MD - All Not Good in Mesa
Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: Sussex but could be moving!
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186 million!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I'm glad I was sat down for that one!!!!!!! Thats a lot of money! Did she go over to Afghanistan personally or was it Joep who did the wheeling and dealing? I bet there are a few Ruskie tanks to scrap over there too 
I take my hat off to the mighty LT if she's pulled it off alone without his help.
I wonder how long it will be before the local afghans become PPLH's and are cleared to fly Lynnes a/c?
Isn't Obama pulling out of the land nobody wants to play in due to the high casulties, even though its got the most high value mineral deposits in the world there?
Who will service these new training a/c? Will PAS in the UK be offering an extra £500 to anyone who can help them entice an MD mechanic or 2 like before?
It says here Mabel is the point of contact regarding the new contract, I wonder if she will be appearing in Lynnes new TV show too? Mabel if you need an ex army driver let me know
https://www.fbo.gov/index?s=opportunity&mode=form&tab=core&id=5d33b640a3e35b69f9 336296bac6348e
I take my hat off to the mighty LT if she's pulled it off alone without his help.
I wonder how long it will be before the local afghans become PPLH's and are cleared to fly Lynnes a/c?
Isn't Obama pulling out of the land nobody wants to play in due to the high casulties, even though its got the most high value mineral deposits in the world there?
Who will service these new training a/c? Will PAS in the UK be offering an extra £500 to anyone who can help them entice an MD mechanic or 2 like before?
It says here Mabel is the point of contact regarding the new contract, I wonder if she will be appearing in Lynnes new TV show too? Mabel if you need an ex army driver let me know
https://www.fbo.gov/index?s=opportunity&mode=form&tab=core&id=5d33b640a3e35b69f9 336296bac6348e
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Impressive skids
I was impressed by this NASA crash test video using a high skid MD 500.
I wonder how well some other makers would withstand the same drop with wheels or short skids? A hard landing in anyone's book.
I wonder how well some other makers would withstand the same drop with wheels or short skids? A hard landing in anyone's book.
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And this is the same one with airbag options
This is a more detailed clip of how it was all done down at NASA with comments from their staff.
Interesting airbag options at the end.
Interesting airbag options at the end.
Join Date: Apr 2007
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Thats a lot of money!
According to the fine print, the initial contract award is for much less - 6 helicopters, 2 FTD's, and spares etc. Probably more like $25 mm or so. The other 48 helicopters are options and may or may not be purchased. Still, a good start.
And that fine detail is where a lot of the problem lies.... lies....
There were some good examples of less than the truth at HAI this year... Yes there is stuff going on... but.
The Afghan deal said to be for 6 times its true value.... the new Van Horn MRB for th 530 that has not yet seen a lamination.... the 50 HEMS aircraft for the Middle East .... the Little Bird deal ..... unsigned and reflecting all the things - the inflated expectations - that have been presented in the recent years.
Yes I think most will happen but it is real smoke and mirrors stuff repeated...
There were some good examples of less than the truth at HAI this year... Yes there is stuff going on... but.
The Afghan deal said to be for 6 times its true value.... the new Van Horn MRB for th 530 that has not yet seen a lamination.... the 50 HEMS aircraft for the Middle East .... the Little Bird deal ..... unsigned and reflecting all the things - the inflated expectations - that have been presented in the recent years.
Yes I think most will happen but it is real smoke and mirrors stuff repeated...
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But wouldn't it be a good thing to have MD stay alive with:
A large 500 contract
A needed product improvement like high performance blades with a longer life.
A large 900 contract to spur that line back to life with some needed product improvements like a new (updated) IIDS and a lighter weight EFIS for the IFR machines.
Does anyone see anything but good with the company being busy like the 60s and 70s?
I think it is time to sit back, see what they can do and hope for the best for them. Talking them down does no good for anyone and makes you look like you are grinding an axe.
A large 500 contract
A needed product improvement like high performance blades with a longer life.
A large 900 contract to spur that line back to life with some needed product improvements like a new (updated) IIDS and a lighter weight EFIS for the IFR machines.
Does anyone see anything but good with the company being busy like the 60s and 70s?
I think it is time to sit back, see what they can do and hope for the best for them. Talking them down does no good for anyone and makes you look like you are grinding an axe.
Join Date: Apr 2005
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Oh geez!! Seems to be the same story year after year. I guess the aftermarket will keep things going for the 500 series no matter what.
