MD Helicopters MD 500
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The MD Helicopters MD 500 series is an American
family of light utility civilian and military helicopter
s. 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.
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.
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.
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.
369A
MD 500C (369H)
MD 500M Defender (369HM)
MD 500C (369HS)
MD 500C (369HE)
MD 500D (369D)
MD 500E (369E)
KH-500E
NH-500E
MD 530F (369F)
MD 520N
Unmanned Little Bird Demonstrator
:
:
Australia
Brazil
Costa Rica
Hungary
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
family of light utility civilian and military helicopter
Helicopter
A helicopter is a type of rotorcraft in which lift and thrust are supplied by one or more engine-driven rotors. This allows the helicopter to take off and land vertically, to hover, and to fly forwards, backwards, and laterally...
s. 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
Hughes H-6
The Hughes OH-6 Cayuse is a single-engine light helicopter with a four-bladed main rotor used for personnel transport, escort and attack missions, and observation...
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
Hot and high
In aviation, hot and high is a condition of low air density due to high ambient temperature and high airport elevation. Air density decreases with increasing temperature and altitude. Lower air density reduces the amount of lift generated by the wings or the rotors of an aircraft, which may hamper...
work.
McDonnell Douglas acquired Hughes Helicopters
Hughes Helicopters
Hughes Helicopters was a major manufacturer of military and civil helicopters from the 1950s to the 1980s.The company began in 1947, as a unit of Hughes Aircraft, then was part of the Hughes Tool Company after 1955. It became the Hughes Helicopter Division, Summa Corporation in 1972, and was...
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
Boeing
The Boeing Company is an American multinational aerospace and defense corporation, founded in 1916 by William E. Boeing in Seattle, Washington. Boeing has expanded over the years, merging with McDonnell Douglas in 1997. Boeing Corporate headquarters has been in Chicago, Illinois since 2001...
sold the former MD civil helicopter lines to MD Helicopters
MD Helicopters
MD Helicopters, Inc. is an aerospace company that produces helicopters primarily for commercial use. Coverage here includes the company's tenure as McDonnell Douglas Helicopter Systems, a subsidiary of McDonnell Douglas.-Background:...
in early 1999.
Military variants are marketed under the MD 500 Defender
MD 500 Defender
|-See also:-External links:* *...
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 NOTARNOTAR
NOTAR is the name of a helicopter anti-torque system which replaces the use of a tail rotor. Developed by McDonnell Douglas Helicopter Systems , the name is an acronym derived from the phrase NO TAil Rotor...
system. Exhaust from a fan is directed through slots in the tail boom, using the Coandă effect
Coanda effect
The Coandă effect is the tendency of a fluid jet to be attracted to a nearby surface. The principle was named after Romanian aerodynamics pioneer Henri Coandă, who was the first to recognize the practical application of the phenomenon in aircraft development....
to counteract the torque
Torque
Torque, moment or moment of force , is the tendency of a force to rotate an object about an axis, fulcrum, or pivot. Just as a force is a push or a pull, a torque can be thought of as a twist....
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-6AHughes H-6The Hughes OH-6 Cayuse is a single-engine light helicopter with a four-bladed main rotor used for personnel transport, escort and attack missions, and observation...
.
369A
- Military production designated OH-6Hughes H-6The Hughes OH-6 Cayuse is a single-engine light helicopter with a four-bladed main rotor used for personnel transport, escort and attack missions, and observation...
.
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 DefenderMD 500 Defender|-See also:-External links:* *...
, 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 IndustriesKawasaki Heavy Industriesis an international corporation based in Japan. It has headquarters in both Chūō-ku, Kobe and Minato, Tokyo.The company is named after its founder Shōzō Kawasaki and has no connection with the city of Kawasaki, Kanagawa....
.
NH-500E
- Italian-built version of the 500E. Licensed by Breda Nardi before merging with AgustaAgustaAgusta is an Italian helicopter manufacturer. It is based in Samarate, Northern Italy. It is a subsidiary of Finmeccanica. The company was founded by Count Giovanni Agusta in 1923, who flew his first airplane in 1907...
.
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
Boeing AH-6
The Boeing AH-6 is a series of light helicopter gunships based on the MH-6 Little Bird and MD 500 family. Developed by Boeing Rotorcraft Systems, these include the Unmanned Little Bird demonstrator, the A/MH-6X Mission Enhanced Little Bird , and the proposed AH-6I and AH-6S.-Design and...
-
- A civilian 530F modified by Boeing Rotorcraft Systems to develop UAV technologies for both civilian and military applications.
Military
Military export version of the 500 have been marketed under the Defender name, and include the 500M, 500MD, 500MG, and 530MG.Operators
Military operators
- Afghan Air ForceAfghan Air ForceThe Afghan Air Force , formerly the Afghan National Army Air Corps and Afghan National Army Air Force , is one of seven "corps" of the military of Afghanistan, responsible for air defense and air warfare. It was officially established in 1924 and for most of its history has functioned as a small...
6 MD 530F with option for additional 50
- Argentine Air ForceArgentine Air ForceThe Argentine Air Force is the national aviation branch of the Armed Forces of the Argentine Republic. , it had 14,606 military and 6,854 civilian staff.-History:...
- Argentine Coast Guard (retired 1988)
- Chilean ArmyChilean ArmyThe Chilean Army is the land arm of the Military of Chile. This 45,000-person army is organized into seven divisions, a special operations brigade and an air brigade....
