comparable role, configuration and era
- Related lists
References [edit]
- ^ a b "The MD Helicopters MD-500/530". Retrieved 2008-01-16.
- ^ a b c d e f g Frawley, Gerard (2003). The International Directory of Civil Aircraft, 2003-2004. Aerospace Publications Pty Ltd. p. 155. ISBN 1-875671-58-7.
- ^ "Boeing Manned/Unmanned Light Helicopter Makes First Flight" (Press release). Boeing. 9 October 2006. Retrieved 29 April 2013.
- ^ "HAWCS: Calgary's Eye in the Sky". Helicopters Magazine. Retrieved 1 April 2013.
- ^ El Tiempo: La Policía del Azuay recibe hoy helicóptero (spanish)
- ^ "Hungary Police MD500E". Retrieved 2013-02-28.
- ^ "ACADEMI -- ex-Blackwater -- Boosts State Dept Business, Eyes Acquisitions". defense.aol.com. Retrieved 2013-02-28.
- ^ "MD Helicopters MD 500E / 530F". aerospace-technology.com. Retrieved 2013-02-28.
- ^ "Hawaii County Fire Dept replaces 500D with new 500E". helihub.com. Retrieved 2013-02-28.
- ^ "Houston Police Dept celebrates 40 years of air support". helihub.com. Retrieved 2013-02-28.
- ^ "MD Helicopters Delivers New MD 530F to Las Vegas Metro Police Department". Retrieved 2013-02-28.
- ^ "Pasadena Police hold public launch of new 500E". helihub.com. Retrieved 2013-02-28.
- ^ Aviation Division
- ^ "ASTREA - Aerial Support to Regional Enforcement Agencies". sdsheriff.net. Retrieved 2013-02-28.
- ^ Cooper, Tom. "El Salvador, 1980-1992". ACIG.org. Retrieved 2013-01-30.
External links [edit]
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Wikimedia Commons has media related to: MD Helicopters MD 500 |
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