MD Helicopters MD 600

MD 600N
A Skyheli MD 600N with NOTAR
Role Light utility helicopter
Manufacturer McDonnell Douglas Helicopter Systems
MD Helicopters, Inc.
First flight November 22, 1994
Status Active In production
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

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 a more powerful 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]

Operators

An MD-600N of the U.S. Customs and Border Protection
 Bangladesh
 Costa Rica
 Turkey
 United States

Specifications (MD 600N)

Data from The International Directory of Civil Aircraft, 2003–2004[1]

General characteristics

Performance

See also

Related development
Aircraft of comparable role, configuration and era
Related lists

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 Frawley, Gerard: The International Directory of Civil Aircraft, 2003–2004, page 156. Aerospace Publications Pty Ltd, 2003. ISBN 1-875671-58-7.
  2. ↑ http://bdnews24.com/bangladesh/2013/02/12/6-injured-in-nganj-copter-crash
  3. ↑ "Moderno helicóptero policial fue presentado por Seguridad Pública". La Nacion.
  4. ↑ "MD Helicopters Proudly Presents Aircraft to Turkish National Police". helitorque.com. Retrieved 21 February 2013. Check date values in: |date= (help)
  5. ↑ "US Customs & Border Protection puts MD600 fleet into desert storage". helihub.com. Retrieved 24 February 2013.

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