“
Insurance, Bardin Hill Investment Partners LP, and MB Global Partners. The OEM’s previous name was MD Helicopters Inc. (MDHI).
“The new team of leadership has really brought in a breath of fresh air,” observed Jason Lindauer, VP of sales and marketing who also started his career at MD as an A&P mechanic. “There’s new insight, there’s new motivation, there’s a ‘lean- forward’ kind of attitude. We want to do the right thing for the right reasons for the customers, while taking a look at ourselves and really understanding where we can improve.”
Most utility pilots think they are prepared to handle an engine failure – that is until an MD instructor rolls the throttle off on you at a 300’ OGE hover with your head hanging out the door. That’s when you realize the value of factory training. It gets real, very fast.”
WATCH VIDEO NOW
Spare parts had been a challenge for MDHI, said MDH Aftermarket Sales and Service VP Ryan Weeks, noting that MD Helicopters uses more than 700 spare parts. He wants enough inventory at the start of every month to be able to ship a part within 24 hours of the order.
While they are taking strong measures to improve their parts supplies, MDH leaders are highly confident in their pedigree and products such as the iconic light utility MD 500 series that’s been in service for more than a half-century now. Originally called the Hughes 500, the line of 500s was born from the military’s Cayuse developed under the leadership of the legendary Howard Hughes, whose quotes still hang
throughout the MDH headquarters in Mesa, Arizona. During its first year in service in 1966, the “Killer Eggs” set 23 world records for speed, distance and altitude.
“This thing is literally like a Ferrari,” assured MDH Chief Pilot Dennis Banks, citing the MD 500’s simplicity, low operating costs, agility, controllability and crashworthiness. It’s highly regarded by the utility market that requires precision flying, he added, because “The instantaneous control gives you an incredible feel for the aircraft.” It’s also popular with the military, commercial, law enforcement and VIP sectors.
rotorpro.com
67
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56 |
Page 57 |
Page 58 |
Page 59 |
Page 60 |
Page 61 |
Page 62 |
Page 63 |
Page 64 |
Page 65 |
Page 66 |
Page 67 |
Page 68 |
Page 69 |
Page 70 |
Page 71 |
Page 72 |
Page 73 |
Page 74 |
Page 75 |
Page 76 |
Page 77 |
Page 78 |
Page 79 |
Page 80 |
Page 81 |
Page 82 |
Page 83 |
Page 84
