Aiming for Blue Skies

Airbus Helicopters With Night Vision

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Regardless of where they are in the world, criminals are known to operate under the cover of darkness. This is why the British National Police Air Service (NPAS) has invested  £1.5 million in equipping and standardizing the night vision (NVIS) capability of the UK police fleet of helicopters.

The NPAS has seven H135 helicopters all of which have been upgraded with NVIS by Airbus Helicopters. This means that the fleet is capable of NVIS operations to ground level, which will clearly improve their night surveillance capabilities in all environments and at any height.

The upgrade has involved stripping most of the instruments in the cockpits of the seven helicopters and then re-equipping them to precisely the same standards with new FENN700+ night-vision goggles and flight and mission gear. This standardization ensures that pilots and crew are all familiar with the NVIS capability whichever individual helicopter they fly in.

Airbus has been upgrading aircraft for the UK air police for about 16 years. The first aircraft to be upgraded was a G-POLF Eurocopter in 2002.

The Airbus H135 Helicopter

The H135 is a twin-engine helicopter that has been manufactured for 22 years. In service in more than 60 countries around the world, it was an obvious choice for the police crime-fighting fleet. Incredibly versatile, these aircraft have, in total, been flown more than 4.5 million hours by more than 300 operators.

Since it was first launched, the H135 has continued to evolve, extending both its performance and mission capabilities. It also boasts low fuel consumption and is well known for its low sound levels and endurance, both of which are a huge plus for police operations and general law enforcement. In fact, the sound footprint of the H135 is so much lower than other helicopters in this class that it is even permitted to fly in the Grand Canyon which has incredibly stringent noise limitations!

It can land just about anywhere, in any conditions however high or hot. It also carries more payload over longer distances than other rotorcraft in the same category. 

The newest H135s feature state-of-the-art cockpit safety with a new four-axis autopilot. The helicopter’s high-set main rotor also contributes to increased operational safety.

According to Airbus, the H135 sets the benchmark for maintenance costs. Inspection intervals are remarkably long, with intermediate inspections required at 500 flight hours and periodic inspections required every three years or 1,000 hours, whichever is first.

The H135 was granted its first NVIS certification in 2009, giving it night vision goggle (NVG)-aided operational capacity. The NVIS system certification allows the helicopter to be fitted with lighting in the cockpit, cabin, and on the exterior that is night vision friendly. It is particularly useful in autonomous operations including emergency medical services, and of course for law enforcement.

Airbus H135 Helicopter Parts & Service

Prime Industries has an extensive inventory that includes both helicopter and fixed-wing aircraft parts and components, including those manufactured by Airbus. If you need parts for your H135 or any other aircraft, contact us for assistance.

Airbus Continues to Lower Operating Costs

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The aerospace industry is currently estimated to be worth US$838 billion and predictions are that it will be worth around US$6.3 trillion within the next two decades.

Airbus, said to be Europe’s largest aerospace company, announced “adjusted profits” (before charges and interest) of 110 percent for the first half of last year (2018). According to a BBC business report in July, the company more than doubled its profits in the second quarter of the year (2018) and looks set to keep its market share and maintain global commercial aircraft market leadership.

However, the company freely admits that there are considerable challenges ahead and continues to work pragmatically towards increasing efficiency and lowering operating costs.

Newest, Most-Efficient Entry-Level Widebody Has the Longest Range

Just a few weeks ago, on 6 November, Airbus’ A330-800 took to the skies on its maiden flight that lasted exactly four hours, four minutes. Two test pilots and a test engineer were on board.

After the test flight, president of Airbus Commercial Aircraft, Guillaume Faury confirmed that development of the A300-800 was on track and, as a result of the successful test flight, certification was scheduled for 2019. There will, though, be many more hours in the flight-test campaign as the development program requires 300 flight-test hours!

Powered by Rolls-Royce Trent 7000 turbofans that offer the latest technology, this is the second aircraft in the A330neo widebody family. Described as an “exceptionally versatile “route opener” Faury says it offers “unbeatable economics” for global airlines.

Both the A330-900, which made its first flight in October last year and is scheduled for introduction to the market as early as December 2018, and the new A330-800 can travel further with considerably lower operating costs. Fuel consumption alone is said to be 25 percent lower than the fuel burn of any previous aircraft manufactured by Airbus.

