MD530F
 

Curious, just what will an MD530F lift on the hook?
Im told that the hook has a limit of 2000lbs ( 907kg), yet most airframes must have a dry operating weight in the region of 1600lbs? You then have a max take off weight of 3100lbs.
Put the pilot on board with a usable amount of fuel and this doesn't seem to be a good aircraft for external load ?

Is this why there are very few here in Europe and the B3 seems to be the preferred choice ? What am I missing ?

Mtow is 1550lbs (a fair)...
This gives you about 2000 lbs for pilot, fuel and payload.

Pilot is 200 (let's assume), leaving 1800 for fuel and load.

More than enough...

MTOW is 3750lbs external load ops
An F weighs around 1650lbs, depends how far you want to strip her down ( no trim panels one raid etc etc )
So payload around 2100 lbs
BUT if anything like our D models we can't get close to the 3500lb MTOW more like 3300lbs

F or FF?
 

Final question. Can anyone explain the difference in model designations F or FF please?

F = E with longer MR blades from 520N and extended tailboom with adapter - C30 Max TO 375 hp

FF = as above with MGB from 600N as retrofit. C30 Max TO 425 hp 0-50 kts.

Incidentally the 600N MGB can be fitted as a retro to D, E, and 520N for more durability and higher TBO. It is a much better gearbox.

MD's...Sexiest Bird in the Sky
 

Any news, info, delivery or updates on the MD6XX?

Well I did fly an MD600N fro a while and that was definitely not "sexy" - more like frightening.

I loved flying my 600

I think it has been permanently shelved. MDHI seem to be busy building military 530Fs so that seems to be where their focus lies at the moment, along with upgrading the MD902.

500 Fan.

What was frightening about her? I thought they were nice to fly :ok:

Same here :8

That's a bugger.....it was gonna pop out as sumting awesome ;)

902 modernization may or may not be shelved depending on the new owner of MD.

i love MD but honestly their modernization is literally 20 years behind everyone else. They’ve been left in the dust unfortunately once the developing countries money runs out.

If they would restart the D model production line with some upgrades they would be plenty busy.

600 was always a beautiful helicopter to look at. Never enjoyed flying it especially during powerline construction ops in the mountains.

Hookes

If they made the MELB ie 6 bladed 500 with C47 then they would have a stump puller of a lifting machine

G'day 500Fan....I have an email from Steve Lapping of MD, in his words;the 6XX has a ton of potential due to its power/weight ratio and cabin size. It’s not sidelined yet though, just need a launch customer for it and for the world to get back to “normal”!


So hopefully we will here something positive soon!

Cheers

So the MD6XX,
Has been launched more than 3 years ago (March 2017).
It has a ton of potential .
It is waiting for a launch customer.

Nothing odd here ? …
.

I am happy to be a launch customer subject to seeing its lifting capacity

They are probably expecting a substantial order for a launch customer, though these days any order will probably do :}