MV MD530F Full PackPublisher: Milviz |
Review Author:
|
![]() |
Intro
The MD530F helicopter is a single engine 1-2 crew light utility helicopter and the third member of the Hughes/MD500 series built by Hughes Helicopters and McDonnell Douglas Helicopter systems since the mid-1970s with introduction in the early 1980s (1982).
The original platform was the famous Hughes OH-6 Cayuse/Loach with the very characteristic Y-tale that was used by the military in several countries around the globe and which also had a civilian version named Hughes 500.
The MD530F version is a high heat and high altitude helicopter making it a superb solution for heavy lifting in bad weather conditions due to its higher tolerances.

Aircraft Information & Specs:
- Produced by Hughes and McDonnell Helicopters
- First flight mid-1970s
- Introduction 1982
- Role Light Utility Helicopter
- Status Active
- Built 4,700 (MD500 series)
- Crew 1-2 (pilot and navigator)
- Capacity 5 total
- Length 32 ft 7 in (9.94 m)
- Rotor diameter 27 ft 4 in (8.33 m)
- Height 8 ft 9 in (2.48 m)
- Disc area 587.5 sq ft (54.6 m2)
- Empty weight 1,591 lb (722 kg)
- MTOW 3,550 lb (1,610 kg)
- Power plant 1x Allison 250-C30 Turboshaft 650 hp (485 kW)
- Maximum speed 152 knots (175 mph, 282 km/h)
- Cruise speed 135 knots (155 mph, 250 km/h)
- Range 232 nm (267 mi, 430 km)
- Service ceiling 18,700 ft (5,700 m)
- Rate of climb 2,069 ft/min (10.5 m/s)


