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MD-520MG "Defender" attack helicopter; Philippine Air Force
Topic Started: Sat Oct 26, 2013 4:44 pm (952 Views)
Flipzi
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MD-520MG "Defender" attack helicopter

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photo: credit to owner

McDonnell Douglas MD 500 Defender

The McDonnell Douglas Helicopter Systems MD 500 Defender is a light multi-role military helicopter based on the MD 500 light utility helicopter.

Design and development

The original OH-6 Cayuse helicopter proved its worth during the Vietnam War in the light helicopter role. The designers at Hughes realized there was a market for a light multi-mission helicopter with an improved equipment fit than the OH-6 and Model 500M. The resulting design was the Model 500MD Defender which first flew in 1976. It was tailored for specific roles including unarmed observation and an armed scout helicopter equipped with TOW anti-tank missiles. An anti-submarine version was developed with a search radar, magnetic anomaly detector and the capability to carry lightweight aerial torpedoes.

The helicopter was popular with customers like Kenya who could buy a capable anti-armor helicopter for less than half the cost of a gunship such as the AH-1 Cobra or the AH-64 Apache. Israel used the Defender extensively during the conflicts of the late 1970s and 1980s against Syrian armored forces.

The Defender was later built as an improved version as the MD530MG, with increased engine power, handling, avionics, and a redesigned forward fuselage. Later developments included a mast mounted sight (MMS).

In December 2012, Boeing demonstrated their Unmanned Little Bird to the South Korean Army. The pilotless aircraft flew autonomously for 25 minutes. The purpose of the demonstration was to show unmanned capabilities technologies, such as enhanced ISR and resupply, in the system that could be integrated into Army MD 500 helicopters.

MD Helicopters had submitted a version called the MD 540F in the U.S. Army's Armed Aerial Scout program. This caused Boeing to try and block MD Helicopters from participating, citing agreements the companies struck in 2005 to offer the Mission Enhanced Little Bird in the Armed Reconnaissance Helicopter program. As part of the venture, MD Helicopters sold intellectual property related to the aircraft's design.

The two companies lost the bid and the program was ultimately cancelled. When MD Helicopters disclosed plans to offer the MD 540F in the AAS program in April 2012, Boeing claimed that they could not sell any “similarly configured” aircraft to any U.S. or foreign military organization. Boeing is offering their AH-6 Little Bird in the competition. MD Helicopters said Boeing did not object to previous sales to armed forces and governments in Japan, Jordan, and Italy, as well as to U.S. special operations, and local U.S. police forces. Restrictions on selling aircraft similar to the Little Bird, domestically or to foreign users, would have put the company out of business. In July 2013, a federal court ruled that MD Helicopters could not be blocked from offering their aircraft.

520MG Defender is the Philippine military version. Special Forces version, modified 500MG Defender to carry weapons and operate as a light attack aircraft.

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photo: credit to owner

Specifications (500MD)

General characteristics

Crew: 1-2
Capacity: 4-5 passengers
Length: 23 ft 0 in (7.01 m)
Rotor diameter: 26 ft 4 in (8.03 m)
Height: 8 ft 6 in (2.59 m)
Disc area: 544.63 ft² (50.60 m²)
Empty weight: 1,320 lbs (599 kg)
Max. takeoff weight: 3,000 lbs (1361 kg)
Powerplant: 1 × One Allison 250-C20B Turboshaft, 420 hp (313 kW)

Performance

Maximum speed: 160 mph (257 km/h)
Range: 230 miles (370 km)
Service ceiling: 13,800 ft (4,205 m)
Rate of climb: 1,650 ft/min (503 m/min (8.4 m/s))

Armament

four TOW anti-tank missiles, or
two 7.62mm General Electric M134 Miniguns, or
four General Dynamics Stinger air-to-air missile, or
Mk 44 or Mk 46 lightweight torpedoes (ASW Version), or
two seven-shot rocket pods

Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/McDonnell_Douglas_MD_500_Defender

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photo: credit to owner

More Photos: https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.253561011459775.1073741843.199970470152163&type=3&uploaded=15
Edited by Flipzi, Sat Dec 13, 2014 9:41 pm.
Alfred Alexander L. Marasigan
Manila, Philippines
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Flipzi
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Credits to the photo owners.

