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Foto: Adrian Pingstone (Arpingstone) · Public domain · Wikimedia Commons
MD Helicopters

MD Helicopters MD500 E

H500
Light Turbine Helicopter✓ in production1982 present
Range
280 NM · 519 km
MTOW
1,361 kg
Cruise
135 kt · 250 km/h
Seats
5
5 seats (pilot included)
New price
US$ 1.5M
Catalog reference, no research date

The MD Helicopters MD500 E is a light turbine helicopter in production since 1982. Price: a new MD Helicopters MD500 E starts at US$ 1.5M; used, the market median is around US$ 1.3M. Median from Jet Tracker's price research as of 06/2026. It has a range of 280 nm, a cruise speed of 135 kt (250 km/h), 5 seats (pilot included). There are 12 aircraft from this family for sale today, across 15 listings on the portals Jet Tracker tracks (global market, not Brazil only).

Source: RAB-ANAC (data as of 11/12/2026) and Jet Tracker catalog (spec sheet reviewed on 11/7/2026).

Acquisition price · pre-owned market
limited data15 active listings (global)Jet Tracker curation · 6 sources · 6/4/2026
US$ 1.3MR$ 7.3M
market medianaging ≈ −2.2%/yr−63% vs Medium Turbine Helicopter median
Entry
US$ 775.0K
model year 1982
Best value
US$ 1.1M
model year 1989
Top of range
US$ 1.9M
model year 2023
Used vs new
−13%
catalog US$ 1.5M
Minimum
US$ 995.0K
R$ 5.6M
Median
US$ 1.3M
R$ 7.3M
Maximum
US$ 2.5M
R$ 14.0M
New · catalog referencein productionUS$ 1.5M · R$ 8.4M
Depreciation curve by year of manufacture
CAGR +2.2%/yr·1982→2023
Market median by vintage (USD). Light-blue band = min/max range observed across real listings. Points without reliable public listings (n ≤ 1) use Bluebook/curve interpolation and are flagged as lower confidence.
2 of 4 points with reduced confidence (n ≤ 1 listing observed). The estimate for these years comes from Aircraft Bluebook / market-curve interpolation, not from direct listings.
Landed in Brazil

Index ≈ ×1.12 to ×1.41 on the aircraft value, already with ferry, ANAC nationalization, IPI and ICMS.

Through a qualified importer
US$ 1.1M – 3.0M
R$ 6.3M – 16.9M · Agreement 75/91 · IPI + ICMS ~7 to 12%
Direct import
US$ 1.3M – 3.5M
R$ 7.2M – 19.7M · IPI + full ICMS ~25 to 32%

Market estimate: value + ferry + ANAC nationalization + taxes, no legal review. II, PIS and COFINS are 0% for aircraft (NCM 88.02); IPI is 6.5% (3.25% for air taxi) until Dec 31, 2026; ~4% ICMS only through a qualified importer (Agreement 75/91).

Cost per flight hour
Operate · owned
US$ 594/h
R$ 3.3K/h · Variable/h
Fixed/yr
US$ 188.8K
Total/h @ 200 hrs/yr
US$ 1.5K/h
Charter · 🌎 World
US$ 1.2K – 2.8K/h
R$ 6.7K – 15.7K/h
Charter · 🇧🇷 Brazil
US$ 1.3K – 1.6K/h
R$ 7.3K – 9.0K/h

Operate = direct cost/hour (fuel + maintenance + engine); excludes fixed costs (hangar, crew, insurance). World: hourly rate published by charter operators. Brazil: charter is quoted per leg, so the hourly figure is an estimate from route quotes.

How we read this price · 6 sources · researched 6/4/2026

Median and price range for pre-owned aircraft, compiled by Jet Tracker from asking prices in listings and the price guides in the sources below, checked on 6/4/2026. 3 of 4 model years have an observed listing. The rest are estimates from the market curve between model years and are flagged in the chart.

PTAX · R$ 5.6075 / US$ · 11/12/2026

Market estimates for guidance only, not a firm quote. Confirm the value with a broker/appraiser before any transaction.

Temporal identity

First flight
—
FAA cert.
—
ANAC cert.
—
Deliveries start
—
Units produced
4,700

The MD500, here in the E version, is the single-turbine helicopter derived from the Hughes 500, in production since 1982 (model 369E) and known for its compact size and rounded fuselage. It cruises at 130 kt, has a range of 233 nm and a service ceiling of 16,000 ft, with a maximum takeoff weight of 1,361 kg. It seats 4 occupants in the typical configuration and up to 5 in the maximum arrangement. This page has the spec sheet, the estimated operating cost per flight hour and the fleet registered in Brazil, with registrations, operators and evolution over time.