What this means is that the smaller A330-800 will be able to fly as many as 8,150 nautical miles without having to refuel. This will enable airlines to offer non-stop flights between Europe and Southeast Asia and Europe, as well as between the U.S. West Coast on various transpacific routes.

The entry-level A330-800 is able to seat 257 passengers while the larger A330-900 can seat up to 287. Both these highly efficient aircraft have characteristic three-class configurations, and they share the same engines and airframe, as well as cross-crew training. 

While the A330-800 is currently ranked as an entry-level widebody aircraft that offers greatest efficiency and the longest-range in the world, the A300-900 is heralded as being able to offer the lowest seat-mile cost in the midsize widebody category.

The first airline to add an A300-900 to their fleet will be will reportedly be TAP Air Portugal. In total, before end September, there were at least 14 customers who had already placed orders for more than 224 A330neos.

Airbus Parts and Service

While parts and service for the A330neos is not available yet, Prime Industries offers airplane parts, components, repairs, and service of a wide range of airplanes, including those manufactured by Airbus. View our inventory online or contact us for information about availability and pricing.

New Standards in Flight Experience for Airbus Passengers

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Dubbed the “cornerstone member” of the all-new Airbus A350 XWB aircraft, the A350-900 is said to be shaping the future of long-haul air travel. Along with several other aircraft, it is also setting new standards of flight experience for Airbus passengers. It is also delivering a product that is more cost effective and eco-friendly.

Launched in late 2017, the new Airbus 350 is available in three variants: A350 800, A350 900, and A350 1000, all of which are extra wide body (XWB) planes.

The A350 XWB is generally seen as a response to the Boeing 787 Dreamliner, while the A350 1000 is more specifically a direct competitor of the Boeing 777. The latter also replaces the discontinued Airbus A340 series.

The New Airbus Experience to Include Beds

Earlier this year, Airbus announced that it was working on “sleep modules” containing double-decker bunk beds in collaboration with Zodiac Aerospace. These will be located in the cargo section of A330 and A350 planes, directly beneath the main cabin of the aircraft, with access via a staircase. The company also has plans to incorporate modules for children’s play areas, hospital care, lounges, bars, and conference rooms. These are expected to come online by 2020.

What many passengers don’t realize is that Airbus already provides sleeping quarters for the crew in the A330 and A340 craft – also under the main cabin of the aircraft.

The exciting new modules will be optional with new aircraft as well as for retrofit on those already in flight.

Passengers will have the option to book a bed when they purchase a seat on the aircraft.

Airbus A350 XWB Planes Offer State-of-the-art Travel

It’s not just the fact that it comes with included sleeping modules in A350 planes, these jetliners also boast the most modern cabins and provide all passengers with “new standards of comfort” when in flight. Because the aircraft are extra-wide, seats are larger and more comfortable. There are also more flight deck windows which give passengers a much better view.

The A350 900 can seat 325 passengers in its 51.04 m-long cabins designed for quietness. Passengers can access movies in flight and use Wi-Fi to stay online with mobile phones and laptop computers.

It also boasts remarkable improvements in technology that include both new construction methods and the use of new composite materials, which is similar to the approach Boeing took with the 787 Dreamliner launched for public flight in October 2011. Comparison of materials used for Airbus A350-XWB and Boeing 787 shows that:

  • the Airbus comprises 53 percent composites vs. Boeing’s 50 percent
  • 19 percent aluminum and aluminum-lithium vs. 20 percent
  • 15 percent titanium vs. 15 percent
  • only 6 percent steel vs. Boeing’s 10 percent steel
  • 8 percent miscellaneous materials vs. 5 percent

The fuselage of all A350 XWB models is built from carbon-fiber reinforced plastic that is highly resistant to corrosion making it easier to maintain. The material also supports lower fuel burn which reduces its environmental impact. The advanced design of the jetliner’s wings makes them quieter and more efficient in all phases of flight.

The fuselage is also designed to maximize space, and the doors are all standardized to minimize the number of spare parts that need to be carried in flight.