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'kiss the ground'

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Edited by Flipzi, Sat Dec 13, 2014 9:44 pm.
Alfred Alexander L. Marasigan
Manila, Philippines
getflipzi@yahoo.com

http://z6.invisionfree.com/flipzi

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" People don't care what we know until they know we care."
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Nice video of Air Force helicopters pounding MNLF areas with rockets


http://youtu.be/5JLtAcIoUv8

Opensiba ng militar laban sa MNLF sa Zamboanga City, patuloy
Date posted: Sep 23, 2013 11:58pm
Reporter: Raffy Tima

http://www.gmanetwork.com/news/video/178209/saksi/opensiba-ng-militar-laban-sa-mnlf-sa-zamboanga-city-patuloy


More about the Zamboanga Siege http://w11.zetaboards.com/NDSFP/topic/9147393/
Edited by Flipzi, Mon Oct 28, 2013 8:56 pm.
Alfred Alexander L. Marasigan
Manila, Philippines
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Philippine Air Force McDonnell Douglas MD-520MG

Supplementing the planned NACH acqusition was, as of 30 September 2008, a plan to overhaul the engines in the Philippine Air Force's MD 520MG fleet (20 aircraft) was being conducted through the US Foreign Military Sales program at a cost of Php240 million. This program had reportedly started in 2007.

The first engines were delivered to the Philippine Air Force via the US Army Security Assistance Command (USASAC) and US Army Aviation and Missile Life Cycle Management Command's (AMCOM) Security Assistance Management Directorate (SAMD) in August 2010 and the rest of the engines, supplied by Rolls Royce in Oakland, California, were reported to have been delivered or pending delivery by the end of 2010.

The Philippines acquired 22 MD 520MG light attack helicopters from the US between 1990 and 1992 to enhance its ground support capabilities. It reportedly acquired another 11 between 1992 and 1995. Regular attrition and other problems claimed a number of the aircraft. The MD 520MG attack helicopters were all sold to the Philippines unarmed, but were equipped with rocket and guns pods. Indigenous developments in both of these areas were reportedly also in service.

The new engines would be used to both overhaul active helicopter and rehabilitate airframes that had been previously rendered not operational. As of June 2010, the Philippine Air Force was said to have 30 MD 520MG airframes on hand, of which 3 had been completely written off.

Photo courtesy of 15th Strike Wing

Source: Pinoy Aviators
https://www.facebook.com/PilonoyAviators022513/posts/763745703659671
Alfred Alexander L. Marasigan
Manila, Philippines
getflipzi@yahoo.com

http://z6.invisionfree.com/flipzi

" Sovereignty resides in the people and all government authority emanates from them!"

" People don't care what we know until they know we care."
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MD-520 panel

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50 caliber gun
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Rockets
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MD-520 Crew Chief and its lady Pilot

Got a few minutes with the Crew Chief and he said that he always come along wherever the chopper is deployed to. They are 11 in his crew or team, handling the maintenance but only him goes with the chopper whenever it is deployed far out from its base in Sangley-Cavite.

He added that every guy in the crew has its own specialty. One handles a particular weapon, such as the 50 caliber gun, then another guy handles the rocket system, then another handles the engine and so on.

Being the crew chief, he has to know all of those tasks because it's only himself that goes with the chopper when it is deployed in another area.

http://w11.zetaboards.com/NDSFP/topic/10311937/
Edited by Flipzi, Sat Dec 13, 2014 9:56 pm.
Alfred Alexander L. Marasigan
Manila, Philippines
getflipzi@yahoo.com

http://z6.invisionfree.com/flipzi

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Possible upgrade/augmentation for MD520MG



https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eKrmklqXsdE
Alfred Alexander L. Marasigan
Manila, Philippines
getflipzi@yahoo.com

http://z6.invisionfree.com/flipzi

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" People don't care what we know until they know we care."
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Flipzi
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another contender

Boeing's Experimental AH-6i light armed helo



https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6x9fI-DjNGE
Alfred Alexander L. Marasigan
Manila, Philippines
getflipzi@yahoo.com

http://z6.invisionfree.com/flipzi

" Sovereignty resides in the people and all government authority emanates from them!"

" People don't care what we know until they know we care."
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Flipzi
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MD Helicopters New MD540A helicopter



https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_p4ChYEr6VU
Alfred Alexander L. Marasigan
Manila, Philippines
getflipzi@yahoo.com

http://z6.invisionfree.com/flipzi

" Sovereignty resides in the people and all government authority emanates from them!"

" People don't care what we know until they know we care."
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