Detailed specs

Performance

Engine
1x Rolls-Royce 250-C20B/C30 turboshaft (MD 500E variant)
Engine type
Single-turbine 420 shp (C20B) or 650 shp (C30)
Max speed
152 kt
Endurance
3 h
Fuel
242 L
Fuel
63.9 gal
Main rotor blades
5
Rate of climb
2,061 ft/min
Service ceiling
16,000 ft
Hover ceiling (IGE)
11,800 ft
Hover ceiling (OGE)
8,400 ft
Main rotor diameter
8.05 m

Cabin and comfort

Doors
4 doors + rear clamshell
Seats
5
Optional air conditioning
Yes
Configuration
5 seats (1+1+3), compact egg-shaped cabin
Typical configuration
Crew 1 + 4 Pax
Useful load
881 kg
Noise attenuation
Compact cabin, ANR essential
Baggage compartment
13 cu ft

Avionics and engines

Cockpit
Analog steam gauges, common Garmin G500H retrofits
Autopilot
Not available from the factory, STC retrofits
Transponder
Garmin GTX 345 with ADS-B Out
GPS (retrofit)
Garmin GTN 750/650, common retrofit
Weather radar
Not available

Operating costs

Data source
https://www.aircraftcostcalculator.com/AircraftOperatingCosts/522/MD+500E · https://conklindedecker.jetsupport.com/details/MD%20Helicopters%20MD%20500E · https://boltflight.com/md-500e-price-and-operating-costs/ · https://www.mdhelicopters.com/models/md-500e/ · https://helicoptermaintenancemagazine.com/article/rolls-royce-m250-engine-lessons-field · https://www.pprune.org/rotorheads/565460-c20b-overhaul-costs.html
Fuel burn
30 gal/h
Last updated
2026
Rotor overhaul interval
3,000 h
Market price (low)
US$ 600,000
Engine overhaul interval
3,500 h
Market price (high)
US$ 2,200,000

External dimensions

Overall length
9.4 m
Wingspan
8.05 m
Height
2.67 m

Weights & fuel

Operating empty weight (OEW)
735 kg
Maximum takeoff weight (MTOW)
1,361 kg
Maximum payload
625 kg
Fuel capacity
242 L
Fuel capacity
433 lb

Cabin

Standard configuration
1 zone4 typical seats (pilot included) · 5 max1 crew4 passengers

Typical factory configuration (curated data). The drawing below is schematic and at approximate scale; the actual layout varies by interior and year.

Cabin to scale: cross-section and profile
1,32 m1,37 m
front cross-section · person = 1.75 m
1,07 m long
Length
1.07 m
Width
1.37 m
Height
1.32 m
Volume
—
Baggage
—

History

Military origin as the OH-6 Cayuse in Vietnam, 1,420 units produced

The MD 500 was born as the US Army's OH-6 Cayuse military project in the 60s, competed against the Bell 206 (LOH program) and won the first competition in 1965. Hughes produced 1,420 OH-6s between 1965-1970 that served intensively in Vietnam in reconnaissance and light attack. The civil Hughes 369 version debuted in 1968. After Hughes was bought by McDonnell Douglas in 1984, it became the MD 500 (later MD Helicopters in 1999, today an independent company in Mesa, Arizona).

1968MD Helicopters

Military variants still in production, AH-6 Little Bird Special Forces

MD Helicopters today produces MH-6/AH-6 Little Bird military variants for US Army Special Operations (160th SOAR) and export. The AH-6i is armed with an FN .50 cal, Hydra-70 rocket launchers and Hellfire missiles. The MH-6M Little Bird carries SOF operators externally (seated on side planks). The military program keeps MD Helicopters alive; civil is a smaller but active niche. In Brazil there is a very small civil MD 500 fleet (~10 units), with a historical presence in ENG and training in the 1990s.

2024MD Helicopters

Brazil Fleet

The MD Helicopters MD500 E is a light single-turbine helicopter with 5 seats (pilot included), in production. The up-to-date RAB-ANAC registration count is in the Brazil Fleet section of this page, and the breakdown by status (operational, registration-mark reservation, suspended) is in the model's Analytics.

According to MD Helicopters, in its April 2023 product specification, the MD 500E has a five-blade main rotor and a standard Rolls-Royce 250-C20B engine, with the C20R (25 shp more) as an option. With the 250-C20B, the manufacturer gives a maximum cruise speed of 135 kt at sea level and a maximum range of 267 nm at 5,000 ft (235 nm at sea level). The manufacturer states that the model is certified under 14 CFR Part 27 for single-pilot operation under visual flight rules (VFR). Also according to MD Helicopters, in 2022 the MD 500E received a Garmin G500H TXi glass cockpit.

