Hughes / McDonnell Douglas / MD Helicopters 500 / MD 500
Light Utility Helicopter
Photo ©: Karsten Palt
The Hughes 500 / MD Helicopters MD 500 is a light single engine five seat utility helicopter produced by the US-American manufacturer Hughes Helicopters (later McDonnellDouglas, today MD Helicopters).
| Propulsion | 1 Turboshaft Engine |
| Engine Model | Allison / Rolls-Royce 250-C20R/2 |
| Engine Power | 280 kW | 375 shp |
| max. Cruise Speed | 250 km/h | 135 kts
155 mph |
| max. Speed (vne) | 282 km/h | 152 kts
175 mph |
| Service Ceiling | 4.877 m | 16.000 ft |
| Rate of climb | 541 m/min | 1776 ft/min |
| Range | 532 km | 287 NM
330 mi. |
| Empty Weight | 688 kg | 1.517 lbs |
| max. Takeoff Weight | 1.361 kg | 3.000 lbs |
| Rotor Blades (main/tail) | 5 / 2 |
| Main Rotor Diameter | 8,10 m | 26 ft 7 in |
| Tail Rotor Diameter | 1,40 m | 4 ft 7 in |
| Rotor Disc Area | 51,5 m² | 554 ft² |
| Length (Fuselage) | 6,84 m | 22 ft 5 in |
| Length | 9,40 m | 30 ft 10 in |
| Height | 2,60 m | 8 ft 6 in |
| First Flight | 23.02.1963 (Hughes 369) |
| Production Status | in production |
| Developed from | Hughes OH-6 (369) |
| ICAO Code | H500 |
| FAA TCDS | H3WE |
| Data for (Version) | MD Helicopters MD 500E (Model 369E) |
| Variants | 369 (YOH-6A), 369A (OH-6A), 369H (MD 500C), 369HM (MD 500M Defender), 369HS (MD 500C), 369HE (MD 500C), 369D (MD 500D), 369E (MD 500E), 369F, 369FF (MD 530F), 500N (MD 520N), MD 60 |
