MD Helicopters MD 520N

4-occupant turbine helicopter · Private helicopters · in production 1991-today · See its reach on the 3D globe

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

Indicative 2010 market price€803k to €960k

Estimated annual cost at 80 h€129k

Five-year cash outlay€1.52m

Key figures

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

Seats	4
Reported payload proxy	270 kg
Reported range	135 nm
Practical planning radius (4 people)	Not used for mission ranking
Cruise speed	137 kt
Runway need	Vertical
Pressurised	No
Fuel	Jet A-1
Fixed annual base	€52k
Direct cost per flight hour	€780

The ownership trade-off

The MD 520N combines 4-seat helicopter capability with about 135 NM reported range and about 137 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 €98k per year ( €2455 per flight hour all-in)
80 hours/year: about €129k per year ( €1618 per flight hour all-in)
120 hours/year: about €161k per year ( €1338 per flight hour all-in)
180 hours/year: about €207k per year ( €1152 per flight hour all-in)

Older examples add calendar-driven maintenance: a 2011-built airframe is estimated at €127k 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

137 kt cruise supports efficient local and regional flying.
135 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 520N combines 4-seat helicopter capability with about 135 NM reported range and about 137 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.