MD Explorer

MD Helicopters · United States · first flew 1992 · helicopter

The MD Explorer is a twin-turboshaft light utility helicopter that combines the NOTAR no-tail-rotor system with a modern bearingless composite main rotor.

Recognition (WEFT)

W — Wings	High-mounted, rotary
E — Engines	2 × turboshaft, fuselage-mounted
F — Fuselage	9.85 m fuselage
T — Tail	Twin fin

WEFT is AircraftIQ's four-point recognition method — how it works.

Spot it by:

Twin-engine NOTAR anti-torque
Twin vertical fins on tailboom
Five-blade bearingless composite rotor

Distinctive twin vertical fins mounted on the tailboom set it apart from most light twins, together with the absence of a tail rotor. The sleek fuselage and retractable-skid stance give a modern, streamlined look.

Specifications

The MD Explorer has a length of 9.85 m (32 ft).
It has a wingspan of 10.31 m (34 ft).
Its maximum speed is 259 km/h (161 mph).
Typical crew: 1-2 pilots, up to 6 passengers.

Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.

History

Launched by McDonnell Douglas Helicopters and first flown in December 1992, the Explorer was a clean-sheet design rather than a stretch of an existing airframe. Production continued under MD Helicopters, with the improved MD 902 becoming the definitive variant.

Variants

The initial MD 900 gave way to the uprated MD 902 with more powerful engines and higher weights. Both retain the twin-boom fin arrangement and the slotted NOTAR tailboom.

Where you'll see it

The type has seen use with police and air-ambulance operators internationally, including European HEMS services where its quiet operation is valued near hospitals. UK exposure has been limited, but the low noise footprint suits densely populated operating environments.

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