MD 600N Review | A Helicopter With No Tail Rotor?!?

Special thanks to Wes Klein ( @stresswes on KZbin & Instagram) for taking me out in his gorgeous MD 600N. The MD 600N is a stretched version of the icon MD/Hughes 500. It seats 7, has a 6-blade main rotor system, is powered by a Rolls-Royce turbine, and lacks one feature found on every helicopter I've ever flown...a tail rotor. How does the 600N fly without a tail rotor? What's it like to live with? What are the three things you should never do simultaneously when flying? Thanks for flying with me! #micahflies
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00:00 MD 600N Helicopter Review
0:23 Startup & Takeoff
3:20 Why buy an MD 600N?
4:08 Performance
5:29 Interior Space & Seating
6:11 What is it like to fly?
7:30 What is NOTAR? How does NOTAR work?
9:07 Is NOTAR safe?
10:24 What is it like to own?
10:57 MD 600N tucking right roll problem
13:33 MD 600N advantages

[@stresswes]

You made me sound knowledgeable, thanks for flying with me. 😂🚁🚁

[@MicahMuzio]

Dude. No editing can make you say stuff you didn't say. Thanks for sharing your knowledge and letting my bum a ride in your chopper!

[@stresswes]

@@MicahMuzio It was my pleasure, lets do it again sometime soon. 🚁🚁

[@i_smoke_ghosts]

thanx for explaining it🤘

[@Duckaneer2260]

My police agency bought 2 MD520N's in the early 2000's because they were quieter than other aircraft and less expensive to operate. After 20 years we now have 4 of them and they are without a doubt the best piece of equipment our department has. Our flight crews are top rate and all though a few criminals have got away, when the bird is overhead the bad guys might as well put the cuffs on themselves. We even had a guy laying in the woods trying to hid from us and he didn't know the bird was overhead because of how quiet it is.

[@bigdadgo]

Pilot was super knowledgeable on this helicopter. Impressive.

[@stresswes]

Thanks, i appreciate that compliment.

[@RealRickCox]

I'm VERY fortunate to have a friend who owns a MD600N nearby. I've been out with him a few times in it and it's nothing short of LUXURY! Unfortunately, the MD guys in Arizona did an update on his ECU while getting his annual and when he was bringing it back to Utah, it started having compressor stalls. That's a very scary situation. He had to send the helicopter back to MD on a semi trailer... waiting to find out what the problem is. He thinks they goofed something up at the factory during the update.

[@sergeantseven4240]

The MD520N is my absolute favourite heli. I grew up listening to them in the air around Phoenix because Phoenix Police had 7-9 of them throughout my childhood. Such an awesome sound and appearance. Made right in the east valley.

[@RockyNikita]

I went through the Phoenix Police Academy in 95'... occasionally one of the PPD NOTARS would visit, epic. Some comments about challenges in the Phoenix heat. SPD 'borrowed' a silver civilian helo for YTK (owner lived in N. Scottsdale) as I remember.😊

[@9HighFlyer9]

Not sure when they stopped flying them completely but the city sold off the last one in 2006. I was told a main reason they switched over to AS350 was parts availability. Even with the factory in the same county PPD couldn't get parts. Here's some trivia for you. The first seven off the line; serial numbers LN001 through LN007 all belonged to Phoenix Air Support. Also LN097 and LN098.

[@sergeantseven4240]

@@9HighFlyer9 Yup! I went down a rabbit hole of looking up where most of them went after being sold off. I know a couple ended up in New Zealand and Australia for tours and a couple ended up in South America. One was bought by another PD in California and is still being operated currently. A few were bough and used up until they had accidents and were no longer air worthy, I think one had a hard landing on the skids and cracked the fuselage too much for repair.

[@LatitudeSky]

Huge 600N fan for all the same reasons. The 407 is nice of course but this is better. Lucky to have one in the skies near me almost every day. People do not understand why I get excited when I get a chance to see it. Don't care. My first flight was in a 300 and I will probably always be a Hughes/MD person.

[@SimonAmazingClarke]

NOTAR is definitely on my bucket list. It wasn't mentioned in your video but they are a lot quieter too. The tail rotor produces a lot of the noise. The high blade count, if balanced well, makes for a very smooth flight. A lot of helicopters have a lot of vibration.

[@bugged120]

MD's are such awesome machines! Love the 600N in that colour too.

