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[ HELICOPTER ]
BORN in THE USA A true Stars and Stripes thoroughbred, the MD Helicopters 600N is a fast, robust single turbine that’s ideal for landing in tight spaces like yacht helipads
by Sergio A. Barlocchetti pictures by courtesy of MDHelicopters
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he MD Helicopters 600N is a single-turbine that can carry from three to seven people, depending on
the interior layout. It is directly based on the series 500 models, especially the five-seat 520, all of which can be found throughout the world in civil and military fleets. It is also extremely versatile, and has been certified for VIP transport and utility, as well as for use as an air ambulance. It is easy to handle with a useful load of 900 kg, and retains the typical NOTAR (No-Tail Rotor) solution, where air from the turbine – a 600hp Allison AL250 – provides thrust to offset torque and maintain directional control. The system is not popular with all pilots, as it less manageable and efficient than the traditional tail rotor setup, but it nevertheless offers significant benefits for use in restricted spaces like yachts and makeshift landing pads. Not only that, it is quieter, reduces vibration and is more accessible. The VIP version boasts elegant interiors, while the utility model is spartan and essential, reflecting the MD Helicopters emphasis on high performance, with a top speed of almost 250 km/h and a maximum takeoff weight of just over two tonnes. Maximum altitude is
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The “N� in its name stands for Notar (No-Tail Rotor), a system that uses air from the turbine to control torque and provide directional control. The MD600N can carry up to seven people
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[ HELICOPTER ]
The digital avionics platform is created by integrating Howell EFIS instrumentation with a pair of Garmin 500 systems and an L-3 ESI 500 standby system
6,000 metres, and the helicopter has a range of over 430 km with partial load. The final new feature on board the 600N is its digital avionics platform, now an indispensable asset for any self-respecting craft of this type. In this case Howell EFIS instrumentation is integrated with a pair of Garmin 500 systems and an L-3 ESI 500 standby system. When equipped with the most common accessories like on-board connectivity and safety systems including pneumatic floats for emergency landings on water, the price comes to around $2.5 million. But paying out that amount of money gives purchasers the right to say they own a 100 per cent American chopper with a warbird pedigree, as revealed by the first two letters of the name: MD stands for McDonnell Douglas, a major player in US aviation history. MD also owned Hughes Helicopters, which it acquired from the estate of another aviation legend, Howard Hughes (1905-1976). In 2005 MD Helicopters was bought by the dynamic female entrepreneur Lynn Tilton, CEO of the Patriarch Partners LLC holding company. She has endeavoured to infuse new drive and energy into the MD brand’s aeronautical activities.
www.mdhelicopters.com
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