Starting up an MD500 Turbine Helicopter - w/still camera

[nicholas5674]

nice.

[BillC518]

I've enjoyed watching your videos; I've always been fascinated with helis. I'm presently reading the FAA's Rotorcraft Flying Manual. Seems like a good overview. Can you suggest any other books like this, and is the Heli Network FB page just for pilots, or can a non-pilot with an interest in helis, like me, sign on too?

[drab2000]

Why it takes so long to go on green bar? Over 60 sec?

[malcauskas7]

Great Video, sounds very fine! See my video on youtube, rotorway startup fazenda sta ines. Thanks from Brazil.

[Peterfitsnicly]

A good video Mike thank You!!! Well explained! I am just about to operate a 500 I noticed on the start here it hung around 50%, do you introduce a wee bit more fuel or do you just hold the starter and wait?

Do you ever see these go hot at all?

Thanks Mike, good videos!

[michaelmiller85]

@Peterfitsnicly When I was around this machine I didn't know a thing about the MD500/Hughes 369 and the C18/C20 turbine engines. This particular aircraft like to slow down around the 50 percent for some reason. For the past 4 months I have been dealing with the C20 turbine in the Jetranger at Ft. Rucker, which is the same series of engines for the MD500 in most cases.

The only time I have seen a true hot start is in the simulators, but do know they happen more often if you have a week battery

[michaelmiller85]

Dealing with a hung start, I personally abort the start if the N1 truely become hung. I'm not sure about introducing more fuel is the best course of action.

[BillC518]

Love that turbine startup sound!

[050KVN050]

Yo Micheal

At how many percent of pumping fuel u are taking of

its just 100 % when u start to fly right?

[1019drummer]

Im hard.

[tankertel]

I Thank you Terry x

[kapitalisttas]

is he crash the camera previews video was better quality any way good sample

[familyboy109]

Great sound!! :D

[xdex4r7y]

rispire Your dmn right the sound is greater than the money you have to pay for an hour flight

[6mrviagra9]

who fucken cares! its going :D

[Elhombresombra]

I don't want to be, or even to appear judgmental, just an opinion... when the gas generator reached the prescribed 14% (minimum to allow open the fuel flow), the RPM was still rising with a good rate, probably due to a battery in very good shape or a GPU being used. I would have waited a bit longer, to reach Maximum Motoring (max RPM under starter only / no fuel) and *then* would open fuel flow...that would have kept the temperature significantly lower (look how close to the limit it gets here!)

[FJones9508]

@Elhombresombra yes he was just a hair shy of a hot start wasn't he...

[Elhombresombra]

That's it! And don't forget that, even if you don't actually reach the maximum allowed TOT, if you start your engine EVERY TIME in such a manner to keep the peak TOT as low as possible, your engine will be much less likely to give you troubles in the hot section through its operating life... and your overhaul bills will be lower too... ;-)

[geddon436]

@Elhombresombra . Is it because at max motoring you are allowing maxium airflow to go through the engine, keeping the temperature down?

[Elhombresombra]

@geddon436 Exactly. In such a way, combustion would commence with a much higher airflow passing through the combustion chamber. And when you open the fuel flow, of course, the engine would begin to accelerate from a higher RPM than with "standard technique": with the same fuel flow, that means lower temperature. Time ago I suggested a HEMS pilot to start his A-109 engines in such a way (we were in Summer, hot temperature)... Just imagine the startup cycle (from "Fuel ON" time) shifted upwards.

[aligerous]

@Elhombresombra That didn't even leave the yellow. You have up to 926 degrees for 10 seconds and a peak of 927 for one second. There was plenty of room to spare.

[pilot865]

How much would it cost to train in turbines?

[michaelmiller85]

it depends on how much time, how many hours you want to fly. I believe, don't quote me on it but out MD500 rents out at around $600/hr. Multiply that by how many hours you want to fly and that's that. A lot more expensive than the Robinson R22.

[n9233f]

MD 500's training cost is anywhere from $800 -$1,000 an hour.

[michaelmiller85]

I believe the one that we house rents out for around $600/hr. I think with the tightening economy people will see the price of turbine training go down a bit.

[n9233f]

That's a great deal if you can find a MD500 for $600 an hour.

[n9233f]

@michaelmiller85 Jump on that price. I haven't heard of a 500 running that low in a couple of years.

[michaelmiller85]

I started the timer, which is on the top of the dash. The starter has a 60 second limitation. I push the starter button at 5 seconds, that way i'm not in a hurry.

[jhouse770]

which switches does he flip before he starts the 5 sec countdown before he presses the starter button? Couldn't see that in the video...thks!

[cashmab]

Never seen one with a glideslope before.

[ktmike64]

Michael, How did that powerpoint work for you? Have you looked at it yet? Looking forward to the improved video. M.T.

[csmythe8]

looking forward to the "super nice" version. Tks for posting.

[michaelmiller85]

we have had this a while. It isn't ours but can use it for training or anything else we need to.

[tj3335]

is that your new helicopter or have you had it for a while

[FSimviator]

Great vid!