MD Helicopters MD 600 explained

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

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

External links

Notes and References

  1. Frawley, Gerard: The International Directory of Civil Aircraft, 2003–2004, page 156. Aerospace Publications Pty Ltd, 2003. .
  2. Web site: MD unveils MD 6XX concept helicopter. Johnson. Oliver. Vertical Magazine. en-US. 2019-11-21.
  3. Web site: MD Helicopters delays MD6XX certification to 2020. Trimble. Stephen. 2018-02-28. Flightglobal.com. en-GB. 2019-11-21.
  4. Web site: MD Helicopters' 6XX delays continue.
  5. Web site: 6 injured in N'ganj copter crash.
  6. Web site: Moderno helicóptero policial fue presentado por Seguridad Pública. La Nacion. 2012-12-19. https://web.archive.org/web/20121222015003/http://www.nacion.com/2012-12-18/Sucesos/Moderno-helicoptero-policial-fue-presentado-por-Seguridad-Publica.aspx. 2012-12-22. dead.
  7. Web site: MD Helicopters Proudly Presents Aircraft to Turkish National Police. helitorque.com. 21 February 2013. 30 September 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/20170930084054/http://www.helitorque.com/portal/modules.php?name=News&file=article&sid=258. dead.
  8. Web site: US Customs & Border Protection puts MD600 fleet into desert storage . helihub.com . 29 October 2010. 24 February 2013.