I do wonder about LT at times. Sure she's been successful, but how hard is it to make money when the times are easy? She sure doesn't come across as understanding the aviation industry at times.
I would love to see composite blades for the 530 but most especially for the 500's as well. Heard Carson offered to build and sell her blades at $4500 a pop or so and she turned him down!
Does make one wonder at the brain trust in Mesa! 
On a good note: Tech ops is waaaay better than it was in terms of responsiveness. I recently had a couple questions and not only did Chris M. get back to me in a timely manner over the weekend but he followed up a couple times during the week as well to make sure things had been resolved. I am well pleased!!
I do find it strange though that hitting "5" on the menu results in being recycled to another menu sort of like the first but not quite the same and no one picking up. I hope Chris isn't the only tech rep left in Mesa. What happened to Les and the others? Are they that busy or are they just gone. Inquiring minds want to know...
Sad that whatever engineering talent that seemed to be at Hughes/MDHS/Boeing/MDHelicopters seems to be gone or is it just me?!? I've heard nary a peep about any new innovations from a company that has had some great ones nor any engineering upgrades to existing products. Dying on the vine is a phrase that seems to spring to mind...
I do wonder about LT at times. Sure she's been successful, but how hard is it to make money when the times are easy? She sure doesn't come across as understanding the aviation industry at times.
I would love to see composite blades for the 530 but most especially for the 500's as well. Heard Carson offered to build and sell her blades at $4500 a pop or so and she turned him down!
Does make one wonder at the brain trust in Mesa! On a good note: Tech ops is waaaay better than it was in terms of responsiveness. I recently had a couple questions and not only did Chris M. get back to me in a timely manner over the weekend but he followed up a couple times during the week as well to make sure things had been resolved. I am well pleased!!
I do find it strange though that hitting "5" on the menu results in being recycled to another menu sort of like the first but not quite the same and no one picking up. I hope Chris isn't the only tech rep left in Mesa. What happened to Les and the others? Are they that busy or are they just gone. Inquiring minds want to know...
Sad that whatever engineering talent that seemed to be at Hughes/MDHS/Boeing/MDHelicopters seems to be gone or is it just me?!? I've heard nary a peep about any new innovations from a company that has had some great ones nor any engineering upgrades to existing products. Dying on the vine is a phrase that seems to spring to mind...
Last edited by fling-wing_1; 26th Mar 2011 at 06:26.
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Changes at the top?
Have there been changes at the top of the MD board?
Henk of PAS/SAS Joep right hand man firms, who was CEO of MD, who then sat as a not so visible director seems to have become Chairman of MD Helicopters according to Business week link below?
Maybe its going to become a pre 2005 LT setup again, RDM style?
Henk Schaeken: Executive Profile & Biography - BusinessWeek.
LT still gets a mention here though.
http://investing.businessweek.com/re...sonId=12037456
and here
MD Helicopters, Inc.: CEO & Executives - BusinessWeek
Is it all true and has Joep taken full control again, or is it smoke and mirrors again? It is a bit warmer in AZ than not so sunny Glos though
Henk of PAS/SAS Joep right hand man firms, who was CEO of MD, who then sat as a not so visible director seems to have become Chairman of MD Helicopters according to Business week link below?
Maybe its going to become a pre 2005 LT setup again, RDM style?
Henk Schaeken: Executive Profile & Biography - BusinessWeek.
LT still gets a mention here though.
http://investing.businessweek.com/re...sonId=12037456
and here
MD Helicopters, Inc.: CEO & Executives - BusinessWeek
Is it all true and has Joep taken full control again, or is it smoke and mirrors again? It is a bit warmer in AZ than not so sunny Glos though
Join Date: Nov 2010
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MD600 - Turks say no thanks
"MD600 insufficient in most cases for police work in Turkey" it says here by their department...
Turkish Police seek 10 new light twin helicopters
More spares anyone 
Re the ealier post about Henk becoming chairman at MD,
Has Hank left Staverton for the warmer state of Arizona to be Lynns lapdog? if so, who is Joeps new glove puppet at Staverton or is Joep taking over the controls himself?
Turkish Police seek 10 new light twin helicopters
08-Apr-11 The Turkish Security General Directorate intends to broaden its fleet with ten new helicopters, specifically siting needs to better track suspected criminals and intervening in incidents that could erupt during mass demonstrations.