[@stresswes]

Thanks. 🚁

[@storytimedavidcollins2897]

Micah Thank you very much. I really like, enjoy and appreciate all of the single engine MD’s and I’m very happy that you were finally able to do a review on an MD600N and I really truly appreciate all of the information that you were able to give us about it. I would be excited like you were too, just that you were in little kid mode, so cool, so cool, so cool that you didn’t take the time to refine this video with better sound, graphics and editing that you kinda did, overall really actually the very best most informative MD600N video that has ever been put out by anyone. I had never even heard about that LEO’s were having right turn stall problem with the NTR versions of the MD’s so thanks for letting us know about that. And even better you got us the down and dirty how to information on how to get out of the stall that only an MD full articulated rotor system can live through. Where all of the Bell, Robinson and non fully articulated rotors systems would have had a tail boom strike resulting in the tail boom being struck by the blades causing a catastrophic structural failure falling out of the sky until the wreckage crashes into the ground resulting in death as we have all seen with that video of a Robinsons R22 falling out of the sky in Texas just like several Bell 429’s and even there flagship 525 have done killing everyone onboard. One of the many reasons that the MD types are the best and safest helicopters ever made. Thanks again Micah Excellent very knowledgeable video. Ohhhhhh I should add this information for others who read this, the Bell helicopters are made on the cheap with sub quality materials in their tail rotor control parts and there control parts are failing which causes the tail rotor to go out of control which causes the main rotor blades to strike the tail boom shearing off the entire tail causing the Bell 429’s and Bells first 525 to fall out of the Sky killing everyone. Just an FYI Look it up if you can.

[@600torque]

I have about 100 hrs in a 600N. loved it. the department i worked for bought the second production 600n. we had right hand commands installed. the only problem we had with the machine was that the bolts wore very quickly on the vertical fins. miss the machine.

[@7728abbott]

Fascinating! Had no idea these helicopters existed. Great video, Micah.

[@user-cf9qc3oo2i]

Great video!. Miss they days flying with my dad in the MD600 out of Palomar airport here in Carlsbad. We would land at our cabin on Volcan Mountain up in Julian. You need one Micah!

[@patrickjennings7362]

Excellent video! Good to see you in the air Micah!

[@Nfarce]

Cool vid! There's an MD500 based near me that does power line monitor/maintenance work for our power company. Very unique sound over the usual news channel 206s and Med transport Airbuses and 407s. It is interesting to see the PIC (pilot in command) seat being on the left with the panel backing that up like a fixed wing aircraft. Every helicopter I've been in, the right seat is the captain/PIC.

[@TheGreggAdam]

I fly mine everyday here in St. Louis it has a ton of power and a lot of room can’t beat it for the price!! Be safe

[@MicahMuzio]

I bet! For private owners, the MD 600N seems like an amazing choice.

[@James-blond007]

Love NOTAR’s!!! ❤

[@ronnieam33]

The Phoenix PD use to have these helicopters, but they were a maintenance nightmare and got rid of them a few years after they got them.

[@brianmcdonald1547]

OMG finally another helicopter video! Became a subscriber during covid with the LA videos.

[@beardown6574]

Love seeing a new Heli video. Sweet ride!

[@digby_dooright]

Oh Yay! A helicopter video!!

[@MicahMuzio]

I know, it's long overdue. :)

[@gruppefbc]

You've worn many a magnificent t-shirt Micah, but you've outdone yourself here - the Ironman Ivan Stewart's Super Off-Road one is just brilliant.

[@MicahMuzio]

That is quietly my favorite shirt. Part of me wonders if I'd have a less adventurous spirit without that game in my life.

[@Captndarty]

Now I understand the push for the memberships🤣

[@ralphwoodard609]

OK Micah, sell everything, even the cars that you review. Get yourself one of these Notars and be super, super happy. Great look at the Notar Micah.

[@dforrest4503]

Cool helicopter! I’ve never seen a single engine helicopter without a tail rotor.

[@Zeaiclies]

You never saw the movie "Speed" The main Police helicopter is a MD-520N

[@hondo500e]

Awesome video. We will have to do a group flyin in Julian soon! Where’d you guys lane at the end of the video?

[@Foryourinfo369]

Wow, just wow! I want one.

[@markd4331]

Have had 520, 600, and 900 also here in az

[@thresher4]

I used to work at (at the Time) Mcdonnell Douglas Helicopters in the '80s and '90s. Made parts for them and the MD 500 series and the Apatche attack helicopter AH-64.

