MESA, ARIZONA, October 29, 2024 – MD Helicopters is proud to announce the successful completion of the first MD 500E to MD 530F conversion, carried out at an MD Authorized Service Center, Thoroughbred Aviation in Lexington, KY. This significant milestone reflects the strength of the MD Authorized Service Center network and MD Helicopters’ commitment to fleet upgrades by making it easier and less costly to upgrade your MD aircraft. This upgrade was completed for the Cleveland Police Department, and Thoroughbred is actively conducting the same upgrade on Cleveland’s second MD 500E.
MD Helicopters President Ryan Weeks remarks, “This achievement underscores our dedication to enhancing performance and accessibility through our MD Network. Thoroughbred Aviation, a premier Authorized Service Center, is playing a pivotal role in this effort, and we are excited to expand the availability of E-to-F upgrades. Demand for such upgrades is strong and several more performance upgrades will be certified and released throughout 2025 for the MD 500D, MD 500E, and MD 520N.”
The MD Helicopters technical bulletin for the E-to-F conversion expands the availability of this upgrade across the MD Network, bringing increased power and capabilities to more locations.
Key benefits of the MD 500E to MD 530F upgrade include +350 lbs. or a 12% increase in MGW internal load, +200 lbs. or a 6% increase in MGW external load, +198 lbs. or a 12% of internal useful load, and a +5,500 ft. or 92% increase in HOGE. Key elements of the conversion include an engine upgrade from the Rolls Royce 250-C20B/R to the Rolls Royce 250-C30, longer main rotor and tail rotor blades, longer tail rotor driveshaft, a tail rotor gearbox extension, a tail boom modification, new vertical and horizontal stabilizers, and several new gauges.
This upgrade not only enhances the aircraft’s max gross weight capacity to 3,350 lbs. but also it improves cruise speed and optimizes flight performance in challenging environments.
About MD Helicopters
MD Helicopters, LLC (MDH) manufactures high-performance rotorcraft solutions that support operators flying military, commercial, law enforcement, utility, and VIP mission profiles. With thousands of aircraft in service worldwide, MDH has been designing and building aircraft known for their safety, versatility, responsiveness, speed, and reliability since 1947. Our commitment to product sustainment and customer success allows MDH to deliver aircraft unmatched in their performance and reliability. MD Helicopters, LLC is owned by an investment consortium comprised of MBIA Insurance, Bardin Hill Investment Partners LP, and MB Global Partners. To learn more about MD Helicopters, visit us at mdhelicopters.com, or follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and LinkedIn.
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