Reports state that they are finding their current MD600 fleet “insufficient in most cases” citing “performance problems, particularly in high temperatures and at high altitudes”. The organisation is thus looking for a more capable helicopter type which can carry up to six individuals, although they have not made it clear whether that includes pilot(s) or not. As with any serious law enforcement agency in these times, the full specification of the aircraft will include a thermal imaging (infrared) system with live downlink to their command centre.
A tender is expected to be launched soon by the Undersecretariat for the Defense Industry, the country’s arms procurement agency.
Reports state that they are finding their current MD600 fleet “insufficient in most cases” citing “performance problems, particularly in high temperatures and at high altitudes”. The organisation is thus looking for a more capable helicopter type which can carry up to six individuals, although they have not made it clear whether that includes pilot(s) or not. As with any serious law enforcement agency in these times, the full specification of the aircraft will include a thermal imaging (infrared) system with live downlink to their command centre.
A tender is expected to be launched soon by the Undersecretariat for the Defense Industry, the country’s arms procurement agency.
Re the ealier post about Henk becoming chairman at MD,
Has Hank left Staverton for the warmer state of Arizona to be Lynns lapdog? if so, who is Joeps new glove puppet at Staverton or is Joep taking over the controls himself?
mfriskel for you
VHA celebrated a successful first flight of our MD 500 main rotor blades! Completed track and balance, hover and transitional flight in a relatively short four-hour session at the MD Helicopter facility in Mesa, Ariz. More photos and video will be uploaded soon!
VHA MD 500 Main Rotor Blade First Flight Test
VHA celebrated a successful first flight of our MD 500 main rotor blades! Completed track and balance, hover and transitional flight in a relatively short four-hour session at the MD Helicopter facility in Mesa, Ariz. More photos and video will be uploaded soon!
VHA MD 500 Main Rotor Blade First Flight Test
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If these blades perform as much better than Boeing 523 blades as the latest HTC blades were (prior to filling and faring) worse, it would be an impressive thing to see! It will also be interesting to see what happens with the bungie and overcenter block- it has already been redesigned in the 600.
Quad A 2011: MD and Boeing in 'short strokes' on finalising AH-6i production
April 19, 2011
MD Helicopters and Boeing are close to finalising an agreement for the production of airframes for the AH-6i programme.
Lynn Tilton, CEO of MD Helicopters told Shephard that the company was still in discussions with Boeing, but added that she expected a final decision shortly. 'We are in the short strokes of finalising the deal,' she said, 'but we expect to build most of the airframe for the aircraft.'
The two companies signed up to a memorandum of agreement in July 2010 with the aim of finalising a Long Term Requirements Contract.
David Koopersmith, VP of attack helicopter programmes at Boeing, said that discussions with the first customers including Jordan were being finalised but he hoped that the first production aircraft could be flying within the next 36 months.
There may also be a need for a second prototype aircraft, he said. Meanwhile, MD has begun production on the first three of six MD530F aircraft ordered by the Department of the Army for use as a Rotary Wing Primary Training Aircraft (RWPTA) in Shindand for the Afghan Air Force and plans to deliver the aircraft ahead of schedule.
As many as 54 aircraft could be needed over the life of the four year contract.
The company has also begun flight testing composite blades on the 530F. Tilton said the blades, which were developed by Van Horn Aviation, have exceeded expectations and were producing extremely smooth flight conditions.
April 19, 2011
MD Helicopters and Boeing are close to finalising an agreement for the production of airframes for the AH-6i programme.
Lynn Tilton, CEO of MD Helicopters told Shephard that the company was still in discussions with Boeing, but added that she expected a final decision shortly. 'We are in the short strokes of finalising the deal,' she said, 'but we expect to build most of the airframe for the aircraft.'
The two companies signed up to a memorandum of agreement in July 2010 with the aim of finalising a Long Term Requirements Contract.
David Koopersmith, VP of attack helicopter programmes at Boeing, said that discussions with the first customers including Jordan were being finalised but he hoped that the first production aircraft could be flying within the next 36 months.
There may also be a need for a second prototype aircraft, he said. Meanwhile, MD has begun production on the first three of six MD530F aircraft ordered by the Department of the Army for use as a Rotary Wing Primary Training Aircraft (RWPTA) in Shindand for the Afghan Air Force and plans to deliver the aircraft ahead of schedule.
As many as 54 aircraft could be needed over the life of the four year contract.
The company has also begun flight testing composite blades on the 530F. Tilton said the blades, which were developed by Van Horn Aviation, have exceeded expectations and were producing extremely smooth flight conditions.