While the cornerstone A350 900 has a range of 15,000 km, an ultra extended range version, the A350-900ULR has an increased capacity to carry fuel, and so can fly non-stop for up to 19 hours.

Airbus Helicopter Parts and Parts Service

Prime Industries specializes in aircraft parts as well as service and the repair of parts. This includes both Boeing and Airbus parts and parts service in the US. We have a comprehensive inventory of aircraft parts and can also source whatever you need for your aircraft whether it is a fixed-wing plane or helicopter. Contact us for assistance and more information.

Bell and MD Helicopters Join Fight Against Rhino Poachers in Southern Africa

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Rhino poaching is big business in southern Africa, particular South Africa where the situation has reached crisis stakes. It’s so bad that there are fears the rhino – particularly the black rhino – will soon become extinct! The greatest and most encouraging hope comes from initiatives that fight poachers from the air – in helicopters on the front line.

Photo by Rhino911.com

The most recent initiative is Rhino 911 founded last year (2016) by Fred Hees, the South African-born president of BBM Inc in Nevada, a company that specializes in life support and defense systems. They use a Bell 407GT that is equipped with a forward-looking infrared (FLIR) system that enables the pilot, Nico Jacobs, to work at night. He has also been trained and certified in the US to fly the Bell helicopter with night vision goggles. He responds to poaching calls and spends 20-25 hours every month flying poaching missions.

Rhino Air is another initiative founded in the US. It was launched after Eric Rudzinski, CEO of Chicago-based Rotorzen Helicopters in 2015 had met with South African-based park rangers trying to catch poachers. He identified helicopters as a tool pilots could use to identify the position of poachers using FLIR systems and night vision, and guide the rangers who were working on the ground.

Rhino Air uses two helicopters, one of which is an Aerospatiale Gazelle.

Other helicopter initiatives operate in other parts of southern Africa, including Kenya where Lewa Wildlife Conservancy uses an MD 530 imported from Arizona that was modified for the work it does. The area covered is vast and the helicopter is critical to their anti-poaching efforts.

In Kruger National Park (KNP), South Africa’s largest “game reserve”, four pilots patrol the two million hectare area with two AS350 B3 and two Airbus H125 helicopters. These guys see themselves as air rangers because they are usually deployed when poachers have been spotted and often carry out medevac roles. The helis are protected with bulletproof floors and the crew has advanced medical training so they don’t have to rely on outside medical help. On the ground, the park rangers use tracker dogs and they are armed.

The Impact of Rhino Poaching

There is no doubt that when it comes to rhino poaching South Africa is the hardest hit country on the continent. The statistics have increased dramatically since 2007 when only 13 rhinos were reportedly killed for their horns.

South African Government stats are not up-to-date but they do show increases in poaching between 2010 and 2012, with KNP suffering the most hits:

  • KNP 146 (2010), 252 (2011), 362 (2012)
  • SA 333 (2010), 448 (2011), 588 (2012)

Reportedly, these figures continued to rise for the next two years and then in 2015 dropped just a little to 1,175 – having pretty well doubled since 2012. The number poached across the southern African continent was 1,338 which was the highest ever.

Since 2008 the International Union for Conservation of Nature reports that more than 5,940 rhinos have been killed.

Of course, the question so many people ask is, Why? The answer is bizarre and almost impossible to comprehend. In some countries, primarily China, powdered rhino horn is said to be a cure for just about everything from impotence and cancer to fever and hangovers. And people pay close to $30,000 per lb to get it.

How Helicopters Have Helped Poaching Initiatives

Operating as a very effective eye in the sky helicopters, and the dedicated pilots that fly them, are playing a vital role in the fight against rhino poaching. They track possible poachers, inform those on the ground where they are and what they are doing, and when there is an incident often pick up injured humans and animals.

As an example, Rhino Air provides the craft, the fuel, helicopter parts, as well as the mechanics that carry out helicopter parts service, and the pilots who have been trained to do dangerous night flying.

While South Africa continues to fight an ongoing battle, there are success stories, and Lewa Wildlife Conservancy near Nairobi in Kenya is one of them. In the two years between 2010 and 2012, this area (which just happens to be a UNESCO World Heritage Site) had 17 rhino poached. Since the helicopters started patrolling they haven’t lost another rhino. The number of elephant poached has also dropped dramatically.

