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MD Helicopters MD 500
https://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. The successful Hughes 500/MD 500 series began life in response to a U.S. 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 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 agile control response and is less susceptible to weather-cocking. Hughes won the U.S. 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 U.S. 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 U.S. Army, though at a much reduced number. 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 a 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 legroom. 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. In 2014 an MD530F performed airshow acrobatics, piloted by eighty-two-year-old Dennis Kenyon. 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. Role Light utility helicopter National origin United States Manufacturer Hughes Helicopters McDonnell Douglas Helicopter Systems MD Helicopters, Inc. Introduction 1982 Status In service Primary user Various police agencies Produced 1976–present Number built 4,700 Developed from Hughes OH-6 Cayuse Variants McDonnell Douglas MD 500 Defender Developed into MD Helicopters MD 600 North Korea In 1985, North Korea managed to circumvent US export-control barriers to purchase 87 civilian-type Hughes MD 500s from a West German export firm (the purchase was conducted covertly) before the US government learnt of the illegal action by North Korea and moved to stop further deliveries to the country. There are reports indicating that at least sixty of the helicopters delivered to North Korea were modified to serve as helicopter-gunships. As South Korea produces the MD 500 domestically (under license) for use by its own armed forces, the modified helicopters operated by North Korea were deemed useful in conducting covert or deceptive operations against South Korea (such as incursions past the border). The modified MD 500 helicopters were finally revealed by North Korea and seen by the USA and European countries during North Korea's Victory Parade held on the 27th of July in 2013 in Pyongyang, to commemorate the 60th anniversary of the end of the Korean War in 1953. Images and analyses done regarding North Korea's MD 500 helicopters show that they have been modified significantly to serve as light attack helicopters, such as modification work on the helicopters for them to be mounted with Soviet-designed AT-3 Sagger anti-tank wire-guided missiles. Specifications Model 500C General characteristics Crew: one–two Capacity: five 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) * |
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