MD Helicopters MD 500D

4-occupant turbine helicopter · Private helicopters · in production 1976-1982 · See its reach on the 3D globe

Photo: Adrian Pingstone (Arpingstone) · Public domain · representative variant

Indicative 1979 market price€803k to €960k

Estimated annual cost at 80 h€202k

Five-year cash outlay€1.88m

Key figures

Indicative planning data, compiled 2026-07. Verify against the AFM and records.

Seats	4
Reported payload proxy	270 kg
Reported range	229 nm
Practical planning radius (4 people)	Not used for mission ranking
Cruise speed	134 kt
Runway need	Vertical
Pressurised	No
Fuel	Jet A-1
Fixed annual base	€52k
Direct cost per flight hour	€720

The ownership trade-off

The MD 500D combines 4-seat helicopter capability with about 229 NM reported range and about 134 kt reported cruise, while payload, runway and operating-cost figures remain indicative and should be verified for the specific aircraft before making a decision.

Cost picture at different usage

40 hours/year: about €173k per year ( €4333 per flight hour all-in)
80 hours/year: about €202k per year ( €2526 per flight hour all-in)
120 hours/year: about €231k per year ( €1924 per flight hour all-in)
180 hours/year: about €274k per year ( €1523 per flight hour all-in)

Older examples add calendar-driven maintenance: a 2011-built airframe is estimated at €122k per year at 80 hours. Condition, engine time remaining and avionics matter more than the year itself, so price the aircraft in front of you, not the model.

Where it fits well

134 kt cruise supports efficient local and regional flying.
229 nm reported range is retained for profile context, but PlaneFit does not use it for mission ranking yet.
270 kg reported payload proxy and 4 seats define the cabin context pending source-level normalization.

Limitations to price honestly

The MD 500D combines 4-seat helicopter capability with about 229 NM reported range and about 134 kt reported cruise, while payload, runway and operating-cost figures remain indicative and should be verified for the specific aircraft before making a decision.
€52k fixed annual planning base before flying a single hour.
Component life and mission-specific landing permissions dominate real-world utility.

Recommended missions

Family and small-group touring with a weight-and-balance check for every trip.
Short and medium regional trips, accepting fuel stops when conditions require.
Recreational, training or personal travel where operating efficiency is more important than airline-like speed.