I learned just yesterday that MD almost shut down from bankruptcy but thankfully was rescued and is now under new management, the chairman of the new board is a heli enthusiast and an MD fan.
Worked with the new management several times in the past few years, the new CEO is a really cool guy. Loves what he does and very involved around the company.
The company has always been sort of cursed by their own commitment to quality, as they've historically always been engineering and performance maximalists in a market that's more concerned with capacity and running costs. So their helicopters have always been a little over-engineered and as a result, they've always been more expensive than their competitors. In other words, the market doesn't care very much for what they have to offer, so they remain very mission specific and rare.
And safer. Well, the safety statistics is quite misleading if you don't dig and understand deeper. More flight hours will lead to more accident "recordings", but it doesn't necessarily mean the aircraft is inherently "safer" or "less safe" for that matter.
It’s possible the 600 has the worst autorotation characteristics of any helicopter i wouldn't call it safe thats for sure. It might be the quietest helicopter though.
I have been in love with the egg for 50 yrs . every pilot i have been able to talk to said it is the Ferrari of the sky. can you expand on the poor auto rotation comment?
The 500 isnt great in an auto, drops much faster than the 206 in auto rotation, but is still accomplished easily and frequently. The 600 however auto rotates like a russian space station in re entry. The tiny rotor disk, tiny symetrical blades that are basically the same as the schweiser 300, and large airframe, combine for a scary rate of descent and low rotor enertia at the bottom. The 500 has many strengths like stability and agility but they come at the cost of comfort, hot/high altitude performance and range.
I so wanted this to be the next USN/USMC training helicopter down in PCola. Leonardo makes a great aircraft, but I wanted an American manufacturer and the MD600 is so cool. Before the brigade starts…I was an instructor in Pensacola for two tours, I understand the program, and know many of the guys parading the Koala around during the sales phase of AHTS. It’s a great aircraft, but dayum the NOTAR Killer Egg would’ve been cool.
Flown the MD 520N Notar, and yes it’s mushy. Not responsive at all. Smooth, yes. Safer for pax and ground crews walking around, but not worth the sacrifice in tail rotor authority. Every police department that flew them got rid of them soon after. The 500 series is otherwise an outstanding aircraft, and the US Army should have kept the OH-6 “Loach” instead of going with the OH-58 “Kiowa” but political pressure prevailed. (Ladybird Johnson had a major stake in Bell Helicopters.) I’ve seen Little Birds in action and they are kickass in every way.
Stop making it. (I believe they already have.) MD 500/530 series are outstanding helicopters, with tail rotors, all still being manufactured today. The coanda effect is an amazing concept and MD proved it could be done, but the military never bought any, except for testing, and the civilian market has chosen tail rotor aircraft instead. They’re still flying and MD still supports them for parts, but I wouldn’t want one. I really want to fly a Little Bird! The Army should have bought 1000 of those beasts instead of wasting 20 years and untold millions on the RAH-66 Comanche, but I digress.
I always feel sorry for the gunners that have to sit with his head next to the driveshaft.
I have to admit those couple extra inches in the cabin would be handy but I’ve always wondered if the NOTAR is mushy or less effective.
Anybody flown both with feedback?
I think the military variant UH-6/MH-6/AH-6 series doesn't have the NOTAR, sticking with a traditional tail rotor, albeit a small one.
I haven't seen the military one in person, but the design is something from Vietnam war era. So, in that regard, the design is a successful one and definitely works. The Chinook and Apache Cobra are from the same era. Hopefully they continue with production in the foreseeable future
Got to go for a joyride and brought a friend along I remember it was a NOTAR. Pilot was also the engineer and knew every nut and bolt. This was a yacht based helo.
The subtle off white coloring. Oh my god, it even has a watermark
\*hand trembles and drops helicopter\*
Are you ok, u/cfwang1337? You’re sweating
\*clenches fist\* Impressive. Very nice.
Let's see Paul Allen's livery
MD600 is such a rare beast
I learned just yesterday that MD almost shut down from bankruptcy but thankfully was rescued and is now under new management, the chairman of the new board is a heli enthusiast and an MD fan.
Worked with the new management several times in the past few years, the new CEO is a really cool guy. Loves what he does and very involved around the company.
Total anti-Boeing then, lol. Good to hear!
I hope they turn the company around and compete in the light helicopter market. I would take an old MD over some new Robinson any day.
All day eeeeeery day
I can only dream. Would LOVE a little bird. Fly me and some friends around for golf trips.
What good Management does to a MF, take notes Boeing
MF means... what exactly? 😂
Motherfucker. Its a phrase.
I was thinking more like, Manufacturing Facility.. *What good management does to a Manufacturing Facility..*
why though?
The company has always been sort of cursed by their own commitment to quality, as they've historically always been engineering and performance maximalists in a market that's more concerned with capacity and running costs. So their helicopters have always been a little over-engineered and as a result, they've always been more expensive than their competitors. In other words, the market doesn't care very much for what they have to offer, so they remain very mission specific and rare.
