MD Helicopters MD900 Explorer

Twin-Engine Light Utility Helicopter (LUH)

United States | 1992

"The MD Helicopters Explorer line has seen global expansion with operators ranging from Belgium and Germany to the United Kingdom and the United States."

Image from MD Helicopters press materials.

Authored By: Staff Writer | Last Edited: 03/08/2019 | Content ©www.MilitaryFactory.com | The following text is exclusive to this site; No A.I. was used in the generation of this content.

The Light Utility Helicopter (LUH) market can be a lucrative one for a company lucky enough to interest foreign buyers. The MD Explorer, offered by MD Helicopters, has found modest success in a variety of sectors, both military and civilian. It is actively included in the current MD Helicopters lineup alongside the venerable MD500 line and the MD600. The MD900 is currently represented by the upgraded standard, the MD902, which continues the established traits of the product through affordability, reliability, and performance for the LUH market.

The MD900 series is a multi-role platform, configurable to meet customer demands. As such, it can be arranged to serve in such markets as security, law enforcement, military, VIP / general passenger transportation, light cargo transportation, Search-and-Rescue (SAR), Special Operations (SPECOPS), MEDEVAC, and the oil & gas industries.

As built, the helicopter utilizes a sleek design look with its elegantly sloping nose and smooth contours. The two pilot positions (side-by-side seating) at front have redundant control systems and the wide-view glass panes offer exceptional vision and enhanced situational awareness out-of-the-cockpit. Aft of the cockpit is the passenger compartment which is typically arranged to carry six. A twin side-by-side engine arrangement is featured over the cabin roof and this is used to drive a five-bladed composite main rotor overhead while powering a "NOTAR" ("NO TAil Rotor") system at the rear (the MD900 design lacks a traditional tail rotor unit). The tail stem is elevated with the shaft running straight aft and terminating with the NOTAR unit. Atop the tail is a twin-finned rudder. The undercarriage is of simple four-point skid arrangement.

Internally, the cockpit supports the Genesys Aerosystems Integrated (GAI) IDU-680 series EFIS/EICAS/MFD all-digital "Glass Cockpit" sporting four large displays. A center console provides access to shared control systems between the two pilot positions. The passenger section can be arranged to seat six in twin three-seat, face-to-face configuration or changed to carry a medical litter with accompanying staff, wider seats for luxurious VIP transport, or six-person-seating with additional cargo space aft for offshore industry work.

The MD900's anti-torque capability, normally handled by a tail rotor to offset the natural occurring force in propeller-/bladed-type designs, is provided for by the patented NOTAR system. This system utilizes more precise direction control to accomplish the same effect without the complexity or danger of exposed spinning blades at ground-level. Furthermore, the NOTAR system reduces operating noises which are critical to operations at some airports and over populated cityscapes.

The MD900 line began with the original MD900 "Explorer" production model and this form was furnished with 2 x Pratt & Whitney PW206A, PW206E, or PW207E turboshaft engines. Arriving next was the MD901 "Explorer" offering which proposed a switch to 2 x French-originated Turbomeca "Arrius" turboshaft engines along with a tri-angel undercarriage but it appears that lack of interest has doomed this mark.

The MD902 represents the current (and upgraded) production standard of the MD900 line by MD Helicopters. These carry 2 x PW206E or PW207E turboshaft engines and feature enhanced Integrated Instrument Display Systems (IIDSs). Older MD900 models can be upgraded to this standard.

Dedicated military versions have included the MH-90 "Enforcer" which was used from 1998 until 2000 by the United States Coast Guard (USCG) service for interdiction duties. The MD969 "Combat Explorer" became a militarized, fully-armed platform for direct-contact work. The "Swift" is a new model being proposed by MD Helicopters for the U.S. Army's ongoing "Future Attack Reconnaissance Aircraft" (FARA) program.

Most in-service MD900 helicopters operate in the law enforcement and air ambulance roles.

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Power & Performance
Those special qualities that separate one aircraft design from another. Performance specifications presented assume optimal operating conditions for the MD Helicopters MD902 Twin-Engine Light Utility Helicopter (LUH).

2 x Pratt & Whitney Canada PW206E turboshaft engines developing 550 horsepower each and driving a 5-bladed main rotor and NOTAR tail system.
Propulsion

162 mph
260 kph | 140 kts
Max Speed

17,503 ft
5,335 m | 3 miles
Service Ceiling

339 miles
545 km | 294 nm
Operational Range

1,000 ft/min
305 m/min
Rate-of-Climb

Structure
The nose-to-tail, wingtip-to-wingtip physical qualities of the MD Helicopters MD902 Twin-Engine Light Utility Helicopter (LUH).

2
(MANNED)
Crew

32.3 ft
9.85 m
O/A Length

33.8 ft
(10.31 m)
O/A Width

12.0 ft
(3.65 m)
O/A Height

3,373 lb
(1,530 kg)
Empty Weight

6,250 lb
(2,835 kg)
MTOW

Armament
Available supported armament and special-mission equipment featured in the design of the MD Helicopters MD900 Explorer Twin-Engine Light Utility Helicopter (LUH) .

Typically none. military versions may be equipped with rocket pods, cannon pods, gun pods, and machine guns as needed.

Variants
Notable series variants as part of the MD Helicopters MD900 Explorer family line.

MD Explorer - Base Series Name.

MD900 "Explorer" - Initial production variant; 2 x Pratt & Whitney Canada PW206A, PW206E, or PW207E turboshaft engines offered.

MD901 "Explorer" - Proposed civilian market transport variant; powered by 2 x Turbomeca Arrius turboshaft engines; revised undercarriage.

MD902 - MD900 successor; upgraded variant with 2 x PWC PW206E or PW207E turboshaft engines; revised IIDS.

MH-90 "Enforcer" - Armed USCG variant.

MD969 "Combat Explorer" - Militarized version of the MD900 series.

"Swift" - Proposed high-speed compound helicopter form to compete in the US Army Future Attack Reconnaissance Aircraft (FARA) program.

Operators
Global customers who have evaluated and/or operated the MD Helicopters MD900 Explorer. Nations are displayed by flag, each linked to their respective national aircraft listing.

Total Production: 200 Units
Contractor(s): MD Helicopters - USA

[ Belgium; Germany; Hungary; Hong Kong; Luxembourg; Mexico; United Kingdom; United States ]

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Image of the MD Helicopters MD900 Explorer

Image from MD Helicopters press materials.

Going Further...
The MD Helicopters MD900 Explorer Twin-Engine Light Utility Helicopter (LUH) appears in the following collections:

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