Prime Industries Keeping Helicopters Safe in the Air

Whether helicopters are used to combat rhino poaching, to transport first responders, to fulfill commercial deliveries, or take part in combat of some kind, they must be properly serviced and maintained.

Wherever in the world you are Prime Industries can assist with helicopter parts service and components. We also have factory refurbished helicopter parts. Have a look at our current inventory or call to see if we can find what you need.

Boeing Predicts Boom in Growth of Airline Industry

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In the next two decades, the international aviation industry will need to find more than 2 million people to fly commercial airliners, operate as cabin crew, and work as maintenance technicians to keep aircraft safely in the air.

The demand comes from across the globe as airline companies expand their fleets and increase flight schedules to meet market needs.

The information was contained in the company’s 2017 Pilot and Technician Outlook Report released late July.

A more precise breakdown of predictions made by the Boeing Company state that as global economies expand and tens of thousands of new commercial jetliners are delivered, in 20 years time the industry is going to need:

  • Another 637,000 commercial pilots to fly new airliners
  • At least 648,000 more maintenance technicians to look after them
  • About 839,000 cabin crew employees to service them

While the predicted increase in pilots relates directly to the increase in sales of new commercial planes, more cabin crew are required for the same reason as well as because new generation aircraft can accommodate more passengers. This has led to many regional markets updating their regulations in terms of maximum numbers of cabin crew per aircraft allowed.

The report also states that regional markets that previously recruited pilots from other locations are trying increasingly to recruit and train pilots from their home locations.

According to the report the greatest demand is predicted for the Asia-Pacific region, followed by Europe, North America, Latin America, the Middle East, Africa, and the Russian Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS).

Boeing’s Forward-Looking Reports do Change

Boeing’s Outlook Report has been issued annually for eight years, but none of the reports is cast instone. The company warns that many factors can alter statistics given in reports from year-to-year. This is because economic conditions change in the USA and globally, as do general industry conditions. This is one of the reasons why the outlook is re-assessed annually.

Interestingly, for instance, the 2017 figures predict an even higher requirement for pilots and cabin crew (by 2036) than in 2016 that predicted 617,000 new pilots and 814,000 new cabin crew would be required by 2035. But the prediction for new commercial airline maintenance technicians has dropped by 31,000 from 679,000. The reason for this is largely due to the reduction in maintenance hours that is needed for newer generation aircraft like the new single-aisle Boeing 737 MAX, heralded as “the world’s most popular jet”. Generally, these aircraft are more reliable and require less non-routine attention. Longer time intervals are also specified between regular maintenance checks.

The countries that are predicted to have the greatest demand remain the same, in the same order, with the Asia-Pacific region leading demand.

In 2016 it stated that they would need to find “innovative solutions” to meet the ever-growing demand for pilots, cabin crew, and technicians. The company would focus on career pipeline and educational programs that would inspire the next generation of employees in these vital fields. New technologies and training methods would also be needed.

Boeing predicted in 2016 that the growing workforce would also be more diversified which meant instructors would need cross-generational and cross-cultural skills.

Of course, while the Boeing report doesn’t refer to competitive brands, the increases in demand are not only limited to Boeing. Companies like Airbus are also expanding, and all of them will experience an increase in demand for parts and services.

Whether your company requires Airbus parts and Airbus service, parts repair and services for Boeing jets, or parts and service for Sikorsky, MD, or Airbus helicopters, Prime Industries should be your first port of call. Prime has a large inventory of parts and undertakes to source those it doesn’t have in stock.

How Boeing Will Help Improve Air Traffic Control

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As the world’s leading aircraft companies improve and expand, they move to new heights. This includes the use of 3-D printed parts for aircraft and satellites that will bolster connectivity in flight and enable a range of traffic-intensive data applications.

Photo Courtesy of http://boeing.mediaroom.com

Launched mid-May 2017 Boeing’s NYSE: BA SES-15 satellite is set to improve in-flight connectivity and air traffic control. Even though it was produced for the European mobile network operator and communications satellite owner SES S.A., the impressive 702-model geostationary satellite is set to strengthen wi-fi connectivity in flight and enhance the quality of in-flight entertainment services not in European but in North and Central American airspace.

