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McDonnell Douglas MD 520N


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NOTE: RADIO CONTROL HELICOPTERS ARE ON THE BOTTOM HALF OF THE PAGE.


The McDonnell Douglas MD 520N helicopter is probably best known for its lack of a tail rotor that results in its being among the world's quietest production helicopters. It is a turbine powered, five blade rotor, light helicopter that provides zippy operation. It is used by the police for observation, crowd handling, search and rescue. and as a medical transport by hospitals. The helicopter has also been used by various wildlife operations for surveying, look out, rules enforcement, and blaze fighting.

Thanks to ample glass around the cockpit, the crew of the MD 520N can see well in all forward directions around the aircraft. Law enforcement models have a searchlight mounted under the mid fuselage as standard equipment. Some are even equipped with a cable cutter under the cockpit for added safety while flying at rooftop levels. The helicopter comes equipped with skids, but wheels and pontoons can be added for better ground handling or water landings.

The MD 520N does away with the long drive shaft, bearings, and angled gear box of a tail rotor and replaces them with a fan inside the tail boom. Air from the fan comes out through two slots running all along the tail boom on its right side. The high volume, low pressure air works in conjunction with the rotor downwash to provide over half of the helicopter's directional thrust, keeping it moving in a straight line. A moving nozzle in the rear of the tail boom provides the remainder of the torque control, plus full directional control. The system is known as “NOTAR,” a name copyrighted by the manufacturer.  It stands for no tail rotor.

A total of some 240 McDonnell Douglas MD 520N helicopters have been produced to date. Over 4,700 MD 520 aircraft of all types have been produced.



Specifications

    Primary Function:
    Crew:
    Engine:
    Horsepower:
    Length:
    Height:
    Rotor Diameter:
    Weight Empty:
    Max. Weight:
    Cruise Speed:
    Max. Speed:
    Initial Climb:
    Ceiling:
    Range:
    First Flight:
    Year Deployed:
utility
one
RR 250-C20RS
450 s.h.p.
25' 6"
9' 10"
27' 3"
1,585 lbs.
3,350 lbs.
154 mph
175 mph
1,775 fpm
20,000 feet
256 miles
12/29/89
1991



Radio Control Helicopter



Radio Control Helicopters




If you are looking the MD 520N rc helicopter from E-flite with a radio for sale, check out the ad above. The ad below will take you to the same rc helicopter for sale without a radio.

Check out XHeli for the rc MD 520N.

If you have seen another rc MD 520N people should know about, please email us about it and we will post the information here.



Radio Control Helicopter
E-Flite RC MD 520N Blade CX3 BNF ARF same as above but without radio.


Radio Control Helicopter
MD 520N rc from Vario for Pahl GPH 70 turbine power.  This 23 piece fuselage kit has a length of 71 3/4", a width of 18 1/2" and a rotor diameter of 76".  The turbine provides air for the servo actuated tail nozzle.



Radio Control Helicopter
The rc MD 520N fuselage kit from Vario for Sky Fox mechanics. The kit has 16 pieces, is 55" long, 10 1/2" wide, made for a 59" diameter rotor with a O.S. 70 engine. The engine drives a fan that provides air for the tail nozzle.