MD HELICOPTERS
MD HELICOPTERS
MD 600N
Type
Single-turboshaft light helicopter.
Programme
Stretched version of MD 520N. Announced as `concept', 8 November
1994; prototype, then known as MD 630N (N630N, converted from MD
530F demonstrator), first flight 22 November 1994, 138 days after
project approval; public debut at Heli-Expo in Las Vegas January
1995; production go-head 28 March 1995, at which time designation
changed to MD 600N; prototype first flown with production
standard engine and rotor system 6 November 1995; production
prototype (N600RN) first flown 15 December 1995, and became
certification test vehicle leading to FAR Pt 27 certification,
but was destroyed in ground fire late May 1996 following
emergency landing after rotor/tailboom strike during abrupt
control reversal tests. This resulted in changes to
tailboom/rotor clearance; third prototype flown 9 August 1996;
further accidents in November 1996 and on
18 January 1997, both during autorotational descents, delayed
certification and first delivery, originally scheduled for 18
December 1996, to 15 May and 6 June 1997, respectively.
In July 1998,
Boeing completed a year-long envelope expansion programme for the
MD 600N leading to FAA approval for operation at a density
altitude of 2,135 m (7,000 ft) at a T-O weight of
1,746 kg (3,850 lb) and at a density altitude of 1,220 m
(4,000 ft) at a T-O weight of 1,860 kg (4,100 lb).
Other performance enhancements approved by the FAA included
provision for doors-off operation at speeds up to 115 kt
(213 km/h; 132 mph), operation at temperatures -40ºC/52ºC
(-40ºF/126ºF), lifting up to 968 kg (2,134 lb) on the
external cargo hook, making slope landings up to 10º in any
direction, operation with emergency floats and for installation
of a movable landing light and additional wire strike protection
on the fuselage. The MD 600N also completed HIRF trials at NAS
Patuxent River, Maryland.
Customers
Launch customer AirStar Helicopter of Arizona (two, of which
first delivered 6 June 1997); Saab Helikopter AB of Sweden and
Rotair Limited of Hong Kong ordered one each in June 1995; other
announced customers include Los Angeles County Sheriff's
Department Aero Bureau (three), Presta Services of France (one), UND
(University of North Dakota) Aerospace (one), West
Virginia State Police (one) and the US Border Patrol (45 of which
eight received by end 1998). Deliveries totalled 15 in 1997, 21
in 1998 and six in 1999; 42 in all.
Costs
US$1.2 million (1999). Direct operating cost US$230.83 per hour
(1999).
Design Features
Stretched MD 520N airframe (less than 1 per cent new parts) by
means of 0.76 m (2 ft 6 in) plug aft of cockpit/cabin
bulkhead and 0.71 m (2 ft 4 in) plug in tailboom, combined
with more powerful engine, uprated transmission and six-blade
main rotor. Cabin has flat floor to assist cargo handling, and
will feature quick-change interior configurations to suit
multiple-use operators. Intended for civil, utility, offshore,
executive transport, medevac, aerial news gathering, touring, law
enforcement and other noise-sensitive operations; also adaptable
for armed scout, utility and other military missions.
MD EXPLORER
US Coast Guard designation: MH-90 Enforcer MD HELICOPTERS
MD 600N light helicopter (one Rolls-Royce 250
turboshaft)
(2000)
Type
Eight-seat twin-engined light helicopter.
Programme
Initially known as MDX, then MD 900; McDonnell Douglas design;
announced February 1988; launched January 1989; Hawker de
Havilland of Australia designed and manufactures airframe;
Canadian Marconi tested initial version of integrated
instrumentation display system (IIDS) early 1992; Kawasaki
completed 50 hour test of transmission early 1992. Other partners
include Aim Aviation (interior), IAI (cowling and seats) and
Lucas Aerospace (actuators). Ten prototypes and trials aircraft,
of which seven (Nos. 1, 3-7 and 9) for static tests; first flight
(No.2/N900MD) 18 December 1992, followed by No.8/N900MH 17
September 1993 and No.10/N9208V 16 December 1993; first
production/demonstrator Explorer (No.11/N92011) flown 3 August
1994. FAA certification 2 December 1994; first delivery 16
December 1994; JAA certification July 1996; FAA certification for
single-pilot IFR operation achieved January 1997.