According to Boeing, it will also serve government, maritime, and enterprise sectors.

Importantly, it will also help improve the safety endeavors of the United States Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) using their Wide Area Augmentation System (WAAS) because SES offers hosted payload opportunities that the US Government utilizes. The WAAS network augments GPS and plays a vital role in terms of ensuring precision when it comes to routing and piloting aircraft, which is how it will be used to improve air traffic control.

This is the multinational Boeing Company’s fifth satellite that has all-electric propulsion. It is the 12th Boeing satellite ordered by SES.

The design incorporates 3-D printed metallic parts that make it more affordable and also improve the production process. According to Mark Spiwak, Boeing Satellite Systems International president, it was primarily because of the inclusion of 3-D printed hardware in the new satellite that it was delivered to SES ahead of schedule.

The SES-15 satellite is solar powered and it is said to have a lifetime of 15 years.

SES-15 Launch

The first geostationary satellite launched onboard a Soyuz rocket, the SES-15 was propelled into space from the space center in Kourou, French Guiana on May 18. It is now located at 129 degrees west and it has the capability to serve central and north America (including Alaska and Canada) as well as Mexico and the Caribbean.

The successful launch of this hybrid satellite is the first of three scheduled by SES, all of which will have wide beams and high throughput capabilities.

WAAS Payload

SES-15 boasts a hybrid payload that has connectivity to gateways in Ka-band. It includes Ku-band wide beam coverage and Ku-band high throughput satellite (HTS) capability. In addition to its HTS capabilities, it is equipped with 36 MHz equivalent 16 Ku-band transponders.

Although not widely utilized worldwide, hosted payloads provide the US Department of Defense and the federal US Government access to space in a highly efficient and effective manner. The FAA has been using hosted payloads for about 20 years.

The satellite’s high throughput payload now delivers flexible and optimized covered for inflight connectivity and entertainment (IFC/IFE) for a number of global service providers including Panasonic Avionics, Gogo, and Global Eagle Entertainment. The wide beam lets providers deliver live television content on all their flight routes across the US.

While passengers are being entertained, the FAA will continue to use its WAAS-hosted payload to improve accuracy, integrity, and availability for the US aviation industry.

Boeing Aircraft Parts and Service

While there are not many Boeing satellites up in space, there are thousands of Boeing aircraft along with Airbus planes and helicopters flying worldwide. If you are looking for Boeing or Airbus parts or Boeing or Airbus service contact Prime Industries today.

We source parts worldwide and keep abreast with aircraft development. You can access our inventory online or call us.

MD Helicopters Used by US Police Departments

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Arizona-based MD Helicopters has become a firm favorite with military and police forces around the world including those in Afghanistan, Argentina, Italy, Korea, Jordan, Turkey, Finland, and the USA. With a reputation for producing “the most survivable” helicopters in the world, MD helicopters are agile, fast, and they are proven for secure, attack, and reconnaissance missions.

In the past few months alone a number of police departments have expanded their fleets to include MD aircraft.

Recent acquisitions were made by:

  • The Hungarian National Police that added five MD 902 Explorer helicopters to its air support fleet
  • The Columbus Division of Police in Ohio that upgraded two of its MD helicopters
  • The Prince George’s County Police Department that expanded its aviation fleet with a third MD helicopter

From Civil to Commercial and Scout Attack Helicopters

Photo credit to airliners.net

A business descended from the helicopter company established by the legendary Howard Hughes in 1947, MD Helicopters Holdings Inc. was acquired by the hugely ambitious and highly successful investment fund owner Lynn Tilton 12 years ago. Recognizing the future potential of what was already an iconic brand, Ms. Tilton recapitalized the company, which at that time was a subsidiary of the Dutch RDM Holdings Inc. and renamed it MD Helicopters, Inc, (MDHI), Since then it has operated independently and boasts a wholly owned manufacturing operation in Mexico. Of course, MD parts and services are equally important.

The original Hughes helicopter company was focused on craft for civil use. After McDonnel Douglas (MD) bought the company there was some shift with, for instance, the Hungarian National Police using their craft to help secure borders and provide ground and air support as long ago as 1986. Similarly, Prince George’s County police have been using MD helicopters since 2000.

