Mar 9
The new MD 564 just dropped and it looks pretty good.
Not a clean sheet design but it came together really well. The fuselage is from the 530F and the six bladed main rotor and C47 engine are from the 600N. Its supposed to be able to carry 750 pounds more externally than the 530F and have a greater fuel capacity for more range and endurance. The craziest thing in my mind is the high altitude performance.
At max gross weight they say it can OGE hover at 14,500ft! My R44 performance charts dont even go over 14,500ft.
If they can get the price down or below where a AS350B3 or Bell 407GXi is at, then MD could have an amazing comeback. I hope so because it looks like an awesome little chopper, unlike some others we dont talk about...