[@bernardanderson3758]

Love to see how you approach and land on the trailer pad

[@ryanfrisby7389]

Fantastic video!😸

[@Van-Hammer]

Thanks, I enjoyed this! Wish you could also get to fly in the MD 900 or Bell 429.

[@meow121.5]

YESSS, MORE HELICOPTER CONTENT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! WOOT WOOT!

[@virgilbrown5287]

NOTAR my favorite Helicopters

[@michaelsphotosandvideos5896]

Helicopter I’d like to see reviewed? You just did. It’s always been on my Lottery Bucket List. 👍

[@HuckThis1971]

When i lived in Calgary Alberta back in 95, police had a md500 with fenestron system. So quiet.

[@paulgrigg123]

Dream Helicopter

[@InvestPlus-on8xz]

Saving up for a 520n now

[@bernardanderson3758]

I love to feel the controls on this one

[@P-J-W-777]

The MD500, MD600 series are two my favorite looking civilian aircraft. The MD900 series is my absolute favorite looking Civilian helicopter. The NOTAR look is my first choice for looks and definitely sound. The Fenestron rotar look is my next favorite and I don’t understand why Bell and others don’t use that system as it seems much safer on the ground and the air just like the NOTAR. No other civilian helicopter sounds as awesome period!

[@tremainelewis6887]

It’d be cool if you got to review the H125, the bell 429, the H135. The Leonardo AW139

[@freddieward5860]

How about a review of the MD 902, the ultimate NOTAR helicopter? There have been 23 occurrences since 1998 starting with the MD900 (0 fatalities). The first MD902 incident with fatalities occurred in 2005 in China (3 fatalities). The only other incident occurred in 2012 in Austria 1 fatality). The safety record alone is worth a review...

[@rcas350pilot8]

I like the looks a little bit more than the MD500. Nice looking helicopter overall.

[@Flying2ZC]

Not worried abut the tuck I'll take two please 🙂

[@cdalton3169]

Sweet machine!!!

[@lornecunningham326]

Sexiest Helicopter out there. Love the look of the 600 🤙

[@jamesonpace726]

Engineering tour de force for sure! Cubs stay simple for a reason - pilot error, probably, but helis are so way cool....

[@skylane1829]

Sweet Helo!!

[@PTRRanger951]

Riverside Tower? Awesome seeing my local airport.

[@MicahMuzio]

Yup!!

[@freddieward5860]

There have been 44 occurrences in the MD 600N since 1996 (42 fatalities) vs 241 occurrences n the Bell 407 since 1996 (161 fatalities)...

[@8hfcvfwr]

Probably a lot more 407s in the air than the 600n

[@thelifeemery]

I assume the N is much quieter without the tail rotor but how much tail authority if any do you sacrifice?

[@murdoch9106]

Damn it, watching this.. now I have to jump on and fly my pixel helicopters again! One day I gotta get up in a real one! :O

[@cmh808]

Do a review on "HeavyDSparks" his Black Hawk or Dauphin helicopters.

[@dmlchannel3262]

Since you asked, I'd like to see a review of the Bell 525.

[@chandlerfrog09173]

Cool very cool...

[@bourdon845]

Cool

[@Tymothic]

I’d like you to review the[Lawrence Dale] Bell 222/230 American twin engine helicopter

[@FalconLX-nf9uz]

Hi Micah and Wes. My best friend, Desmond Casey was killed in a San Jose police department 520N crash back in 1999. You need to understand and be prepared for the very different characteristics of a ""coffee can" failure in the NOTAR. The fan blowing air down the tailboom is driven by the main transmission (rotors turning = air blowing). Des had a cable failure of the directional can tail exhaust. The "coffee can" opened full open and the yaw forces were uncontrollable. Natural tendency is to put full opposite pedal in to counteract the rotation. On a NOTAR this only exacerbates the problem. You must go pedals neutral position as this is the lowest pitch in the fan blades that are blowing air down the tailboom. Des finally turned off the engine and autorotated in an attempt at stopping the yaw but in the NOTAR air is still blowing full force out the back as long as the main rotors are turning. As a former Army Blackhawk and civilian EMS pilot I won't ever fly in a NOTAR helicopter again. It's a bad design where one part failure is catastrophic and the emergency procedure is counter intuitive to everything taught to helicopter pilots about anti torque malfunctions. I'm sure this is why the value of these helicopters is so low. Fly safe my friends! Inspect those cables (ball and swedges) carefully along with every other part of that system. John

[@stresswes]

"coffee can", I've never heard of that phrase.