From the start, the focus has been on helicopters that were technologically advanced and simply better than most, particularly when it comes to rotorcraft. So when Tilton took over she promised to “re-energize, restructure, and preserve” the MD brand, and developed strategic roadmaps that would stabilize and invigorate growth of the company. Her first big break came in 2011 when MDHI was awarded a US$186 million contract by the US Army for six helicopters to be used for training in Afghanistan.

Four years later the first armed MD 530F Cayuse Warrior was delivered to the coalition forces operating in Afghanistan. A year later the Malaysian Ministry of Defense announced it was a launch customer for MD 530G, the company’s then new light scout attack helicopter.

Since then it’s just got better and better.

MD Helicopter’s Police Fleet Across the World

Hungary

The Hungarian National Police started flying MD aircraft when McDonnell-Douglas owned the company. Late January 2017 they announced they were adding five MD902 Explorer Helicopters to their fleet in Budapest, primarily to replace the now aging Mi-2 craft they have been using. The acquisition makes the Hungarian police one of the largest MD-brand fleet operators in Eastern Europe.

The new MD902s have exceptional capabilities including night vision, a 3-axis autopilot, high-performance surveillance equipment, and more. The patented anti-torque control system it uses reduces the workload of pilots and cuts external noise levels. All in all, it improves safety in small, confined spaces and on offshore platforms.

Columbus

The Columbus Police Department’s commitment to MDHI is in line with their decision to upgrade their fleet. They announced late April 2017 that two MD 500E helicopters would be overhauled over a relatively short period of time (just a few weeks) and re-certified as F models. This was in keeping with a previous upgrade of four other E models in 2015. What this means is that the Rolls Royce engine is upgraded; blades and stabilizers are replaced; a dual-screen Garmin G500H electronic flight display is installed; and a Fargo auxiliary fuel tank is added.

This series of conversions makes the Columbus Police Department the second largest municipal aviation unit for law enforcement that exists in the US. This has increased their response time exponentially and has also made them hugely successful in terms of misdemeanor and felony arrests.

Prince George’s County

In May 2017 the Prince George’s County’s aviation section of their police department announced they would be acquiring a third MD520N helicopter. With two of these helicopters in service since 2000, the police department has found it to be an exceptional aircraft when it comes to law enforcement, particularly in a diverse 500 square mile region like Prince George’s County.

A major highlight is that this police law enforcement aviation unit will be the first to fly a helicopter with MD’s first all-glass cockpit. Custom-configured, the new helicopter really does have it all!

Market leaders when it comes to the supply of helicopter spare parts, Prime Industries has offered Airbus parts and services for many years, and relatively recently expanded its operation to MD Helicopters. If there’s anything you need for an MD or any other Airbus craft contact us to see how we can assist.

MD Helicopters’ New and Rebranded Aircraft

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MD Helicopters is busy modernizing and rebranding aircraft for both its military and civil markets. Parts and service have also been brought in-house.

Details of two projects were revealed at a recent Heli-Expo Convention:

  1. The MD 6XX that has familiar features of the MD 600N, a fast, powerful machine recognized for its agility and smooth ride. The MD 600N is also one of the quietest and safest helicopters ever made, and it is used for a variety of purposes from executive transport and law enforcement, to aerial survey, and utility operations, and light observation military missions. It flies faster than most other helicopters and is able to hover higher, making it hugely versatile.
  2. The MD 969, a highly modernized makeover of the MD 902 Explorer that boasts low operating costs coupled with high performance and dependability. Like the MD 600N, the MD 902 Explorer attracts operators in all market segments from search and rescue, air medical, and law enforcement, to executive transport, as well as utility and offshore operations. Safety is a primary factor and its crash-worthiness capabilities are greater than any other light- or medium-twin helicopter currently in the air.

The New MD 6XX

MD 6XX Debut HAI-HELI Expo 2017 – courtesy of MDHelicopters.com

Displayed in an aeromedical configuration, the MD Helicopters’ MD 6XX mock-up was unveiled at the convention. It has the same shape fuselage as the MD 600N, but a lot is different. For instance:

  • Instead of a no-tail rotor anti-torque system (NOTAR) the helicopter has a four-bladed aft rotor with rotor blades supplied by HTC, and resized stabilizers.
  • It features boosted flight controls and composite fuselage panels.
  • The cockpit is supplied by Genesys.
  • It boasts a single Rolls-Royce M250-C34E2 turbo-shaft engine rather than a single-turbine engine.

