McDonnell Douglas MD Combat Explorer

[Triton]

McDonnell Douglas MD Combat Explorer

Displayed at Paris Air Show, June 1995;demonstrator N9015P

Can be configured for utility, medevac or combat missions; armament may include seven- or 19-tube 70mm rocket pods, 0.50 calibre machine guns pods, chin-mounted FLIR night pilotage system and roof-mounted Nighthawk surveillance and targeting systems. Combat weight 3,130 kg (6,900 lb); two P&WC PW206A engines.

Source:
http://www.svvaul.ru/component/k2/728-mcdonnell-douglas-md-900-explorer
http://forum.keypublishing.com/showthread.php?20879-Nice-quot-Little-Bird-quot/page2
http://www.aeroboek.nl/900/00015.HTM

 

[CostasTT]

The Global Helicopters armament kit testbed and as operated by the Mexican Navy (also see: https://fbcdn-sphotos-e-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-xpf1/t31.0-8/1511931_434288130008179_7890557041305533935_o.jpg ) and (briefly) by the USCG:

 

[Stormshadow2186]

Here are a couple pictures of the MD Explorers used by the new Mexican Coast Guard unit that was formed a few years ago.

 

[RavenOne]

Slightly digressing but ten years ago, one of the former HITRON Enforcers was operating as a police helo for the Dutch National Police Agency out of Schiphol 2003/04as the Dutch had at the time picked the MD900/2. There was a factory fresh brand new Dutch Police MD902 delivered at Heli Expo 2003.

Unfortunately due to weight issues with the Dutch for the mission role kit of FLIR, downlink etc etc, they scrubbed the Explorer and now they operate EC135 and AW139.

cheers

 

[Stormshadow2186]

The MD NOTAR Helicopter series always had and is still had a lot of potential in both civil and military. However, the main problem with the NOTAR helicopters is that they are still considered by many as "gas guzzlers" because the NOTAR engines eat up fuel much faster than there conventional tail rotor helicopters. I remember reading about the U.S Army was testing a MD-520N for covert roles which the helicopter proved successful and much quieter than the conventional tail rotor helicopters. Despite these achievements, the MD-520N still fell short due to its short range due to its gas eating engines. Too me, the NOTAR has a bright future and are still popular with their owners who operates them. Nonetheless, the designers need to work on better and more fuel efficient engines for better results for the NOTAR helicopters.

 

[yasotay]

Another reason that they did not get into the "covert roles" is that you could not fit as many of them on a C-130 as you could put conventional MD 500 series.

 

[Triton]

Another reason that they did not get into the "covert roles" is that you could not fit as many of them on a C-130 as you could put conventional MD 500 series.

Hmmm... Sikorsky is trying to sell the S-97 Raider as a replacement for the MD Helicopters MH-6 Little Bird and it's big. If I remember correctly, about the size of a Eurocopter UH-72 Lakota.

 

[yasotay]

Another reason that they did not get into the "covert roles" is that you could not fit as many of them on a C-130 as you could put conventional MD 500 series.

Hmmm... Sikorsky is trying to sell the S-97 Raider as a replacement for the MD Helicopters MH-6 Little Bird and it's big. If I remember correctly, about the size of a Eurocopter UH-72 Lakota.

You are correct. The mock up is almost the size my ol' AH-1S Cobra. That was then, this is now. *shrug*

 

[quellish]

Despite these achievements, the MD-520N still fell short due to its short range due to its gas eating engines. Too me, the NOTAR has a bright future and are still popular with their owners who operates them. Nonetheless, the designers need to work on better and more fuel efficient engines for better results for the NOTAR helicopters.

IIRC, stability and hot/high performance limitations prevented OH-6 NOTAR adoption by 160 SOAR. SOAR worked with MD to try to resolve these issues, but in the end it didn't work out.

 

[yasotay]

Despite these achievements, the MD-520N still fell short due to its short range due to its gas eating engines. Too me, the NOTAR has a bright future and are still popular with their owners who operates them. Nonetheless, the designers need to work on better and more fuel efficient engines for better results for the NOTAR helicopters.

IIRC, stability and hot/high performance limitations prevented OH-6 NOTAR adoption by 160 SOAR. SOAR worked with MD to try to resolve these issues, but in the end it didn't work out.

You are likely correct given challenges of hot/high. I think the problem I mentioned above was likely a contributing factor or the public rational not wanting to broadcast aircraft limits.

 

[Grey Havoc]

https://www.flightglobal.com/news/articles/heli-expo-md-helicopters-developing-new-6xx-assau-422625/

 

[Moose]

A new, clean-sheet design, eh? Good to see MD Helicopters making moves.

 

[RavenOne]

https://www.flightglobal.com/news/articles/heli-expo-md-helicopters-developing-new-6xx-assau-422625/

I was there at the MD press event at their booth with Lynn Tilton talking about the MD-6XX last week at Heli Expo in Louisville. She also mentioned an armed version of the new updated MD902 being the MD969 as well,

cheers

 

[yasotay]

Question - What sort of loss to anti- torque control (if any) occurs with the presence of holes in the tail boom of a NOTAR? Say like .50 Cal sized holes.

 

[Sundog]

Question - What sort of loss to anti- torque control (if any) occurs with the presence of holes in the tail boom of a NOTAR? Say like .50 Cal sized holes.

It would depend on how many and where they were located. If there were enough of them, I would probably be more worried about the tail boom coming off before you could get it down than loss of control. But if bullet holes went down the length of the tail boom but didn't damage the mechanical systems they would definitely affect control. Basically, the more holes and the closer they were to the center of mass (Towards the fuselage) the greater the reduction in responsiveness you would see, IMHO. I say that because you would have a certain amount of mass flow escaping before it could reach the tail, thereby reducing both the power of the system and the leverage.

 

[yasotay]

Question - What sort of loss to anti- torque control (if any) occurs with the presence of holes in the tail boom of a NOTAR? Say like .50 Cal sized holes.

It would depend on how many and where they were located. If there were enough of them, I would probably be more worried about the tail boom coming off before you could get it down than loss of control. But if bullet holes went down the length of the tail boom but didn't damage the mechanical systems they would definitely affect control. Basically, the more holes and the closer they were to the center of mass (Towards the fuselage) the greater the reduction in responsiveness you would see, IMHO. I say that because you would have a certain amount of mass flow escaping before it could reach the tail, thereby reducing both the power of the system and the leverage.

Thanks Sundog. That was my assumption as well.

 

[RavenOne]

I attended Heli Expo 2019 in Atlanta and here are my photos of the MD969 Combat Explorer unveiled.

cheers