Photograph:
McDonnell Douglas MD-600N VH-ATH4 (c/n RN-010) on board a vessel in Rose Bay on Sydney Harbour, NSW (David C Eyre)
Country of origin:
United States of America
Description:
Seven/eight-seat utility helicopter
Power Plant:
One 448 kw (600 shp) Allison 250-C47 turboshaft
Specifications:
- Rotor diameter: 8.38 m (27 ft 6 in)
- Length: 11.25 m (36 ft 10¾ in)
- Rotor disc area: 55.18 m² (594 sq ft)
- Max speed: 282 km/h (175 mph)
- Max cruising speed at sea level: 248 km/h (154 mph)
- Max rate of climb at sea level: 518 m/min (1,700 ft/min)
- Max operating altitude: 6,100 m (20,000 ft)
- Hovering ceiling in ground effect: 3,200 m (10,500 ft)
- Max range at sea level: 620 km (385 miles)
- Endurance: 3 hrs 42 mins
- Empty weight: 875 kg (1,930 lb)
- Loaded weight: 1,859 kg (4,100 lb)
History:
A derivative of the MD-520N, the MD-600N prototype was unveiled at the Helicopter Expo in Las Vegas, Nevada in January 1995, the concept having been announced in November 1994. The prototype (N630N), originally known as the MD-630N, made its first flight on 22 November 1994, the production prototype (N600RN) flying on 15 December 1995, certification being received in May 1997. The type has since become quite popular with a number of Police Forces in the United States, and examples were sold to Sweden, Germany, the United Kingdom and Hong Kong. More than 80 examples have been delivered.
The 600N is basically a 520N stretched by means of a 0.79 m (2 ft 6 in) plug aft of the cockpit/cabin bulkhead, and a 0.73 m (2 ft 4 in) plug in the tail boom, with a more powerful engine, up-rated transmission, and a six-blade main rotor. Aimed at the light utility market, the 600N can be used for offshore, executive transport, medevac, touring, law enforcement, and other noise sensitive operations, and is also able to be used in the armed scout and other military roles.
First of the type in this region was VH-ATH4 (c/n RN010 – ex N9203N) in 1998, which for a period operated from the deck of a large privately owned luxury vessel based in Rose Bay, on Sydney Harbour, before going to Queensland. Owners in Australia were Mr R Walters of Double Bay, NSW from 3 August 1998; and ES Groves in Queensland from 15 August 2002. It was later exported to New Zealand as ZK-HOL³ (c/n RN 010), registered to Airwest Helicopters of Reefton on 24 October 2006. It was later exported to the USA as N375SD.
Further examples in Australia have included VH-EPJ (c/n RN032 – ex N604BP), an ex-US Border Patrol Air Operations of El Paso aircraft. In Australia it was registered on 24 April 2015 to Gunn Resources Pty Ltd of Neurum, QLD and operated by Rotor Force Australia Pty Ltd of Woodford, QLD.
VH-EPY (c/n RN034 – ex N605BP) was also an ex-US Border Patrol Air Operations of El Paso aircraft. It was registered on 24 April 2015 to Gunn Resources Pty Ltd of Neurum, QLD and operated by Rotor Force Australia Pty Ltd of Woodford, QLD. It was removed from the Australian register in June 2017, at that time being owned by Gunn Resources.
Further examples have been imported to New Zealand. These have included ZK-IHI (c/n RN047 – ex VT-SSH, C-PEPL, N3047L) for Heliview Taranaki of Cromwell, registered on 20 November 2012; and ZK-INT (c/n RN016 – ex N600BH) for a period registered to Faram Helicopters of Gisborne, later exported and becoming N215M in September 2005.
ZK-IJD² (c/n RN029 – ex N2638S, N603BP) was imported for Amalgamated Helicopters of Casterton. This aircraft was built in 1998 and operated with the US Border Patrol Air Operations unit at El Paso until 2010 when it was placed in storage at the AMARC Centre. It was then obtained by the Dale County Sheriffs Department of Ozark, Alaska and operated with them as N2638S until it was exported to New Zealand. A further machine (c/n RN050 – ex N160KC) has been imported to New Zealand. This machine was substantially damaged on 26 March 2008 in an accident near Fredericktown, Ohio and was written off. The airframe is recorded as being exported to New Zealand. Yet another machine became ZK-ILD (c/n RN058 – ex N70470, N600HV, RF-00601, RA-0979G, [N600NR[, N600HV) in May 2018 with Helicopters Hawkes Bay 2006 Ltd of Hastings.