MD530F: The Proven, American-made Trainer for Army Aviation's Future

As the U.S. Army shapes the future of pilot training through Flight School Next, MD Helicopters proudly puts forward the MD 530F—a combat-proven, American-made training aircraft built for the demands of modern Army Aviation. Designed, built, and supported in America, the MD 530F is not simply a commercial adaptation—it’s a military training platform born from decades of experience and built for the battlefield environments of tomorrow. With a five-bladed rotor system that mimics the handling of frontline aircraft like the UH-60M Black Hawk and AH-64E Apache, the MD 530F helps students train like they fight—right from day one. “The Army is investing in its future warfighters, and that means delivering training tools that truly reflect operational reality,” said Ryan Weeks, President & CEO at MD Helicopters. “The MD 530F is not just ready for that mission—it was built for it.” Key features include: Hydraulics-free flight controls for more realistic feedback and easier maintenance Cra