MD Helicopters MD 600
| MD 600N | |
|---|---|
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| |
| A MD 600N with NOTAR | |
| Role | Light utility helicopter |
| National origin | United States |
| Manufacturer | McDonnell Douglas Helicopter Systems MD Helicopters |
| First flight | 22 November 1994 |
| Status | In service |
| Primary user | United States Border Patrol |
| Produced | 1995–present |
| Developed from | MD Helicopters MD 500 |
The MD Helicopters MD 600N is a light utility civilian helicopter designed in the United States. It is a stretched eight-seat development of the five-seat MD 520N helicopter.
Design and development
[edit]McDonnell Douglas Helicopter Systems (MD Helicopters since 1999) first announced it was developing a stretched MD 520N in late 1994, at that time designated the MD 630N.[1] The prototype, a modified MD 530F, had made its first flight on November 22, 1994. McDonnell Douglas gave the go-ahead for the production aircraft, redesignated the MD 600N, in March 1995.
McDonnell Douglas stretched the MD 520N fuselage by inserting a plug aft of the cockpit/cabin bulkhead and stretching the NOTAR tail boom. The larger fuselage allows for an extra (middle) row of seats. Other differences compared with the MD 520N include a new six blade main rotor (the MD 520N has a five blade unit) and an uprated Allison (now Rolls-Royce) Model 250 turboshaft.
The prototype was modified to MD 600N standard with a production standard engine and tail boom and flew in November 1995, followed the next month by the first MD 600N production prototype.[1] Certification was awarded on May 15, 1997, and deliveries began that June.
Following the 1997 Boeing/McDonnell Douglas' merger, Boeing sold the former MD civil helicopter lines to Netherlands-based RDM Holdings in early 1999.[1]
On March 8, 2017, MD Helicopters unveiled a concept variant known as the MD 6XX.[2] Unlike the MD 600, the MD 6XX utilizes a traditional tail rotor and shares its T-tail design with the smaller MD 500/530F. It is currently[when?] in development, with certification originally expected in 2020.[3] However, certification has been delayed indefinitely.[4]
Operators
[edit]
- United States Border Patrol (retired)[8]
Specifications (MD 600N)
[edit]Data from The International Directory of Civil Aircraft, 2003–2004[1]
General characteristics
- Crew: 1–2
- Capacity: 8 total
- Length: 35 ft 5 in (10.80 m)
- Height: 8 ft 9 in (2.67 m)
- Empty weight: 2,100 lb (953 kg)
- Max takeoff weight: 4,100 lb (1,860 kg)
- Powerplant: 1 × Allison Model 250-C47 turboshaft engine, 600 shp (450 kW)
- Main rotor diameter: 27 ft 6 in (8.38 m)
- Main rotor area: 594.03 sq ft (55.187 m2)
- Blade section: - NACA 0012[9]
Performance
- Maximum speed: 152 kn (175 mph, 282 km/h)
- Cruise speed: 135 kn (155 mph, 250 km/h)
- Range: 357 nmi (411 mi, 661 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
- AgustaWestland AW119 Koala
- Bell 407
- Eurocopter AS350 Écureuil
- Eurocopter EC130
- Marenco Swisshelicopter SKYe SH09
- PZL SW-4 Puszczyk
Related lists
References
[edit]- ^ a b c d Frawley, Gerard: The International Directory of Civil Aircraft, 2003–2004, page 156. Aerospace Publications Pty Ltd, 2003. ISBN 1-875671-58-7.
- ^ Johnson, Oliver. "MD unveils MD 6XX concept helicopter". Vertical Magazine. Retrieved 2019-11-21.
- ^ Trimble, Stephen (2018-02-28). "MD Helicopters delays MD6XX certification to 2020". Flightglobal.com. Retrieved 2019-11-21.
- ^ "MD Helicopters' 6XX delays continue".
- ^ "6 injured in N'ganj copter crash".
- ^ "Moderno helicóptero policial fue presentado por Seguridad Pública". La Nacion. Archived from the original on 2012-12-22. Retrieved 2012-12-19.
- ^ "MD Helicopters Proudly Presents Aircraft to Turkish National Police". helitorque.com. Archived from the original on 30 September 2017. Retrieved 21 February 2013.
- ^ "US Customs & Border Protection puts MD600 fleet into desert storage". helihub.com. 29 October 2010. Retrieved 24 February 2013.
- ^ Lednicer, David. "The Incomplete Guide to Airfoil Usage". m-selig.ae.illinois.edu. Retrieved 16 April 2019.
External links
[edit]
Media related to MD Helicopters MD 600 at Wikimedia Commons