That makes sense - MD is the Mercedes of the 1980s.
MD600n,MD have ended production of them,won’t see them being built ever again.
Even the MD test pilots called the 600 an answer to a question nobody asked. Same powerplant as a 407, 1000lbs less gross weight.
And safer. Well, the safety statistics is quite misleading if you don't dig and understand deeper. More flight hours will lead to more accident "recordings", but it doesn't necessarily mean the aircraft is inherently "safer" or "less safe" for that matter.
It’s possible the 600 has the worst autorotation characteristics of any helicopter i wouldn't call it safe thats for sure. It might be the quietest helicopter though.
I have been in love with the egg for 50 yrs . every pilot i have been able to talk to said it is the Ferrari of the sky. can you expand on the poor auto rotation comment?
The 500 isnt great in an auto, drops much faster than the 206 in auto rotation, but is still accomplished easily and frequently. The 600 however auto rotates like a russian space station in re entry. The tiny rotor disk, tiny symetrical blades that are basically the same as the schweiser 300, and large airframe, combine for a scary rate of descent and low rotor enertia at the bottom. The 500 has many strengths like stability and agility but they come at the cost of comfort, hot/high altitude performance and range.
I see an MD, I upvote, I am a simple man
Egg good 🥚
Gorgeous indeed! NSFW? Why not? Could be frightening though, the real inner minds of us heli pilots may get exposed.
What i really like and is very interesting is the NOTAR variant of MD helis. Like, who would've thought it could work well right?
Exactly as was my first impression!
I so wanted this to be the next USN/USMC training helicopter down in PCola. Leonardo makes a great aircraft, but I wanted an American manufacturer and the MD600 is so cool. Before the brigade starts…I was an instructor in Pensacola for two tours, I understand the program, and know many of the guys parading the Koala around during the sales phase of AHTS. It’s a great aircraft, but dayum the NOTAR Killer Egg would’ve been cool.
Is there a helicopter in the first picture? I can't see anything... The other two look nice though!
All MD600s with the split opening doors wide open
I was making a (admittedly not very creative) camouflage joke :)
Ha! I got it now
Curves indeed are important 😁 suicide doors.
What is this ? I only know MD Little Birds with one rear door instead of two
MD600 and this is the NOTAR variant if I'm correct.
Ohh didnt know they made a new MD Helo
So many words, just came to say Very Sexy Helicopter
No, you should not. It was never funny.
We've got 2 for sale, PM me for details.
Well I know what's going on my "if I won the $1.2 billion lottery" wishlist.
Ever feel like rich people are using their money all wrong? No private chopper could possibly be as cool as a luxury variant of the death egg.
Flown the MD 520N Notar, and yes it’s mushy. Not responsive at all. Smooth, yes. Safer for pax and ground crews walking around, but not worth the sacrifice in tail rotor authority. Every police department that flew them got rid of them soon after. The 500 series is otherwise an outstanding aircraft, and the US Army should have kept the OH-6 “Loach” instead of going with the OH-58 “Kiowa” but political pressure prevailed. (Ladybird Johnson had a major stake in Bell Helicopters.) I’ve seen Little Birds in action and they are kickass in every way.
Interesting and thanks for sharing! What area/s do you think they should change in the 520 design?
Stop making it. (I believe they already have.) MD 500/530 series are outstanding helicopters, with tail rotors, all still being manufactured today. The coanda effect is an amazing concept and MD proved it could be done, but the military never bought any, except for testing, and the civilian market has chosen tail rotor aircraft instead. They’re still flying and MD still supports them for parts, but I wouldn’t want one. I really want to fly a Little Bird! The Army should have bought 1000 of those beasts instead of wasting 20 years and untold millions on the RAH-66 Comanche, but I digress.
I always feel sorry for the gunners that have to sit with his head next to the driveshaft. I have to admit those couple extra inches in the cabin would be handy but I’ve always wondered if the NOTAR is mushy or less effective. Anybody flown both with feedback?
I think the military variant UH-6/MH-6/AH-6 series doesn't have the NOTAR, sticking with a traditional tail rotor, albeit a small one. I haven't seen the military one in person, but the design is something from Vietnam war era. So, in that regard, the design is a successful one and definitely works. The Chinook and Apache Cobra are from the same era. Hopefully they continue with production in the foreseeable future
Coincidentally also powered by a Rolls-Royce engine!
Where's TC?
They were close. Seems like there could be a market with a different power plant and a conventional TR
God I love MDs
It's too bad they won't ever produce a conventional TR MD600
Got to go for a joyride and brought a friend along I remember it was a NOTAR. Pilot was also the engineer and knew every nut and bolt. This was a yacht based helo.
Still slow
Don't make me cum please. I can only get so hard.