[@FalconLX-nf9uz]

@@stresswes yea, that's what Des and the SJPD pilots called the aft rotating opening. It looks like a coffee can. :) The mechanic came out because the night before the ball and swedge in the cable that moves that aft can had pulled apart but had gone back in almost immediately, although that was only determined by the NTSB after the crash the next day. They landed at a small airport and the mechanic came out the next morning. He was told about the erratic yaw movement they had experienced the night before and he looked everything over. He deduced, incorrectly, that the yaw dampner that controls one of the vertical rudders on the tail had failed. They disabled it and the mechanic hopped in for the flight back to San Jose international so they could replace the yaw dampner. The took off to a hover, did some aggressive pedal turns and then headed off to San Jose. The NTSB determined on downwind when the they were slowing down the slight bend of the tailboom put enough pressure on the cable's ball and swedge that it became disengaged and this time it did not go back together. This allowed the aft can to go full open. Des and the mechanic were both killed in the crash. John

[@stresswes]

@@FalconLX-nf9uz I had heard about a cable issue that caused separation and loss of yaw control in the past, that is something that became an AD that was updated and fixed in the 600N's to my knowledge. I am not affiliated with MD and I'm sorry about you and the family's loss. I just fly the aircraft sir.

[@FalconLX-nf9uz]

Thank you Wes! Just wanted you and others to be aware of the weird emergency procedure with that type of anti torque malfunction in a NOTAR. Des would have been a perfect KZbinr! He was a lot like you both. Loved to help people. Thanks for donating your skills and equipment to help others. Fly safe and have fun. Beautiful helicopter.@@stresswes

[@KGSpradleyAuthor]

Flew the 902. The EPs were a bit weird.

[@RANGER73CPT]

I gotta have at least ONE now...

[@RUSH__fan]

A helicopter with no tail rotor is tight!

[@gothops154]

That 🍁 money

[@kb9liq]

One of those flew over the house here last week and it sounded like a jet plane, not a heli

[@bernardanderson3758]

Review the Bell 412

[@BoBo-SpackleMunkey]

We're getting one soon as the new hanger is finished...Flying Munkeyz do exist🦍

[@carlov.3017]

Ok, now Im looking for helicopters for sale

[@MAGApepe]

nice :))

[@tombernard1665]

Are you helicopter rated?

[@Novadean1]

I'm from Germany have seen this shopper in Augsburg Germany and in Videos to in Germany...... !

[@geddon436]

I have have two questions: What does that guy to afford that helicopter and how I can replicate his success to afford expensive items?

[@kamicj3522]

They will never tell you and how by is because if the whole world got rich we would be in trouble, it ain’t meant for everyone

[@virgilbrown5287]

Broward County Fire Rescue in Florida they had a notar and had a fire in the tail boom killed all 3 Firefighters/Paramedics on board

[@ianmangham4570]

I can fly that baby, can i have a go ? 😮

[@DT-yt2zh]

Want, but million bucks on a good day.

[@91rss]

parts and MD arent used in the same sentence a guy we know fixes them said

[@pohoheli]

Low slow right turns in any american heli with or without NOTAR is a bad idea....any aviator with aero knowledge will tell you.

[@lg8188]

Why’s that?

[@pohoheli]

@@lg8188 left power pedal. If you make Low slow right turn you could run out of left pedal to stop a right spin.

[@Starship007]

My son fly’s for Hawaiian Boeing 717. I am a GA pilot with jet time. Flew an electric trainer plane 2 passenger the other day. 4 switches turned on ready for takeoff. Electric in the future less costly turbine engines.

[@ibuk4309]

Don't trust tail rotars or helicopters ,owner of one of the UK football clubs died shortly after take off when a ceramic tail rotar bearing failed when well under service interval ,no thanks 😒

[@heathwellsNZ]

What sort of review was this??? No smell test???

[@Cowdog1]

Nothing says 'pro video' like putting your hand in front of the lens like the other 700 KZbinrs. 😐

[@MicahMuzio]

I'm confused by your comment. Are you talking about the hi5 at the end?

[@WilliamBrown-or7et]

Very dangerous helicopter and should not be still flying. They have killed quite a few pilots. Very under powered. All of the other MD products are great.

[@Novadean1]

I'm from Germany have seen this shopper in Augsburg Germany and in Videos to in Germany...... !