AIRCRAFT PROGRAM
Photo: MD Helicopters
| Lift type | Rotary wing | ||
| Construction type | Factory-built | ||
| Control type | Piloted | ||
| Engine type | Turboshaft | ||
| Application | Utility | ||
| Search for other aircraft programs with these properties on the Aircraft Programs directory page. | |||
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Light single turboshaft utility helicopter. Includes 500E, 530F, 530G, 540F, and 564 variants.
| Variant | Launch/First flight | Production end | |
| MD 500E | 1982 / 1982 | Production: 0 (2024). Replaced MD 500D, single-engine helicopter. | |
| MD 530F Lifter | 1982 / 1982 | Upgraded military variant. | |
| MD 530F Cayuse Warrior | 1984 / 1984 | Armed variant, includes TH530 (trainer) variant. | |
| MD 540F | 2012 / 2013 | Upgraded 530F variant with fully integrated glass cockpit for US Armed Aerial Scout program. | |
| MD 530G | 2013 / 2013 | Armed aerial scout variant of 530F, includes AH530 (light attack) variant. | |
| MD 564 | 2026 / | Enhanced variant with increased payload capacity. Variant uses same 500-series fuselage but with a six-blade main rotor, and a four-blade tail rotor, hence '564' designation. |
View full news archive for the MD 500 Series.
See recent updates (latest 19/03/2026)
| Airframe & Structures | Airframe Assemblies (1) Structural Components (1) |
| Propulsion | Turbine Engines (1) |
| Mechanical Systems & Hardware | Mechanical Hardware (1) Power Transmission (1) |
| Fluid, Fuel & Environmental Systems | Fuel Systems (1) |
| Electrical & Electronic | Batteries & Accessories (1) Lighting (4) |
| Avionics, Instruments & Sensors | Air Data & Flight Instruments (9) Communications (Airborne) (8) Flight & Data Management (3) Imaging and Visual Systems (2) Navigation Aids (1) Sensors, Transducers & Detectors (1) Warning Systems (1) |
| Interiors, Safety & Crew | Furnishing & Trim (1) Safety & Emergency Systems (1) |
| Operations, Services & Organisations | Aircraft Operations (1) |
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