MD Helicopters MD 600

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.

MD 600N
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

Design and development

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 in development, with certification originally expected in 2020.[3] However, certification has been delayed indefinitely.[4]

Operators
 Bangladesh
 Costa Rica
 Turkey
 United States

Specifications (MD 600N)

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

Related development

Aircraft of comparable role, configuration, and era

Related lists

References
  1. Frawley, Gerard: The International Directory of Civil Aircraft, 2003–2004, page 156. Aerospace Publications Pty Ltd, 2003. ISBN 1-875671-58-7.
  2. Johnson, Oliver. "MD unveils MD 6XX concept helicopter". Vertical Magazine. Retrieved 2019-11-21.
  3. Trimble, Stephen (2018-02-28). "MD Helicopters delays MD6XX certification to 2020". Flightglobal.com. Retrieved 2019-11-21.
  4. "MD Helicopters' 6XX delays continue".
  5. "6 injured in N'ganj copter crash".
  6. "Moderno helicóptero policial fue presentado por Seguridad Pública". La Nacion. Archived from the original on 2012-12-22. Retrieved 2012-12-19.
  7. "MD Helicopters Proudly Presents Aircraft to Turkish National Police". helitorque.com. Retrieved 21 February 2013.
  8. "US Customs & Border Protection puts MD600 fleet into desert storage". helihub.com. 29 October 2010. Retrieved 24 February 2013.
  9. Lednicer, David. "The Incomplete Guide to Airfoil Usage". m-selig.ae.illinois.edu. Retrieved 16 April 2019.

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