MD902 vs EC135
 

Hi Team,
Just wondering with all this wealth of info on here could the above drivers give their point of view on which one is better,Good points,Bad points etc.Have trolled thru the EC135 thread but want a more up to date argument:E .Cheers:ok: :ok:

Nicest things about the MD is the cockpit logic and big square cabin. The worst things about the EC is the hover power margin, it's poor payload and short range. They have equally bad points (MD) and good points (EC). Neither do a really good job.

Dis-Mystery of Lift,

What role are you looking at for the aircraft?

FNW

Head Turner: "They have equally bad points (MD) and good points (EC). Neither do a really good job."

Can't let you get away with that one old son!!

You need to explain and give evidence to back up such a forthright comment.

One outsells the other by about 10:1 ???????

I've driven both and the question is essentially this:

Do you like cats or dogs?

5.0
 

So one of them must be a dog then..............

From the websites:

MD900
Useful load 2900 lb
Max cruise 135kt
VNe 140kt
Range 260nm


EC135
Useful load 3200 lb
Max cruise 138
VNe 145
Range 350nm

On paper, HOGE and HIGE performance looks pretty similar. There's my contribution!

Is there a future for the 902 given the reported state of the company ?

G C N - 10:1?

..........

Wow! I wish we had one like that....ours would go ominously quiet after about 380nm at that cruise speed....

Used in various roles Utility/Corporate.

Thanks for the info so far:ok:

And now for something completely different...
 

Having read the posts here, I'm left with a feeling that I've tossed the baby up in the air and it hasn't come down yet.

I don't know squat about either aircraft, either before or after reading this thread.

Helopat

the big difference is in spares support.................. do you prefer hearing excuses for late deliveries with an American or German accent :)

Lima Oscar, are you sure your EC135 isnt being towed along at that cruise speed by an Agusta Grand:)

Vne: 168 kts
Max Cruise: 155kts
Range: 510 nm

I know what I'd have every time!!

OK I'll come clean...............our 135 cruises at 125-130 kts with 9 bananas on the FLI and 2 hours 20 minutes is the best we have achieved with no fuel left in the main tank and 40/35kg in the supply tanks. That equates to roughly 300 nms. I would love to swop our's for the one Lima Oscar has just for those extra 50 nms.
Hover performance is pretty lethargic. I won't give figures as there are too many varibles, but only to say that my experiences with 'limited power' now are very useful.
Once at and above 40 kts it flys very well and the autopilot is superb. Silly place to put the Cat A switch but believe that this glitch is being addressed.
With 7 pob and no luggage the range is about 70 nms/ 45 mins flight time which is pittiful.
Luggage space is excellent and CG is manageable.
We have a bleed air heater and no a/con as it was too heavy and assessed that we would probably need it only on a couple of occasions.
An Agusta Grand would have been a better choice except that the TR is vunerable to damage being close to the ground in situations of off airport landings. And more expensive. So as a compromise we have the 135 with the harsh ride in turbulent conditions.

Yup - reliable, faithful, simple,
um,
starts first time,
er,
big cabin,
no it's gone.

Dis - Mystery - could I suggest you do a search on this site where you'll find this subject has been discussed, in great detail, more than once. The only real difference in the last 6-12 months is that the EC135 T2i upgrade is now in the pipeline (extra 75kg / 20 mins endurance) and the 902 lost out in the LUH contract; admitedly not to the 135 but to its stablemate - built on parallel production lines with many similar parts and an almost identical cockpit.
Take a look at these links to start with:
EC135 – http://www.pprune.org/forums/showthread.php?t=189945
MD Explorer - http://www.pprune.org/forums/showthread.php?t=197460
Have fun! :ok:

Where's PAN, he's usually popped up by now to slag off the 902:rolleyes: From an engineers point of view the 135 is easier to work on unless you've got an Ambulance fit trim and then that can be a bit of a laugh to get out when it's time to change the Aris pots:ugh: