MD 500 Series

Breathing New Life into a Great Bird – Available 2012

First hover test of VHA composite main rotor blades on an MD 530F -- April 7, 2011.

Video of Initial flight test of VHA MD500 series main rotor blades April 7, 2011

Tired of flying metal blades on your MD 500 series helicopter?  VHA has test-flown the first commercially-developed composite main rotor blades for the MD 500 series since the aircraft was first developed as the Hughes 369 in 1963. If everything goes according to schedule, the new composite VHA MD 500 main rotor blades should be available to operators in mid-2012.

The VHA MD 500 series main rotor blades will use the same NASA-designed laminar flow airfoil, shaped tip and composite structure as VHA’s Bell 206B/L tail rotor blade. These design features should result in similar noise reduction and increased lift when applied to the MD 500 main blades.

Design Goals

The design goals for the VHA MD 500 blades include:

VHA employees lay up a prototype MD 500 main rotor blade -- March 2011

• Life limit increased from 3,430 to 10,000 hours
• Decreased aircraft fuel burn rates
• Reduced aircraft acoustical noise signature
• Increased aircraft internal gross weight to 3350 pounds
• Reduced Direct Operating Costs
• Easier tracking and balancing
• Same length and chord as OEM blade
• No aircraft modifications required

Materials

• Titanium root fitting
• Foam core
• Carbon fiber spar and skin
• Brass nose weight
• Nickel abrasion strip
• Stainless steel/bronze bushings

Model Development Schedule

VHA intends to develop main and tail rotor blades for the MD 500 series aircraft in approximately the following order (note that some programs may overlap):

• 530F Main rotor blades — FAA certification anticipated in 1Q 2012, available for purchase in mid-2012
• NOTE: 500D/E operators will be able to use the 530F blades with a tail extension kit — Available late 2012
• 520N Main rotor blades — Available late 2012
• 530F, 500D/E Tail rotor blades — Available early 2013