MD Helicopters MD500 (Hughes 500)

History

The MD Helicopters Model 500 achieved commercial success during the Cold War period. It was developed in the 1950s as a successor to the Bell OH-13 "Su" light helicopter line. Over 2,400 of these ultralight helicopters were produced for various operators worldwide. The Army established the Light Observation Helicopter (LOH) program and selected designs from Bell, Shearer, and Hughes for testing. Hughes' design, later designated OH-6A "Cayuse," won the first round of selection and entered service with the U.S. Army. The Army revisited the LOH program in 1967, and Bell's Model 206A, known as the OH-58A "Kiowa," was selected. The civilian version of the OH-6A was named the "Hughes 500" or "Type 500." The Model 500 had a teardrop-shaped fuselage, seating for 5 to 7 people, and a four-point skid landing gear.

Various models were introduced with different engines and cabin configurations. The 500N model had a unique NO Tail Rotor system. McDonnell Douglas acquired Hughes Helicopter division in 1984, renaming the Model 500 series to "MD 500." The MD 500 series was also produced under license in Italy and Japan. The Model 500F served as the basis for the unmanned "Bird" AH-6 helicopter. The MD500 "Defenders" were produced, and the type remains in service today. The MD600, an evolution of the 500 series, first flew in 1994 and has been in production since 1995. The MD500 helicopters are widely used worldwide.

Specification

Basic

Production

Roles

Dimensions

Weight

Performance

Performance

Armor

Variants

Type 369A - the production form of Type 369

MD500C (Model 369H) - Commercial five-seater people carrier.

MD500 "Defender" - Military variant; 1976 model; 471 built.

MD500D "Scout Defender" - Armed Scout Model

MD500M/ASW - Spanish Navy export model for anti-submarine warfare (ASW) roles.

MD500M "Defender" (Model 369HM) - Military export; 1968 model.

MD530MG "Defender" - A militarized variant of the 530F model.

MD530 "Nightfox" - Low Light Attack Platform

MD530MG "Paramilitary Defender" - Police variant

MD540F - A modernized 530F model.

MD500C (Model 369HS) - Model 1969; four-seater passenger tractor; equipped with 400 hp Allison 250-C20 engine.

MD500C (Model 369HE) - Model 369HS, internally improved; 1982 model.

MD500D (Model 369D) - 1976 commercial passenger passenger model; with 420 hp Allison 250-C20B engine; 1976 model.

MD500E (Type 369E) - VIP passenger; 1982 model; new nose unit.

MD530F (Model 369F) - "Hot and High" variant; 650 hp Allison 250-C30B engine; 1985 model.

MD520N ("NOTAR" = "NO Tail ROtor") - 1991 model; based on 500E model.

"Little Bird" UAV - Unmanned technology demonstrator based on the commercial 530F model series.

NH-500E - Model 500E, manufactured in Italy by Breda-Nardi (Agusta).

Kawasaki-Hughes Model 369HS - Local Japanese model made by Kawasaki Heavy Industries (KHI).

YOH-6A - Model 369-based US Army evaluation model.

OH-6 "Cayuse" - US Army production model based on the Type 369A.