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By
Wikipedia,
the free encyclopedia,
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MD_Helicopters_MD_500
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.
Design and development
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A Hughes 500 Model 369HS |
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A Hughes 500 Model 369D |
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A NOTAR MD 520N |
The successful Hughes 500/MD 500 series began life in response to a US Army requirement for a light observation helicopter. 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. 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. 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. 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 as it dispensed with a conventional anti-torque tail rotor in favor of the Hughes/McDonnell Douglas developed NOTAR system. 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.
- 369H (MD 500C)
- Improved five-seat commercial variant powered by an Allison 250-C18B rated at 317 shp (236 kW), Certified in 1966.
- 369HM (MD 500M Defender)
- Military export version as the MD 500 Defender, Certified in 1968.
- 369HS (MD 500C)
- Improved five-seat commercial variant by an Allison 250-C20 rated at 400 shp (298 kW), Certified in 1969.
- 369HE (MD 500C)
- A 369HS with higher standard interior fittings, Certified in 1969.
- 369D (MD 500D)
- New commercial version from 1976 powered by an Alison 250-C20B rated at 420 shp (313 kW), Certified in 1976.
- 369E (MD 500E)
- Executive version of the 500D with recontoured nose, Certified in 1982.
- KH-500E
- Japanese-version of the 500E. Licensed by Kawasaki Heavy Industries.
- NH-500E
- Italian-built version of the 500E. Licensed by Breda Nardi before merging with Agusta.
- 369F
- Certified in 1983.
- 369FF (MD 530F)
- Hot and high version of the 500E powered by an Allison 250-C30B rated at 650 shp (485 kW), certififed in 1985.
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- Unmanned Little Bird Demonstrator
- A civilian 530F modified by Boeing Rotorcraft Systems to develop UAV technologies for both civilian and military applications.
- 500N
- NOTAR version of the 500E, certified in 1991.
MilitaryMilitary export version of the 500 have been marketed under the Defender name, and include the 500M, 500MD, 500MG, and 530MG.
Operators
 Argentina
 Belgium
 Chile
 Costa Rica
 Finland
 Croatia- 4 helicopters, all retired
 El Salvador- 5 helicopters
 Democratic People's Republic of Korea
 Hungary
 Iceland
 Iran Japan
- 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
 Kenya
 Republic of Korea
 Mexico
 Panama Spain
 Taiwan
 United States
- Aerial Support to Regional Enforcement Agencies(ASTREA): the San Diego County Sheriff's Department's aviation division
- Anaheim, California: owns one, nicknamed "Angel One" after the city's baseball team, the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim.
- Blackwater Worldwide (private military and security company)
- Bussmann Aviation
- Cleveland, Ohio Police Department, owns two helicopters.
- Columbus Division of Police(Ohio), six helicopters
- Costa Mesa(California) Police Department: has at least one MD-500.
- Houston Police Department (Texas) Helicopter Division operates MD-500s and other equipment
- Huntington Beach, California Police Department, owns two helicopters.
- Kern County Sheriff Department operates two MD 500Es
- Las Vegas, Nevada: Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department operates three MD 530Fs and one Hughes 500D. They plan to use a portion of their federal forfeiture fund to replace the 500D.
- Jefferson Co/Louisville Metro Kentucky, five total helicopters
- Orange County Sheriff's Department(California):has two MD-500s, nicknamed "Duke One" and "Duke Two", in honor of actor John Wayne and his nickname "Duke".
- Pomona, California: the Pomona Police Department has just acquired a new MD-500 for patrol duties after recently reviving its Aviation Division after 15 years.
- Puerto Rico Electric Power Authority
- Riverside, California: Riverside Police Department Aviation Support Unit operates one MD 500E.
- U.S. Customs and Border Protection
Specifications
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Cockpit of an MD 500E |
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MD 500E rotorhead |
Model 500C
Data from The International Directory of Civil Aircraft
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
MD 520N
Data from The International Directory of Civil Aircraft
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
MD 530F
Data from The International Directory of Civil Aircraft
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× Allison 250-C30 Turboshaft, 375 hp (280 kW)
Performance
In popular culture
A Hughes 500D helicopter featured heavily on the popular 1980s TV show Magnum, P.I.. Hughes 500 Helicopters were also frequently the adversary of the namesake craft of the popular 1980s TV ShowAirwolf.
See also
Related development
Comparable aircraft
Related lists
External links
Text from Wikipedia is available under the Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License; additional terms may apply.
Published in July 2009.
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