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NOTAR Fleet Marks 500,000 Flight Hours
The worldwide fleet of more than 240 NOTAR -equipped MD520N, MD600N, and MDExplorer helicopters made by MD Helicopters Inc. has logged some 500,000 flight hours. The first MD 520N was delivered to the Phoenix, Arizona Police Department on October 31, 1991, and the high-time NOTAR helicopter is an MD 520N of the Phoenix PD. Sales of the NOTAR (No Tail Rotor) aircraft have been strongest in the law enforcement and emergency medical service markets where the quiet, safe anti-torque system is especially appealing, according to MDHI vice president of marketing and sales, Colin Whicher.
NOTAR works by venting air through two long slots on the helicopter tail boom. The low-pressure air entrains the main rotor downwash to generate lift and counter main rotor torque. Directional control comes from low-pressure air exiting a thruster at the end of the tail boom. First flight of a NOTAR-equipped OH-6 demonstrator occurred in December 1981, and the system has undergone small refinements since MDHI acquired rights to the product line from Boeing. Significant but unspecified enhancements are in the works says Mr. Whicher. "We have accelerated our R&D effort on NOTAR improvements to further reduce noise, improve performance, and increase the value to our customers."
In December, MDHI began MD520N deliveries to the Turkish national police. Except for a WESCAM sensor gimbal in place of the FLIRSystems SAFIRE sensor, the Turkish aircraft are identical to those flown by the US Bureau of Immigration and Customs Enforcement. Deliveries of the 10 Turkish aircraft will stretch through April 2004.
MDHI is also near delivery of two more MD902 Explorers to the Dutch national police. Quickly converted for surveillance, search-and-rescue, and tactical utility missions, the sophisticated Dutch aircraft have a LEO FLIR/TV sensor, RDR1400 search radar, and removable aft operator console. The aircraft integrate a Honeywell EFIS 50 glass cockpit with a digital moving map, Little LEO II FLIR/TV sensor, and comprehensive radio suite. They can be outfitted with a Spectrolab Nitesun searchlight, rescue hoist, and other mission equipment, and can switch from airborne surveillance to transport configuration for six tactical officers in 5 minutes. The Dutch National Police placed their order for 10 MDExplorers in 2001.
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