Current Versions
MD Explorer: Initial civilian utility version, as
described.
Details apply to civilian version except where indicated.
MD Enhanced
Explorer: Improved version, announced September 1996;
originally MD 902. Main features include Pratt & Whitney
Canada PW206E engines with increased OEI ratings; transmission
approved for dry running for 30 minutes at 50 per cent power;
improved engine air inlets, NOTAR inlet design and engine fire
suppression system, and more powerful stabiliser control system,
resulting in 7 per cent increase in range, 4 per cent increase in
endurance and 113 kg (250 lb) increase in payload over
Explorer. First flight (N9224U; 42nd production Explorer) 5
September 1997. FAA certification to Category A performance
standards (including continued take-off with one failed engine)
and single-pilot IFR operation achieved 11 February 1998; JAA
certification for Category A performance achieved July 1998.
Retrofit kits will be available to convert Explorers to Category
A standard. First Enhanced Explorer delivery (45th production) in
May 1998 to Tomen Aerospace of Japan.
MH-90
Enforcer: Beginning March 1999, under a programme code-named
Operation New Frontier, the US Coast Guard used two leased MD 900
Explorers for anti-drug smuggling operations from the Coast Guard
cutters Gallatin and Seneca. Armed with a pintle-mounted M240
7.62 mm minigun at the door station, the Explorers,
designated MH-90 Enforcer by the USCG, intercepted four
high-speed smuggling vessels, resulting in the capture of 13
smugglers and confiscation of six tons of marijuana and cocaine.
In September 1999 the MD900s were exchanged for two leased MD 902
Enhanced Explorers. The USCG has a requirement for eight to 12
helicopters in the Explorer class.
Combat
Explorer: Displayed at Paris Air Show, June 1995;
demonstrator N9015P (No.15), an MD 900 variant. Can be configured
for utility, medevac or combat missions; armament and mission
equipment may include seven- or 19-tube 70 mm rocket pods,
0.50 calibre machine gun pods, chin-mounted FLIR night pilotage
system and roof-mounted NightHawk surveillance and targeting
systems. Combat weight 3,130 kg (6,900 lb); two P&WC
PW206A engines. No customers announced by January 2000, but
N9015P became one of initial two MH-90s (with third prototype,
N9208V.
Customers
Market estimated at 800 to 1,000 in first decade; first
delivery 16 December 1994 to Petroleum Helicopters Inc (PHI)
which ordered five; second delivery (N901CF) December 1994 to
Rocky Mountain Helicopters for EMS duties with affiliate Care
Flight unit of Regional Emergency Medical Services Authority
(REMSA) in Reno, Nevada. Total of two delivered in 1994, 12 in
1995, 15 in 1996, one in 1997, four in 1998 and 11 in 1999;
cumulative total of 45 announced deliveries, although 58th
production aircraft was registered in November 1999. Other
disclosed customers include Aero Asahi of Japan (15, of which the
first, JA6757, was delivered in July 1995 and five in service by
October 1999), Allegheny General Hospital, Pittsburgh,
Pennsylvania (four, delivered mid-1996), Belgian government (two
delivered in 1996, with one option, in law enforcement
configuration for Rijkswacht/Gendarmerie), German State Police
(two, delivered in August and September 1999), IBCOL Group of
Germany (one, delivered in early 1996, operated by Air Lloyd of
Bonn), Idaho Helicopters Inc/Life Flight (one, for EMS service at
St Alphonsus Regional Medical Center, Boise, Idaho), Japan
Digital Laboratory (one), Luxembourg Air Rescue (one, in EMS
configuration), Mexican Navy (eight for SAR duties, of which
first two delivered in 1999), Police Aviation Services UK (10, of
which initial delivery was made in June 1998), Televisa of Mexico
(one), Japanese distributor Tomen (two), UND
(University of North Dakota) Aerospace (one).
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