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MD Helicopters delivers three MD530Fs to U.S. Army
September 28, 2011 By Carey Fredericks
Sept. 28, 2011, Mesa, Az. - MD Helicopters, Inc. presented the first three MD 530Fs to the U.S. Army as part of the Rotary Wing Primary Training Aircraft-Afghanistan Program.
Attendees to the delivery ceremony included Major General William T. Crosby, Program Executive Officer, Aviation and Lynn Tilton, CEO of Patriarch Partners and MD Helicopters, Inc. “This delivery and ceremony symbolizes our commitment to the U.S. Army to meet its needs and our dedication to the American Soldier to provide the aircraft that will be part of the plan to bring them home. We struggle to find the words to express our appreciation for the opportunity to serve this honored customer” stated Tilton.
The initial award calls for six (6) MD 530F Helicopters for training purposes and could reach as many as fifty four (54) aircraft over the life of the four year contract. The Department of the Army Contract, as awarded to MD Helicopters includes flight training devices and comprehensive spares provisioning. The production effort is currently 45 days ahead of schedule, facilitating helicopter delivery to begin only six months after contract award.
The MD 530F is a perfect fit for this training mission. Equipped with the 650 shp Rolls Royce 250-C30 engine and longer main-rotor blades, the MD 530F is the company’s legendary high-altitude, hot-day performer.
The MD 530F provides advanced operational capabilities and excellent mission versatility and performance. This dependable workhorse has greater take-off power at significantly higher hover ceiling levels than same-class competitors, with hover out-of-ground performance at 14,400 feet ISA and in-ground-effect hover capability of 16,000 feet ISA. The MD 530F is known for its speed, agility, low direct operating costs and the ability to operate with ease in confined spaces.
