ALEA 2012 : MD Helicopters Making Progress with MD540

MD Helicopters is preparing its prototype MD540F light helicopter for upcoming flight demonstrations with the US Army, it has been revealed.


The prototype aircraft, which was first revealed at the Quad A exhibition in Nashville earlier this year, will take part in a US Army Volunteer Flight Demonstration (VFD) in September at the company's facilities in Mesa, Arizona as part of the army's Armed Aerial Scout programme.


In a further move, the company has confirmed to Shephard that it will certify the type having sold an example to a customer in Europe. This will take place around the beginning of 2014.

Benjamin Weiser, SVP of business development and commercial sales at MD Helicopters, told Shephard at the opening of the Airborne Law Enforcement Association annual convention in Reno, Nevada that the aircraft had performed well in flight tests.


'We are very satisfied with the test flying so far; our test pilots have reported very low levels of vibration. We are ready for the demonstrations - the aircraft shows excellent levels of performance and we have already flown it at gross weights up to 3,800 lbs (1,727 kg),' Weiser said.


The prototype N540HH has now flown around 40 hours.


Weiser also revealed that there had been interest from US law enforcement agencies who are impressed by the type's hot and high capabilities. The US Army will also look closely at those capabilities to ensure it meets the strict 6K/95 requirements.

The 540F features a six-bladed main rotor head fitted with composite blades produced by Van Horn Aviation. Garmin's G500 forms the basis of the glass cockpit while Elbit has provided the Helmet Display and Tracking System (HDTS) that is slaved to the undernose MX-10 EO/IR turret.


The aircraft uses the Rolls-Royce C30-250 turboshaft producing 600shp and the company claims that the improvements will deliver an increase in max gross take-off weight and useful load.