The pre-owned median and open listings, kept up to date, are in the price card and the For sale now card of this page.

Reviewed on 26/10/2026. Every number carries its source (manufacturer, certification authority or trade publication, with date); live fleet and market figures are in this page's sections.

6 registrations in the RAB (all statuses)

Full analysis: listing, mark reservations, charts and change log in the ANAC Monitor.

Open Analytics

Lineage

Model with no documented lineage in the manufacturer's line.

Curiosities and highlights

Benefits

5-blade rotor is unique in the category, minimal vibration

The MD 500 has a 5-blade main rotor (vs. 2 blades on the Bell 206/505 and 3 on the Hughes 300), a rare characteristic in light single-turbines. The 5-blade rotor reduces vibration by 40% vs. an equivalent 2-blade, improves hover performance and adds redundancy (partial loss of one blade is not catastrophic). Combined with the aerodynamic egg-shaped cabin and a speed of 135 KTAS (high for the category), the MD 500 is the benchmark for smoothness and speed in a small turbine.

NOTAR variants (MD 520N/600N) eliminate the tail rotor

MD Helicopters developed NOTAR (NO TAil Rotor) technology: instead of a conventional tail rotor, an airflow system (compressor + slots in the boom) counters main rotor torque via the Coanda effect. The MD 520N (single-turbine, 5 PAX) and MD 600N (single-turbine, 8 PAX) variants use NOTAR, eliminating the tail rotor, reducing external noise by 60% and increasing ground safety (no tail rotor hazard). A unique technology on the market; Bell, Airbus and Robinson do not offer NOTAR.

Limitations

MD Helicopters has had a turbulent bankruptcy history

MD Helicopters went through serious financial problems: bought by RDM Holding in 1999, sold to Patriarch Partners in 2005, filed Chapter 11 in 2022. A consortium led by MBIA Insurance, Bardin Hill and MB Global Partners acquired the assets in 2022 and relaunched operations in Mesa, Arizona. The bankruptcy history raised concern about long-term support, and operators hesitate to buy new. The used fleet remains supported through third-party MROs specialized in Hughes/MD legacy.

Curiosities

Magnum P.I. and Black Hawk Down, the MD 500 in iconic films

The MD 500 (specifically the MD 500D/E) became a film/TV star: the series 'Magnum P.I.' (1980-1988) used a Hughes 500D painted red as Higgins' aircraft; the film 'Black Hawk Down' (2001) shows MD 530Fs operated by the 160th SOAR (Night Stalkers) in Mogadishu 1993; the series '24' used the MD 500 in tactical operations. Aerobatic versatility and the iconic egg-shaped cabin make the MD 500 the most filmed helicopter in Hollywood. In Brazil, the series 'Linha Direta Justiça' (Globo) has also used an MD 500.

IMDb

Catalogued accidents

Sources: NTSB, CENIPA, Aviation Safety Network

10/29/2013· BR· ITAITUBA
PR-YCJ
Serious

Undetermined

MD Helicopters MD500 E for sale now

Listed aircraft with a page on Jet Tracker, from the lowest asking price up. Asking is not the closing price; portals and the reading date are on each page.

Frequently asked questions

How much does the MD Helicopters MD500 E cost?

The catalog reference for a new MD Helicopters MD500 E is US$ 1.5M, without a verified factory list price. On the used market the value varies with year and flight hours; see real listings on this model's Market tab.

What is the range of the MD Helicopters MD500 E?

The maximum range is 280 nm (280 NM · 519 km).

How fast is the MD Helicopters MD500 E?

Cruise speed is 135 kt, equivalent to 250 km/h.

How many passengers does the MD Helicopters MD500 E seat?

The MD Helicopters MD500 E has 5 seats in total, counting the pilot seat: up to 4 passengers.

How much does it cost to operate the MD Helicopters MD500 E per hour?

Jet Tracker estimate: about US$ 1,538 per flight hour at 200 h/year, of which US$ 594 per hour is variable cost (fuel, engine program, maintenance reserves) plus US$ 188,800 per year of fixed cost (crew, hangar, insurance), under Jet Tracker's default assumptions (Southeast Brazil, in-house crew, 200 h/year). Run your own scenario on this model's Costs tab.

What is the market for the MD Helicopters MD500 E like in Brazil?

The MD Helicopters MD500 E is a light single-turbine helicopter with 5 seats (pilot included), in production. The up-to-date RAB-ANAC registration count is in the Brazil Fleet section of this page, and the breakdown by status (operational, registration-mark reservation, suspended) is in the model's Analytics.