MD Helicopters MD 500ER

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

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

Indicative 2015 market price€1.45m to €1.73m

Estimated annual cost at 80 h€155k

Five-year cash outlay€2.35m

Key figures

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

Seats	4
Reported payload proxy	270 kg
Reported range	170 nm
Practical planning radius (4 people)	Not used for mission ranking
Cruise speed	135 kt
Runway need	Vertical
Pressurised	No
Fuel	Jet A-1
Fixed annual base	€94k
Direct cost per flight hour	€730

The ownership trade-off

The MD 500ER combines 4-seat helicopter capability with about 170 NM reported range and about 135 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 €126k per year ( €3143 per flight hour all-in)
80 hours/year: about €155k per year ( €1936 per flight hour all-in)
120 hours/year: about €184k per year ( €1534 per flight hour all-in)
180 hours/year: about €228k per year ( €1266 per flight hour all-in)

Older examples add calendar-driven maintenance: a 2011-built airframe is estimated at €165k 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

135 kt cruise supports efficient local and regional flying.
170 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 500ER combines 4-seat helicopter capability with about 170 NM reported range and about 135 kt reported cruise, while payload, runway and operating-cost figures remain indicative and should be verified for the specific aircraft before making a decision.
€94k 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.