56 SA Flyer MagazineHISTORY
The Hughes 500/MD500 series began
life in response to a US Army requirement
for a Light Observation Helicopter (LOH).
Hughes’ Model 369 won the contest
against competition from Bell and Hiller
by submitting a very low and aggressive
price per airframe (without an engine).
The subsequent OH-6 Cayuse first flew in
February 1963.
Prior to the OH-6’s first flight, Hughes
announced it was developing a civil
version, to be marketed as the Hughes
500, available in basic five- and seven-seat
configurations. A utility version with a more
powerful engine was offered as the 500U
(later called the 500C).
The improved Hughes 500D became
the primary model in 1976, with a more
powerful engine, a T-tail, and a new five-
blade main rotor. The 500D was replaced
by the 500E from 1982. The 500E featured
a pointed nose and various interior
improvements, such as greater head- and
legroom. The 530F was a more powerful
version of the 500E optimised for hot and
high work.
McDonnell Douglas acquired Hughes
Helicopters in January 1984, and from
August 1985 the 500E and 530F have
been built as the MD500E and MD530F
Lifter. Currently the company is owned by
Patriarch Partners, an investment firm run
by Lynn Tilton.PLACING THE MD500
Some flying machines are iconic and
others are just that – flying machines.
What drives the difference? The MD500
is already a classic, despite the fact that
it is still in production today – although
production did begin more than 50 years
ago.
The MD500 falls into the ‘class’ of light
turbine single engine helicopters, largely
defined by the variations of the Allison/Rolls
Royce 250-C20B turbine, which produces
between 320-420 shp (depending on
application). They are found in the MD500,
the Bell JetRanger 206, the Enstrom 480B
and more recently the Robinson 66 (using
technically a RR300 – a rebadged and
down-rated variant of the Rolls-Royce
Model 250-C20).
The engine is critical in determining
the weight class, fuel consumption, range,
speed, endurance and carrying capacity –
and ultimately maintenance cost. All thoseflight test
Allison 250-C20B turbine produces up to 420
shp and is mounted at a 45 degree angle.
Only pre-flight check that requires
climbing onto the machine is checking
the rotorhub. The five blades might look
complex, but there are no unusual parts.Oil levels of the engine and
gearboxes are easily visible
without having to open any panels.Christoph Andrykowsky