:
- Finnish Air ForceFinnish Air ForceThe Finnish Air Force is one of the branches of the Finnish Defence Forces. Its peacetime tasks are airspace surveillance, identification flights, and production of readiness formations for wartime conditions...
former operator - Finnish ArmyFinnish ArmyThe Finnish Army is the land forces branch of the Finnish Defence Forces.Today's Army is divided into six branches: the infantry , field artillery, anti-aircraft artillery, engineers, signals, and materiel troops.-History of the Finnish Army:Between 1809 and 1917 Finland was an autonomous part of...
12 helicopters, 8 still in use
- 4 helicopters, all retired
:
- 5 helicopters
- Armed Forces of HaitiArmed Forces of HaitiThe Armed Forces of Haiti, , consisted of the Haitian Army, Haitian Navy , Haitian Coast Guard, the Haitian Air Force, and some police forces . The Army was always the dominant service with the others serving primarily in a support role...
- Honduras Air Force
- Icelandic Coast GuardIcelandic Coast GuardThe Icelandic Coast Guard is the service responsible for Iceland's coastal defense and maritime and aeronautical search and rescue. Origins of the Icelandic Coast Guard can be traced to 1859, when the corvette Ørnen started patrolling Icelandic waters...
- Aeronautica MilitareAeronautica MilitareThe Italian Air Force is the air force of the Italian Republic. It has held a prominent role in modern Italian military history...
- 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 ForceJapan Maritime Self-Defense ForceThe , or JMSDF, is the naval branch of the Japan Self-Defense Forces, tasked with the naval defense of Japan. It was formed following the dissolution of the Imperial Japanese Navy after World War II....
, five MD 500Es for Trainer
- Royal Jordanian Air ForceRoyal Jordanian Air ForceThe Royal Jordanian Air Force is the air force branch of the Jordanian Armed Forces.-Early days:...
- Kenya Air ForceKenya Air ForceThe Kenya Air Force is the national Air Force of Kenya.The main airbase operating fighters is Laikipia Air Base in Nanyuki, while Moi Air Base in Eastleigh, Nairobi is the HQ & operations Kenya Air Force. Other bases include FOB Mombasa The Kenya Air Force (KAF) is the national Air Force of...
- Korean People's Air Force 87 in service
- Republic of Korea ArmyRepublic of Korea ArmyThe Republic of Korea Army is the largest of the military branches of the South Korean armed forces with 520,000 members as of 2010...
257 in service
- Mexican Air ForceMexican Air ForceThe Mexican Air Force is the aviation branch of the Mexican Army and depends on the National Defense Secretariat . Since 2008, its commander is Gen...
- Mexican Naval AviationMexican Naval AviationThe Mexican Naval Aviation ' or FAN literally meaning Naval Air Force, is the naval air arm of the Mexican Navy...
- Servicio Nacional Aeronaval
- 15 in service of Philippine Air Force
- Spanish NavySpanish NavyThe Spanish Navy is the maritime branch of the Spanish Armed Forces, one of the oldest active naval forces in the world. The Armada is responsible for notable achievements in world history such as the discovery of Americas, the first world circumnavigation, and the discovery of a maritime path...
- Republic of China NavyRepublic of China NavyThe Republic of China Navy is the maritime branch of the Armed forces of the Republic of China . The ROC Navy's primary mission is to defend ROC territories and the sea lanes that surround Taiwan against a blockade, attack, or possible invasion by forces of the People's Republic of China...
: 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. Australia
- EnergexEnergexEnergex is an Australian energy company owned by the Queensland Government. It is based in Brisbane and was founded in 1922 as the City Electric Light Co....
- Ergon (Australia)Ergon (Australia)Ergon is a corporation owned by the Government of Queensland, Australia. It supplies electricity to Queenslanders outside the metropolitan southeast through a distribution network and retail activities....
Brazil
- Brigada Militar do Rio Grande do Sul
Costa Rica
- Air Surveillance Service
Hungary
- Hungarian Police
- Federal Police (Mexico)
- Used by Xe Services LLC formerly Blackwater USA, a Private Military Security Firm
- San Diego County Sheriff's DepartmentSan Diego County Sheriff's DepartmentThe San Diego County Sheriff's Department, commonly known as the SDSO, is the primary and largest law enforcement agency in San Diego County, California. It is composed of approximately 4,000 sworn deputies and civilian support personnel...
- Houston Police DepartmentHouston Police DepartmentThe Houston Police Department is the primary law enforcement agency serving the City of Houston, Texas, United States and some surrounding areas. Its headquarters are in 1200 Travis in Downtown Houston....
- Riverside Police DepartmentRiverside police departmentThe Riverside Police Department is the law enforcement agency responsible for the city of Riverside, California.-History:The Riverside Police Department was founded in 1896 and has grown from a small frontier town police force to a large metropolitan police department with over 409 sworn police...
: The Riverside Police Department uses 2 MD 500E's and 2 Hughes/MD 500D's. - 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 FURAFuerzas Unidas de Rapida AccionThe United Forces of Fast Action or better known as FURA is an agency within the Puerto Rico Police Department in charge of specialized divisions that relate to federal law enforcement agencies of the United States, and coordinate operations between the PRPD and U.S. federal agencies...
. - olumbus Police
- Oakland Police Department :
Specifications