According to Lynn Tilton who founded Patriarch Partners that owns MD Helicopters, the redesigned, rebranded MD 6XX will have a maximum takeoff weight of about 2,500 kg/5,500 lb. It will have a maximum speed of 160 kt, four-hour endurance, and a range of 500 nm. Aimed at foreign military customers, certification is expected to be complete by the end of 2018, although Tilton says it might in fact take another year of testing.

The New MD 969

Re-imagined and significantly modernized, the light-twin engine MD 902 Explorer will be rebranded as the MD 969. Complete certification is scheduled for June this year (2017), about four years later than originally expected.

The new MD 969 also features the Genesys system, and it will have an upgraded Canadian Pratt & Whitney PW206E engine with four-axis autopilot.

Remarkably, the original McDonnell Douglas-designed MD 902 was launched 26 years ago. After acquiring the company in 2005, Tilton brought parts production in-house and began her strategy of developing new versions of existing aircraft. MD Helicopters’ parts and service were also brought in-house.

Prime Industries & MD Helicopters

Prime Helicopters recently became a valued supplier of MD Helicopters parts and service. Models the company actively supports include the MD 500, the MD 520, and the MD 530. All are regarded as safe machines that may be used for a multitude of different missions.

If you are looking for top quality parts and components for MD Helicopters, contact Prime Industries to see how we can help. We offer competitive prices and our professional staff will do all they can to meet your needs.

Prime Industries Now Offer MD Helicopters Parts and Service

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Prime Industries, a market leader in the supply of helicopter and Airbus parts and spares now offers service and parts for MD Helicopters.

Recognizing that MD Helicopters are amongst the best in the world, Prime Industries specifically supports:

  • MD 500 which boasts an iconic crashworthy design using during the Vietnam conflict that lasted from 1954 until 1975
  • MD 520, a quiet, very safe machine that is popular for many mission applications from paramilitary and air rescue to aerial surveys and agricultural and forestry jobs
  • MD 530 which is a global favorite with governments and foreign military, as well as many commercial operators

MD Helicopters

MD Helicopters prides itself on producing aircraft for discriminatory operators in both civil and military fields. The MD 500 series has established a legendary position in the world, and newer craft continues to meet the highest expectations.

Photo from MDHelicopters.com

Originally established by the equally legendary Howard Hughes as Hughes Aircraft in 1947, MD was imprinted on the brand after McDonnell-Douglas bought the company in 1984. The company merged with The Boeing Company 13 years later, and after being bought out by RDM Holdings, was renamed MDHI. In 2005 award-winning entrepreneur Lynn Tilton acquired the company and pledged to restructure, re-energize, and preserve the iconic MD brand. She’s achieved her goal and continues to build on her success.

All the helicopters manufactured by the MD company have single turbine Rolls Royce engines as well as five-blade rotor systems. They undoubtedly meet the standards of the world’s best rotorcraft, and Prime Industries is proud to be able to supply parts, components, and services that meet MD’s tradition of excellence.

The Prime Commitment

Prime Industries is able to supply the best quality parts and components for MD Helicopters at very competitive prices. Even though some parts are more difficult to acquire, our highly trained professional staff tailor their services to ensure that we can help our customers. Even if the parts and components are not in our current inventory, we undertake to do everything possible to procure what our customers need within their stated timeline.

It doesn’t matter whether you need components for your MD Helicopter engine, landing gear, survival equipment, wheels and brakes, consumables or accessories, we are her to help you.

Contact us so that we can help you as quickly as possible. Our professional staff members will also assist with repairs and overhaul of components. We subcontract with the very best manufacturers and suppliers in the US to make certain that we are able to supply products and services that are reliable, at a good, competitive price.

Prime has a strong reputation, having supplied Airbus parts and Airbus services for helicopters for many years, and we have a loyal customer base. We are confident that out MD Helicopters customers will grow rapidly as more and more people and companies learn that we now offer MD Helicopters Parts and Services.

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