MD Helicopters MD 600N

Type (Muster)
Light multi-purpose turbine helicopter (leichter Mehrzweckhubschrauber)

Country (Land)
USA

Manufacturer (Hersteller)
MD Helicopters Inc.
5000 East McDowell Road
Mesa, Arizona 85215-9797
USA

Phone: 001-480/891-8014
Fax: 001-480/891-8018

General data (Allgemeine Angaben)
Crew (Besatzung): 1
Passengers (Passagiere): up to 7 in three seat rows, or 5 in club arrangement

Power plant (Antrieb): 1 x Rolls-Royce (Allison) 250-C47M
Power (Leistung): 1 x 602 kW (808 shp), derated to a 447 kW (600 shp) for take-off (Startleistung) and 395 kW (530 shp) maximum continuous (Dauerleistung), driving a fully articulated six-blade rotor.

Noise: 81,3 EPNdB at 500 ft flyover

Dimensions (Abmessungen)
Overall length, rotors turning (Länge über drehende Rotoren): 11,25 m
Fuselage length (Rumpflänge): 9,30 m
Height (Höhe): 2,74 m
Width over landing gear (Breite): 2,5 m
Rotor diameter (Rotordurchmesser): 8,38 m
Rotor disk area (Rotorkreisfläche): 55,2 sq m

Aft cabin floor length (Länge der Kabine am Boden): 1,83 m
Maximum cabin height (max. Kabinenhöhe): 1,22 m
Max. cabin width (max. Kabinenbreite): 1,22 m

Weights (Massen)
Empty weight, standard (Leermasse): 952 kg
Max. Payload (Zuladung): 907 kg
Fuel (Kraftstoff): 435 litres (115 gallon)
Max. payload, internal/external (max. Nutzlast, innen und außen aufgehängt): 1179 kg (but cargo hook only certified at 970 kg)
Max. take-off weight (Max. Startmasse): 1860 kg, or 2130 kg with external loads

Performance (Flugleistungen)
Maximum cruise speed (Max. Reisegeschwindigkeit): 248 km/h
Max. Rate of climb (Steigrate): 9,0 m/s
Maximum operating altitude: 6097 m
Service ceiling (Dienstgipfelhöhe): 3962 m
Hover ceiling (Schwebeflughöhe)
- out of ground effect (ohne Bodeneffekt, ISA): over 2073 m on a standard day, or 1220 m at ISA+20 C
- in ground effect (im Bodeneffekt): 3505 m or 2255 m at ISA+20 C
Maximum Range (Reichweite): 704 km at 1829 m / ISA or 620 km at sea level
Endurance (Flugdauer): 3,8 hour (at 1500 m, ISA)
g-limits: +3,5/-0,5

Costs (Kosten)
The MD 600N sold for 1,275 million US-Dollars in early 2000, up from 1,2 million US-Dollars in August 1999.
Claimed direct operating costs were estimated at 231 US-Dollars in 1999.

Customers (Kunden)
By the end of 1999, 49 MD 600Ns were in service worldwide. At the beginning of the year, shipments had stood at 36. Among the customers are

AirStar Helicopters (Grand Canyon tour operator; first delivery June 1997)
WTVJ Channel 6 /NBC (Miami, Florida)
Saab Helicopter AB (Sweden)
Rotair Ltd. (Hong Kong)
Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department
Presta Services (France)
University of North Dakota
West Virginia State Police
US Border Patrol (has ordered 45 for use in drug interdiction operations)

According to AIA statistics, MD 600 series deliveries were 7 in 1999, 21 in 1998 and 15 in 1997.

Competitors (Konkurrenz)
Bell 206 LongRanger
Eurocopter AS 350 Ecureuil

Remarks (Bemerkungen)
The MD 600N is an improved performance derivative of the MD 520N. The main differences are:

a 0,76 m cabin stretch aft of the cockpit bulkhead
a 0,71 m extension of the tailboom
a more powerful engine
six-blade main rotor

History (Geschichte)
A test vehicle (desginated MD 630N) flew for the first time on 22. November 1994, and McDonnell Douglas officially presented the helicopter at Heli Expo in Las Vegas early in 1995.
The production go-ahead for the MD 600N was given in April 1995. Tests with three production prototypes startet on 15. December 1995. Several test incidents related to tailbooms strikes at low rotor rpm led to some modifications and a five month delay in the certification programme. Certification was achieved on 15. May 1997.
First delivery was made on 6. June 1997 to AirStar Helicopters, a tour operator at the Grand Canyon. By July 1998, the company has delivered 21 MD 600Ns to customers in the United States, Europe and Africa. More followed by year end, including helicopters for the United States Border Patrol, which has ordered 45 for use in drug interdiction operations and to curb illegal entry along the southern U.S. border.
After a year-long search for potential buyers and US Government rejection of a sale to Bell, Boeing finally completed the disposal of its civil helicopter business (inherited from the McDonnell Douglas merger) in February 1999. Newly formed MD Helicopters took over ownership of the single and twin-engine commercial products, including the MD 600N. The company is an indirect subsidiary of RDM Holding, a European-based industrial group.
Boeing will provide technical support for up to five years and did continue to manufacture some parts for a time. Assembly continues at Boeing facilities at Falcon Field at Mesa. MD Helicopters first leased these facilities but is in the process of buying them in 2000.
A price reduction of 50000 US-Dollars was announced on 10 August 1999.

Last updated 23 March 2000

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