MD Helicopters, Inc. (MDHI), a leading manufacturer of commercial and military helicopters, and Van Horn Aviation, L.L.C. (Van Horn) are demonstrating co-developed composite main rotor blades for the MD 530F® aircraft in Booths 1618 (MDHI) and 1521 at Heli-Expo 2011, held March 5th – 8th at the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando, Florida.

The new blades will begin initial flight testing in March 2011, and are expected to receive FAA Supplemental Type Certification (STC) in Q4 of 2011.  Once certified on the MD 530F, MD Helicopters and Van Horn Aviation plan to certify the blade for the MD 520N® and a shorter version for the MD 500D® and MD 500E® models.

The design advantages of these new blades include:

• Life limit increased from 3,430 to 10,000 hours
• Decreased aircraft fuel burn rates
• Reduced aircraft acoustical noise signature
• Increased aircraft internal gross weight to 3350 pounds
• Reduced Direct Operating Costs
• Easier tracking and balancing

MDHI and Van Horn plan to continue to this co-development relationship in order to supply tail rotor blades for the MD 500D, MD 500E, and MD 530F Helicopters in the future.